ROOM WITH A VIEW

"...There are shadows because there are hills."

                                        - E.M. Forster, A Room With A View

Oftentimes hotel room windows look out on some pretty mundane things. Parking lots. Other buildings. Streets. Large swaths of vacant acreage. Noisy tourist hangouts. Or a combination of all the above.

But every once in a while you're blessed with a view that is not only beautiful, but it rises to "spectacular". Below are properties with views representative of those times in my life when the view from my hotel window was stunning and unforgettable in and of itself, not just when I go chasing it on my own.

A few rules. 

 - It would be entirely too easy to post nothing but a handful of shots from various places in the Hawaiian Islands. We've had some singularly stunning visual environments right outside our window on many occasions, ranging from a full view of Waikiki Beach, to the ocean off Maui or Hawaii or Kauai, or even views of a verdant rainforest on the Big Island. So a self-imposed limit of one image from the 50th state. *Sorry, Hawaii*

 - Secondly, the view had to be visible from the hotel room without a great deal of effort. No "lean out and twist right" scenarios. Nor can it be a view from somewhere on a property's grounds. The view must be from the room or from the room's private balcony.

 - Third, the photograph has to be representative somehow of a repeatable experience. It has to reflect something other than a one-time event. (The comet trail across the sunset sky might be amazing, but chances are the next person gazing out of the window wouldn't see the same thing.)

Often we expect the hotel room to be little more than a cozy little warren away from the world, where we can relax and prepare for the next day's adventures. It's so much extra when the room itself offers an adventure of its own.

I'm dead certain there are other, equally thrilling hotel-adjacent vistas on this planet, I just haven't stayed at them.

That noted, these are my absolute favorite hotel views, in no particular order:


The Jerome Grand Hotel, Jerome, AZ

The Grand Hotel looks northeast across the Verde Valley from high up the side of Cleopatra Hill, towards the enchanting Red Rocks of Sedona. In the early morning most days, you can watch as a small flotilla of balloons ascend with passengers for a sky-high view of the surroundings. From the Grand Hotel balcony, you can see that and so much more. Top floor. Balcony.


http://www.jeromegrandhotel.net




Palms Place, Las Vegas

A separate property from the Palms Hotel and Casino, the east-facing rooms of the Palms Place have a staggering view of the entire Las Vegas Strip. During the day it's a beautiful and fascinating vista, but at night, when The Strip lights up with thousands of flashing lights, it's stunning. Upper floors, east-facing.

http://www.palms.com/palms-place



The View Hotel, Monument Valley, UT

The most appropriately named inn on the list, The View looks out on the "Mittens" and nearby Merrick Butte. It's an unobstructed scene with a serene and timeless appeal. In one of the most awe-inspiring spots on Earth, you get a front seat.



http://monumentvalleyview.com




The Hanalei Bay Resort, Princeville, Kauai

The Hanalei Bay Resport is a hotel and residence facility boasting a beautiful pool area and a perfectly-placed viewing lawn for watching sunsets.
Our room faced the mountains, giving us a partial sunrise view, but more importantly a lush jungle right at our feet, and the incredible Kauai mountains -- featuring Mount Waialeale, the wettest spot on Earth. 
Waterfalls cascade down the mountains and you find yourself standing in front of a James Coleman painting as the sun goes down in paradise.


http://www.hanaleibayresort.com



Park Central Hotel, New York City

A city view can obviously be found in all major metropolises, but there's just something special about gazing down into the historic complexity that is New York. From old-style china-hat water towers, to modern gleaming skyscrapers, the city that never sleeps is alive and vibrant in a way distinctive from virtually any other major city.
The Park Central is one of my go-tos when I'm in New York, not only for its amenities, but for its location and views. 
Should you be motivated to stay here, make sure your room looks to the south towards Times Square. Upper floors.



http://www.parkcentralny.com/hotel





Domaine de la Corniche, Rolleboise, France

Using a double shot to demonstrate the stunning view of the River Seine from a bluff high atop a nearby hill. The hotel itself is beautiful, with a world class restaurant on premise. But it's the sweeping view of the Seine -- even through the fog -- as it curves down around below your feet that demands this hotel be included.


http://www.domainedelacorniche.com

And lastly, a special mention: 

The Tundra Buggy Lodge, located in the Churchill Wildlife Management area, outside Churchill, Manitoba.


Imagine being in a giant "RV" designed to carry you out into the wilderness, for an experience like none other on Earth. Then imagine a lodge made up of equally gargantuan trailers with sleeping and dining facilities.

Welcome to Churchill.

Outside your window you will see the vast, empty expanse of the Canadian Tundra, and perhaps a few of the area denizens, like Polar Bears.

Yeah. A view like that.

http://www.frontiersnorth.com/adventures/tundra-buggy-lodge-adventurer