madonna inn • 8 comments • The Madonna Inn in San Luis Obispo is best described by a reviewer as "if Dolly Parton, Disney and Hello Kitty formed a union and erected a resort together". There are 110 theme rooms, featuring details like real cave-style stone work, bright pink paint or furniture, and bizarre layouts (including some with spiral staircases to lookouts). We arrived in the evening and ate at their equally ostentatious steakhouse. After dinner, we listened to the live big-band play standards and watched old couples tear it up on the dance floor. Our room, "What's Left", was a patchwork in room-form. The chairs, carpets, blinds, and bathroom floor and walls were all made up of a wide variety of materials and colours from each of the themes. In addition to the absurdity of the room design, it was also very comfortable with a king bed, great shower, and heated toilet seat (we've been coveting one since our visit to Tokyo in 2008). This place was so much fun that we're almost tempted to make it an annual tradition just so that we can see the other rooms. - Alex
