If you were to make a film about Montage Laguna Beach, the sun would surely be its star. From nearly every nook in this Craftsman-style resort, the sun reflects everything that makes this place shine. Perched on a bluff in the artist's haven of Laguna Beach halfway between Los Angeles and San Diego, the 250 rooms hug the Pacific Ocean, offering views of dolphins, seabirds, and surfers from private balconies.

Constructed in the Arts and Crafts style to bring nature inside, the property evokes a refined elegance, with plein-air paintings and floor-to-ceiling windows that offer stellar views of the 50-foot cliffs just steps away. In the guestrooms you'll want to curl up with a good book on the pillowy furnishings; or cuddle up on a feather-top bed, surrounded by goose-down pillows and 400-thread-count sheets. The standard rooms (which come in garden bungalows, king, and ocean-view varieties) feature lots of white, wooden décor. Spacious suites offer double-sided

If you were to make a film about Montage Laguna Beach, the sun would surely be its star. From nearly every nook in this Craftsman-style resort, the sun reflects everything that makes this place shine. Perched on a bluff in the artist's haven of Laguna Beach halfway between Los Angeles and San Diego, the 250 rooms hug the Pacific Ocean, offering views of dolphins, seabirds, and surfers from private balconies.

Constructed in the Arts and Crafts style to bring nature inside, the property evokes a refined elegance, with plein-air paintings and floor-to-ceiling windows that offer stellar views of the 50-foot cliffs just steps away. In the guestrooms you'll want to curl up with a good book on the pillowy furnishings; or cuddle up on a feather-top bed, surrounded by goose-down pillows and 400-thread-count sheets. The standard rooms (which come in garden bungalows, king, and ocean-view varieties) feature lots of white, wooden décor. Spacious suites offer double-sided fireplaces. In all the rooms, you can enjoy soaking your swimmer's muscles in deep tubs or rinsing sand from between your toes in cavernous tiled showers.

Native grasses and palms beg you to slip on some sandals to explore the property. Take advantage of three outdoor pools: a mosaic-tiled one, a lap pool, and one especially for kids. Just down a short trail, the powdery white-sand beach is perfect for a jog, a sunset stroll, or frolicking in the waves with the kids. Adjacent to the resort, adventurers can launch a kayak tour of the Pacific coastline. Golf enthusiasts swing at a numbber of top-quality courses just a short drive away.

When you get hungry, the Studio (see highlights), Mosaic Bar & Grille, and the Loft all satisfy. The Loft serves market-fresh cuisine all day in a sophisticated setting with panoramic ocean views; try the cheese gallery or chicken prepared in the copper-hooded rotisserie. For casual beach fare by the pool (with views of the ocean to boot), the Mosaic Bar & Grille doesn't sacrifice quality for casualness; try specialties like heirloom tomato gazpacho or a lobster hoagie. At the Lobby Bar, musicians serenade patrons sipping one of 38 kinds of champagnes and drinking in the moonlit ocean. It doesn't get any better.

If you need more icing on the cake, though, don't miss an array of personal-growth classes about art, wine, tidal pools (exploring with on-staff marine biologists), and more. The boutiques, croquet court, beachside cocktails, and epic views help explain why this superstar resort lures diva celebrities and jetsetters—and the rest of us mortals.

Kim Grant has been writing about the best places to stay in North America since the day after graduating college in 1984. Since then she has written over 35 guidebooks and for countless websites and print publications. She is also the editorial director of a forthcoming website on the best places to stay and the travel acquisitions editor for Countryman Press.