Centennial milestone achieved: Explore California's top motels for an unforgettable summer stay

Hit the road, cowboy! Los Angeles' golden state has a rich travel history that goes back a century. We're digging deep to help you plan the ride of your life and celebrate the motel's centennial!

After scorching 2,500 miles and sifting through heaps of old motels, we've handpicked 34 roadside gems spanning different budgets. Contrary to what you might think, these places are more than just cheap crashes for the night. Many prefer to be called inns or boutique hotels, but if they've got outdoor doorways and a highway pull-off, they're in our hot doppelganger list!

From Paso Robles' sky-high "River Lodge" to Palm Springs' over-the-top "Trixie Motel," and San Bernardino's famous concrete teepees of the "Wigwam Motel," we've got a juicy blend of old-school charm and contemporary luxury. You'll even find a new generation running the legendary "Beck's Motor Lodge" in San Francisco's Castro District – talk about legacy!

Some of these motels ooze nostalgia for mid-century design, while others go high-end with $1,000-a-night rooms. There are also a few serving those in need by offering shelter from homelessness. And believe it or not, some no longer accept overnight guests at all – they've turned into cool retail/restaurant hotspots for selfies and videos!

Get ready to cruise through our motel centennial special highlights:

Paso Robles' "River Lodge," iconic MOTEL sign soaring high like a rocket launch from wine country
Palm Springs' "Trixie Motel," where kitschy meets contemporary in one extravagant package
San Bernardino's "Wigwam Motel," the family-owned teepee gems with roots in India and the Inland Empire
San Francisco's Beck's Motor Lodge, where the founders probably didn't imagine the gay-friendly vibe today!
Malibu's "Surfrider," where the surf staff is more than happy to lend out a board or Mini Cooper for a PCH ride

As a bonus, we've got:

A vivid journey through motel history, exploring the various species that evolved in California
A handy guide to 34 notable motels, inns, and hotels, with info on their histories, transformations, design, and prices
A culinary odyssey, courtesy of our Food team's favorite roadside restaurants (yum!!)
A list of prime California roadside attractions – dinosaurs, ostriches, and beyond!
A sneak peek into the world of Merch Motel, a brand born out of love for roadside Americana
And just for fun, snapshots of 10 vintage motel matchbooks (nostalgia-fueled alert!)

So gas up that jalopy, and let's hit the open road, my friends!

PS: While some motels have seen their fair share of seediness, they've also starred in pop culture as sex and crime hotspots, slumped in the late 20th century, and are now enjoying a new era of luxury and nostalgia. Hey, no one said the travel industry was boring, right?

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Essential California

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The Menendez brothers, who were sentenced for murdering their parents in 1989, moved a step closer to freedom as a Los Angeles County judge offered a path out of prison on Tuesday.
The Los Angeles City Council approved a package of minimum wage increases for workers in the tourism industry, despite opposition from business leaders.
Motown singer Smokey Robinson faces a criminal investigation launched by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department following accusations of sexual assault and wage theft by four former staff members.
California's Teacher of the Year was sentenced to 30 years in prison after being found guilty of sexually assaulting elementary school boys.
Retailers like Walmart, Mattel, and more are raising prices due to the ongoing trade war, making life harder for shoppers.
One of LA's best French restaurants is temporarily closing and planning to reopen with a new look and menu.
An Asian American professor was attacked in a possible hate crime while teaching the history of racism.
The Big Bear eaglets are preparing to fly, so you should check out how they've grown!
Seventeen members of a cartel kingpin's family were escorted into California from Mexico, raising questions about their motives.

In addition, the text introduces a series titled 'Essential California', which offers daily newsletters, homepage updates, and a feedback mechanism to improve the service. It also contains a list of other headlines under the categories of 'LA Law', 'Business' and 'California' news.