By Leah Hennen

In Sacramento's spruced-up downtown, boutique hotelier Joie de Vivre has transformed an imposing 1926 high-rise into the welcoming 198-room Citizen Hotel. The place is elegantly appointed, with lots of leather-bound books, polished marble, and plush furnishings. But it's also full of sly flashes of political wit: classic editorial cartoons, guest room lampshades printed with the state constitution, and photos of notable California politicos, from the Gipper to the Governator. You'll find large soaking tubs in some rooms, Italian linens on the beds, and a terrace offering panoramic city views.

When you step outside you're within walking distance of the area's stylish shops, restaurants, nightclubs, and performing arts centers, not to mention the state capitol, Crocker Art Museum, and Old Town. From $134 with AAA discount. (916) 447-2700, jdvhotels.com/hotels.