Weird Places to stay in California

For all you Elvis fans who make pilgrimages to Graceland to pay your respects to the King, you might want to consider a stopover at the Alexander Estate in Palm Springs. This was where Elvis and Priscilla Presley spent their honeymoon night here on May 1, 1967.

As you can see in the video above where Grandma is having a rockin' time (and Elvis must be turning over in his grave), you can rent the place for private parties, weddings and other events. For more details, visit ElvisHoneymoon.com or call (760) 322-1192.

If you want something slightly more adventurous, try the fire lookouts on Hirz Mountain, built about 80 years ago. Hirz Mountain is in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest, about 245 miles off San Francisco. Accessible by car, but the last stretch of the drive is dirt road, which adds to the feeling of being all alone in the rugged mountainous locale.

Costs only $35 per night, plus the cost of supplies. If you showed up 35 dollars at one of the San Francisco hotels, they'd show you the door. And as you see in the picture, the view from the lookouts is magnificent, and so is the fresh air. Perfect spot for a nice getaway. More details and booking here.

Getting back to royalty, let's move from the King to the Queen - The RMS Queen Mary, berthed in Long Beach. The ship serves as the focal point of a host of tourist attractions in Long Beach, including a hotel, restaurant and wedding chapel, among other things.

There's a lot of controversy surrounding it's future, with latest reports suggesting that the ship could be renovated and patched up, made sea-worthy and turned into a cruise liner. But as of now, it's still stuck in Long Beach, and it's a great spot for a getaway.

That little dinky thing you see is a Mongolian 'yurt' at the Treebones Resort, and offers one of the most magnificent views on the Big Sur coastline. The resort offers 16 yurts, 5 campsites, 1 "human nest" with its own campsite, and 1 small guest house with en suite restroom.

And for added comfort, you get a heated ocean view pool & hot tub, a gift shop & small convenience store, a cozy community lodge for dining, chatting, playing board games, and just enjoying some down time. Again, a perfect place for a getaway.

It's funny how all these weird places ended up being such perfect getaways. I guess that's because they're off-the-beaten track and not-so-famous.