A century ago, the first motel opened its doors right here on the Central Coast. Humble, convenient, and built for a new kind of traveler — one moving by car, guided less by destination and more by the curiosity of what might be found along the way. The year after that, in 1926, Highway 101 became California’s backbone. Motels, its mile markers. Together, redefining how the West was traveled.
What followed was something more than infrastructure. It was a rhythm. A way of moving through the world that favored spontaneity over speed, character over conformity, and the freedom to stop when something caught your eye.
In 2026, 100 years since the establishment of the historic Highway 101, California is on the road again. The American motel celebrates over a century of roadside reprieve. State Route 1 reopens its winding edge through Big Sur. And as the United States approaches its 250th year, the world looks west — with Los Angeles and San Francisco set to host some of the globe’s biggest events.
In between it all lies a stretch shaped by vineyards and valleys, ranchland and mountain ranges — the kind of landscape that reminds you the journey was always the point. This is where you’ll find Nomada.
FIVE HOTELS, ONE THROUGHLINE
PLAN YOUR TRIP
FARMHOUSE, PASO ROBLES
A few blocks from Paso Robles’ downtown square, Farmhouse is a whimsical retreat featuring charming cottages nestled among garden-filled grounds with fire pits and fountains.
Designed for delighting in life’s simple pleasures, it’s the kind of place where you lose track of time in the ways that count—between pages, between pours, between sun and shadow.
RIVER LODGE, PASO ROBLES
At the junction of Highway 101 and 46, River Lodge is a roadside icon defined by Western nostalgia and wine-country ease.
Centered around a lively pool scene and a sun-soaked restaurant + bar, it’s a reflection of what Paso Robles does best: laid-back luxury with a little dust on its boots.
GRANADA, SAN LUIS OBISPO
If the century-old brick walls at Granada Hotel could talk, they’d whisper stories of romance and revelry.
Today, behind the historic building’s 1922 facade, candlelit rooms, craft cocktails, and a beloved bistro set the scene for one of downtown San Luis Obispo’s most sophisticated stays.
SKYVIEW, LOS ALAMOS
Perched on a hilltop overlooking Highway 101 in Los Alamos, Skyview is a California dream wrapped in retro Americana.
With its iconic yellow motel sign, mid-century architecture, poolside palms, and vineyard views, the property blends the style of Palm Springs with the soul of the Santa Ynez Valley.
HOTEL YNEZ, SOLVANG
Conveniently located, yet completely removed. Tucked away on two acres between Santa Ynez and Solvang, Hotel Ynez is a secret-garden sanctuary rooted in stillness, sunlight, and slow living. Here, days unfold beneath heritage oaks and nights last as long as the fire does.
THE FIELD GUIDE
Our curated recommendations, your trusted travel companion
A curated collection of all the places we actually love, compiled by the people who actually live in our favorite locales.
We’re talking: holes in the wall that are worth the detour; speakeasys you’ll want to tell everyone about; hidden hikes with can’t-miss views; fancy wine poured by people who treat you like family; and so much more. Get ready eat, drink, sleep, and roam like a local.
