Colorful independent inns

A cheerful, budget-minded roadside stay just off Boyes Boulevard in Sonoma, where the rooms are painted in bright, unfussy color and a few open onto their own private patios. Free Wi-Fi and an unpretentious, small-scale feel make it a practical base for wine country wandering rather than a place that asks for your whole attention. With a 4.3 rating across more than 200 reviews, it's the sort of inn guests return to for value and easy charm.

A colorful guesthouse tucked onto Ravenscroft Drive in downtown Asheville, where private rooms open onto shared bathrooms and a communal lounge. There's a kitchen for guests who'd rather cook than queue for brunch, and free Wi-Fi throughout. Reviewers are notably fond of it — 4.7 stars across more than a hundred stays.