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The Ferragamo family may have gained fame through Salvatore's shoes, but since 1995 it has also catered to well-heeled travelers: Its Lungarno Collection numbers seven luxury hotels in Italy and a fleet of yachts in Europe and the Caribbean. Florence's Arno River inspired the redesign of flagship Hotel Lungarno, which reopened in June after a six-month renovation that led to fewer rooms but greater views of the water and the picturesque city. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Ian Schrager, co-founder first of New York's infamous Studio 54 and later the boutique hotel industry, made his mark in San Francisco in 2001 with a radical remodel of the Clift Hotel and its renowned Redwood Room. Some considered the renovation almost as big a crime as the long-ago tax evasion for which he served time - and recently received a pardon from former President Barack Obama. Visitors to the Big Apple looking for relatively affordable yet stylish digs may forgive all after experiencing Schrager's latest concept, the Public hotel. In lieu of bellmen and turndown service, you'll pay a lower rate for a Manhattan address with buzzworthy bars and restaurants close at hand. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

A few years ago, five fictional guest "muses" - from Parisian food critic Pierre to Toronto fashion executive and yoga fan Susan - inspired the 1970s-glam, color-intensive revamp of Opus Hotel Vancouver. Today, it remains a hidden rainbow in the city's brick-clad enclave of Yaletown, with up-to-the-minute technology (in-room iPads, loaner Samsung Galaxies) and a timeless approach to personal service. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

One of the few drawbacks to staying at a resort on the Big Island's sunny Kohala Coast is that those who'd like a kitchen or just space to spread out will either pay dearly, have a hike to the beach, or both. Marriott's Waikoloa Ocean Club, a recent conversion of half of the Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa, takes care of space and proximity to sand, with relatively moderate prices, too. And though it's part of Marriott's time-share Vacation Club program, you don't have to join the club to book here. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

With a little training, almost anyone can bike along the scenic Monterey coastline or through its valleys. But for more experienced cyclists who may also like a few creature comforts before and after their ride, the new NTSQ Velo Premium Cycling Retreats in Carmel offer a luxurious way to explore the region. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Three fixtures of Monterey County's dining scene have introduced new looks, new menus and, in two cases, new names within the past six weeks. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom founded PlumpJack Group 25 years ago as a wine shop. It continues to grow with restaurant, winery and hotel acquisitions. Among PlumpJack's newer lodging appellations is Carmel, where the 24-room Hideaway debuted last spring. By fall, the boutique inn had made the Chronicle's list of 100 reasons we love Carmel, but as with wine, a little aging hasn't hurt. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Perhaps no other South Pacific isle holds the allure of Bora Bora. Thanks to its green Mount Otemanu towering over a lagoon encircled by motu, or islets, it's the closest counterpart to the mythical Bali Hai of "South Pacific." Now one of Bora Bora's first overwater bungalow resorts has re-emerged after a 15-month transformation with a new luxury brand and new reasons to "come away, come away," as the song goes. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Getting to the Big Easy from the Bay Area will become a little easier in June, with more flights coming this fall. The new service to New Orleans marks the city's rebound from both 2005's Hurricane Katrina and the more recent economic recession that depressed tourism. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The cultural history of Novato begins thousands of years ago with the first Coast Miwok inhabitants. The early 19th century brought Spanish missionaries, who are said to have christened a Miwok leader "Novato" after St. Novatus. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

One of the best ways to explore the Marin Headlands is by bicycle, but pedalers have had to work harder over the past five months for their payoff. Fortunately, they should see a light at the end of the tunnel soon. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Summer school doesn't have to take place in a stuffy classroom. Marin's distinctive geography and wildlife offer unique educational opportunities - with no term papers required, and field trips a given. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Since its start in 1885 as a hilltop estate for a San Francisco Gas Light Co. executive, Sausalito's Casa Madrona has developed an impressive circuitry of lodgings. The contemporary 31 bayside rooms are the most recently amped up, with courtyard and spa enhancements due later this year. Power couples, however, will want to stay in one of the 26 hillside cottages or one of the original mansion's 11 rooms, transformed with subtly nautical tones in 2014. The mansion's 5,000-square-foot Alexandrite Suite, which includes a spacious kitchen and sprawling, two-tiered deck, is suitable for weddings, as well as retreats and rock-star entourages. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

A stop on the Santa Clara Valley Wine Trail, Clos LaChance has also become a lively center for free live music. The Groovin' in the Grove concert series, which features acoustic artists May through October, takes place in the bucolic winery's mulberry grove from 1 to 4 p.m. most Sundays (check online schedule for details). Free Spirit, a duo of Mike Tatarakis and Rey Trevino, also performed today, as well as July 9. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

When condo developer and Francophile Abigail Ahrens decided to create a boutique hotel in downtown Los Altos, she opted for a style more romantic than Silicon Valley chic. She furnished the mini-chateau's 19 rooms with vintage French prints, chandeliers, elegant fabrics and objets d'art. The resulting look radiates charm, not clutter, with service designed to restore joie de vivre. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Whether it's a Giants doubleheader, "Hamilton" at the Orpheum or the 50th anniversary of the Summer of Love, Bay Area residents have plenty of reasons for a mini vacation in San Francisco this summer. The city's not-yet-crested wave of new or newly transformed hotels offers additional enticements, including discounted weekend rates. Here are some highlights. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

If George and Amal Clooney didn't already have a home in Italy's Lake Como district, the ultra-luxurious Il Sereno Lago di Como could provide them a suitable "babymoon" retreat. Now open for its first full summer season, the 30-suite resort is also welcoming a new addition: the Spa at Il Sereno, featuring Swiss skincare treatments and lake views. Other amenities include Berton Al Lago, the indoor-outdoor restaurant created by Michelin-starred chef Andrea Berton; and custom-built boats that allow celebrities and non-celebrities alike to arrive in style at the private dock. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Centuries before hotels and condos lined Kaanapali Beach, Hawaiian royals fought over its northern stretch, home to fishponds, taro patches and sacred sites such as Puu Kekaa (Black Rock), while legends arose about its guardian spirit owls. The new Westin Nanea Ocean Villas, which laid claim to 16 of the area's last remaining undeveloped acres, luckily boasts a guiding spirit in cultural adviser Makalapua Kanuha. She worked with architects, interior and landscape designers to weave Hawaiian motifs such as fish-trap baskets, cordage and taro throughout the property, and created its Puuhonua O Nanea Cultural Center to teach the stories, language and traditions of this wahi pana, or special place. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The serenely stylish 200-room hotel at Graton Resort and Casino, which opened in late fall, proves that gambling, like politics, can make for strange bedfellows. Thanks to a $175 million investment by the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria, the hotel's bedrooms are plush enough - and its pool and spa enticing enough - to make one almost forget the 3,000 bright and burbling slot machines and other gaming temptations just beyond the elegant lobby's thick glass wall. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

When the first phase of the long-awaited Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit line opens this spring, commuters will be able to travel from northern Santa Rosa only as far south as San Rafael. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

At first glance, the beige, low-rise buildings of Seascape Beach Resort in Aptos don't appear to be the kind of hideaway a Hollywood couple like Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez would seek out, as they reportedly did in 2014. A brief detour off Highway 1 south of Santa Cruz, the resort's 285 condo units and hotel suites were built in 1993 - after protracted planning battles with Santa Cruz County - in a style best described as ... nondescript. That's because local builder Charles Holcomb wanted guests to focus on the impressive view of Monterey Bay from its 45 cliff-top acres, which include wide lawns, deep gullies and wind-sculpted groves. Those who do may well find themselves Beliebers in this understated oasis. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Since Hurricane Odile struck Los Cabos in September 2014, Baja California's resort corridor has seen a whirlwind of repairs, renovations and all-new hotels, with a half dozen more still to come. The recently opened Chileno Bay Resort & Residences, a project of Mill Valley's Auberge Resorts, serves as the elegant eye of this new hurricane. An intimate oasis on a swimmable cove, it keeps guests' focus on the timeless appeal of the area. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The extended spring ski season means more time to try resorts' new restaurants and attractions in the Sierras, as well as more powder on the slopes during special events. Here's a sampling of notable enticements: [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The Rat Pack of Frankie, Sammy and Dino may be gone, but their former desert hangout, opened in 1959, entertains with a renewed swing. After undergoing a sweeping $70 million makeover in 2008, the Riviera Palm Springs finished a multimillion-dollar update last year that added a second pool bar and a dazzling Morocco-meets-mid-century-modern lobby, among other flourishes. The playful, plush vibe extends across the property, a destination in its own right as well a convenient launchpad for all things Palm Springs. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Even before he was of legal drinking age, as a teenager working at a liquor store and restaurant chain in Kailua, Oahu, Micah Suderman found the local beer scene rather limited. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

When it came to buying a second home, Hawaii was a given for Los Altos Hills couple Matt Murphy, a venture capitalist, and Helen Lin-Murphy, a former financial services professional who switched careers to raise their two sons. "We love Hawaii because it's got all the feelings of home from my background (in Taiwan), the moist air and the tropics, but all the benefits of America," Lin-Murphy said. "The vibe there is so relaxing, versus out here where it's pretty frenetic. It's such a quick flight and yet it feels totally a world away." [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The word "timeless" often appears in descriptions of the style of Oahu fashion designer Joan Simon Smoyer, whose Noa Noa line of billowy batik prints includes women's, men's and children's collections. It's also an apt description for the woman who began designing clothes in Fiji in the late 1970s, and whose first Noa Noa store in Hawaii dates to 1983. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

At first glance, a Waikiki luxury high-rise may seem like the last place you'd find the co-founder of Hawaiian Rainforest Naturals, a mother-and-daughter company that creates floral extracts and body care products in the remote, lush Puna District on the Big Island. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Jagged peaks, sinuous waves, bold intersecting lines - ancient Hawaiians used relatively few designs to adorn a wide variety of objects, from humble household goods to royal capes and fans, as well as human skin. At the same time, the Hawaiian words associated with these patterns have multiple definitions, sometimes creating mysterious associations. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

As the world's most remote island chain, Hawaii offers tempting possibilities for discreetly trying on different personae. And if none of these new modes appeal, there's always "sunset gazer with mai tai." [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

A number of parks and visitor destinations in Big Sur remained closed indefinitely at press time due to heavy rains, troublesome road conditions and the lingering effects of last year's Soberanes Fire. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Renowned Carmel Valley vintner and clothier Robert Talbott likes to say, "I don't collect motorcycles; I collect stories." [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

When Bernardus Lodge & Spa opened in 1999, it reflected the vision of its founder, Santa Lucia Highlands vintner and race car driver Ben Pon, as a place where his friends might stay: a low-key but luxurious, residential-style resort with acres of vineyards and gardens. Although Pon sold the Lodge in late 2013 to focus on his Bordeaux-style wines, the new owners have retained his accommodating approach while renovating virtually every corner of the 28-acre resort, including its previously updated and still celebrated Lucia restaurant. To stay in one of the 12 new villa suites, which debuted last August, is to sample the new premier grand cru of Carmel Valley - and still feel like a friend of Ben. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Soaring golf balls will give way to colorful kites for a day on the driving range at Carmel Valley Ranch when the resort hosts its first Kite Festival from noon to 6 p.m. April 1. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The brainchild of Julia Child and Robert and Margrit Mondavi that helped revitalize downtown Napa 16 years ago has just experienced its own resurrection. Closed since 2008, the former Copia: The American Center for Wine, Food & the Arts officially reopened last weekend with a new name, the CIA at Copia, and a new commitment to public access. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Winter may not have been the best season to open a winery atop Spring Mountain, where the snaking narrow road has recently been subject to slides and falling branches. But as the sun starts to reappear, it's obvious why the owners of Lokoya wines took a shine to their latest vineyard estate and first-ever stand-alone tasting room, which opened in November. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Opened in 2007 by the founders of discreetly luxurious landmarks Auberge du Soleil and Calistoga Ranch, the more casual but still cosseting Solage was meant to be the Calistoga flagship of a new line of hotels and resorts. Instead, it left the Auberge fold altogether in 2014. Last fall, a joint venture of Auberge Resorts and the owners of tony Carneros Inn, among other luxe lodgings, reacquired the 89-cottage resort, renowned for its self-applying spin on mud baths, thermal waters and Michelin-starred Solbar restaurant - all enjoyable during this cooler, rainy off-season. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

From the San Diego airport, it's only 25 miles north to Rancho Valencia, but the last few miles are woodsy and winding, encouraging you to slow down before the real unwinding begins at the luxurious enclave. Reopened in 2012 after a $30 million renovation that refurbished its 49 Spanish-style casitas and refocused the resort on wellness, Rancho Valencia recently transformed its 12 residential-style villas and installed the Rein bar, serving cocktails and light fare to loungers and cabanas by the adults-only pool. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The newest season of "Sherlock" may have ended already, but fans of Arthur Conan Doyle's detective can explore his milieu year-round at Baker Street West in Jackson. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Coffee and chocolate connoisseurs can satisfy their cravings at Choc-O-Latte, the newly expanded cafe and confectionery in Sutter Creek. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Pulling things together seems to come easy for Susan Feist, a Sutter Creek vintner and music promoter. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Remove the cars and pavement from Sutter Creek's Main Street, and you could have a new set for "Westworld." Fans of the frontier fantasy should check into Hotel Sutter, rebuilt in brick after a fire in 1865, and check out one of its two well-stocked saloons. If you happen to be disappointed to discover that a 2014 renovation brought modern bathrooms, flat-screen TVs and other contemporary touches, well, at least no androids are waiting to go rogue. In fact, friendly human service is part of the charm. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Forget cactuses and Kokopelli - Found:Re Phoenix, a 105-room hotel that opened downtown late last year, forgoes typical Southwestern imagery for a riot of bold artwork amid industrial-style design. Taking its cue from the numerous galleries of nearby Roosevelt Row, this transformation of a long-shuttered '70s hotel celebrates the work of local contemporary artists throughout its public and private spaces. Some of the art's quite cheeky - witness the mural of a blond, bewigged Burt Reynolds in his 1972 "Playgirl" centerfold pose, hovering above the front desk - but it suits the playful spirit of the recently revitalized area. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

As they pass the ornate arched entrance for Madrona Manor on Westside Road, many travelers assume it's a winery, according to general manager Kevin West, and in a sense, they're right. For the past two years, the Michelin-starred restaurant and hotel has also been dry-farming Merlot on the front slope of the Victorian-era mansion. "Next year we'll start to use the grapes, not necessarily for wine, but maybe for cooking," West says. Still, the vintage attractions here are the elegantly restored and repurposed mansion, built by an affluent San Franciscan in the early 1880s, and the acclaimed cuisine of chef Jesse Mallgren. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Reopened just in time for the 2016 "festive season," the former Wailea Beach Marriott now sports a more cumbersome name: Wailea Beach Resort - Marriott, Maui. But its multiyear, $100 million renovation has also brought luxurious comforts, contemporary decor and culinary attractions worthy of the "resort" appellation. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Philanthropists Alfredo and Theresa Pellas have earned the respectful titles of Don and Do�a, as they're known at Nekupe Sporting Resort and Retreat, their 1,300-acre nature reserve and luxury lodge in southwest Nicaragua that debuted in November. In addition to creating a four-suite hilltop compound and four freestanding villas, they planted 14,000 trees, built water reservoirs and hired local artists and guides to showcase the country's indigenous charms. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

While Portland's hip Pearl District has gained rightful fame, the city's downtown may be an overlooked gem. The best setting from which to explore its numerous shops and restaurants - including Portland's first food hall, the Pine Street Market - is the newly polished Nines Hotel. On the top nine floors of the former Meier & Frank department store, the hotel recently updated its guest rooms and most public areas with a sophisticated gleam. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Sure, you've been to Paris - but which Paris? There's the elegant, well-heeled Paris of St.-Germain-des-Pr�s, the new hipster Paris of SoPi (south of Pigalle), or the student-attracting Paris of cobbled streets and ivy-covered town houses known as Butte-aux-Cailles - to name just a few of the "cities of light" illuminated by Donna Wheeler's "Paris Precincts" ($29.99, Hardie Grant Books). [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The Grand Ole Opry isn't the only grand old institution in Nashville. Witness the beautifully restored and redeveloped Union Station Hotel, the city's former railway station, built in 1900 of Kentucky limestone. While the recent $15.5 million renovation kept gems such as the 65-foot barrel-vaulted stained glass ceiling and bas-reliefs, it also added elements reflecting Music City's colorful blend of rustic and urban style. No two of its 125 rooms and suites are identical, but the views of Nashville's city lights are uniformly mesmerizing. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Consulting architect Frank Lloyd Wright and early owner William Wrigley Jr. each left indelible marks on the Arizona Biltmore, which opened outside Phoenix in 1929. The former can claim credit for the 34 varieties of "Biltmore Block" used to create the 39-acre resort, since grown from 98 to 740 guest rooms, while the latter built the Biltmore's first pool using tiles from Catalina Island, and invited Hollywood and high society friends to winter here. The government of Singapore, owner since 2013, recently invested $35 million in restoring and revamping the two men's vision, from the grand historic lobby and gilded public spaces to contemporary guest rooms with understated glamour. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]