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In the city. On the beach.
In wine country. On the green. In quaint,
one-of-a-kind communities. There are
so many ways to escape in California.
The fabric of our landscape—woven
together by our highways, byways, railways,
and scenic country roads—provides
a vibrant and variegated world of leisure
and indulgence just waiting to be discovered,
or revisited. Get away to all that
California has to offer in these seven
splendid summer stays, just a few hours
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THE INN AT SPANISH BAY
Where
the Grass is Greener
www.pebblebeach.com
Some
destinations are so distinctive
they can be summed up in
a sort of verbal shorthand
requiring just a word or
two. Case in point: Pebble
Beach. While Pebble Beach
is technically an unincorporated
community and home to more
than 4,000 residents—rather
than just a resort—there’s
no doubt about what those
two words stand for: some
of the world’s best
golf, ultra-exclusive grounds,
and seventeen miles of
extraordinary road, superlatively
elegant accommodations,
and breathtaking, craggy
coastal vistas.
The
property known as Pebble
Beach Resorts comprises
three hotels—a stay
at any of which gains guests
access to all resort privileges—and
four golf courses. The
Lodge at Pebble Beach is
the original hotel, opened
in 1919 to complement the
famed links. Casa Palmero
is the intimate, Mediterranean-style
inn with just 24 rooms,
located near The Lodge.
The third, the Inn at Spanish
Bay, is set off on the
northern side of Pebble
Beach, removed from the
other accommodations, with
its own celebrated golf
course: The Links at Spanish
Bay.
The
Inn at Spanish Bay’s
270 rooms feature views
from the private patios
or balconies of a crashing
blue sea, the Del Monte
forest, or the linksland
course that winds through
restored sand dunes. Throughout
the inn, no detail is overlooked;
from the art and pottery
that graces the lobby and
lounge area, to the complimentary
snacks and refreshments
in each room, to the plush
and comfortable guestroom
furnishings, the setting
is refined.
Each
evening, a lone bagpiper
makes a twilight stroll
along the course playing
an evocative tune. As guests
huddle by fire pits on
the stone terrace while
enjoying day’s-end
cocktails, he concludes
his serenade, as the sun
sets and the endemic Monterey
fog rolls in. It is one
of those truly remarkable
moments that feel significant
and exclusive.
As
would be expected from
a property of this caliber,
the culinary options make
The Inn an epicurean getaway.
Especially Pèppoli,
named for an estate belonging
to award-winning vintner
Piero Antinori, which serves
inspired rustic Italian
cuisine: pappardelle with
wild boar ragú,
gnocchi with winter black
truffles & mascarpone
sauce, lasagna layered
with filet mignon. With
an inspired list of Antinori
wines that pair so perfectly
with the menu, Pèppoli
is an outstanding break
from typical Central Coast
cuisine.
The
ultimate finishing touch
is the 22,000-sq.ft. spa
with 25 treatment rooms
offering everything from
body wraps, hydrotherapy,
advanced anti-aging procedures,
and a full-service salon
in a tranquil setting.
Pebble
Beach Resorts is an award-winning
and acclaimed property.
Whether you visit often
or manage it once in
a lifetime, it’s
a treasure that we can
call our very own.
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Rooms from $580
Suites from $1,150
Golfing
at The Links at Spanish
Bay for Resort Guests: $260 including
cart
2700
17-Mile Dr., Pebble Beach
Reservations: (800) 654-9300
PHOTO
COURTSEY
THE INN AT SPANISH BAY
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HOTEL OCEANA SANTA BARBARA
Central
Coast d'Azur
www.hoteloceanasantabarbara.com
Santa
Barbara has always been
noted as a unique slice
of California coast. Its
southward facing location
tempers the climate, and
the hills that roll into
the Pacific lend a distinctly
Mediterranean feel to the
community. One of Santa
Barbara’s signature
sights is the tall palms
that line Cabrillo Boulevard,
crowning the coastline.
That’s where you
will find Hotel Oceana
Santa Barbara: right on
the ocean, just up from
State Street, near Stearn’s
Wharf on the West Beach.
It’s
fitting that Hotel Oceana
sits on land once occupied
by one of Santa Barbara’s
first luxury hotels, The
Potter, which was destroyed
by fire in 1921. You can
still see the Potter’s
grand promenade lined by
ancient palms that bisect
the property. From the ’30s
through the ’50s,
other hotels like La Playa,
The Beachcomber, The Sandy
Beach, and Ocean Palms
took up residence on this
magical plot. Today, those
quaint and comfortable
California beachfront hotels
are now combined into one—and
are undergoing yet another
makeover—as The Hotel
Oceana Santa Barbara.
The
Oceana is exactly what
you hope for in a traditional
beachside retreat. The
grounds are spacious. The
rooms are crisp and clean
and combine an old beach
charm with modern amenities
like flat screen TVs, imported
Egyptian cotton linens,
down comforters and pillows,
Aveda bath toiletries,
and either CD Players or
iPod docking stations.
Two pools with cabanas
and a European Continental
breakfast complement the
Oceana’s offerings,
and with the Pacific’s “Côte
d’Azur” spread
before you and the vibrant
city of Santa Barbara behind,
you may as well be getting
away to the French Riviera—without
jetlag or a passport.
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Summer rates range from
$225 – $445
202
W. Cabrillo Blvd.,
Santa Barbara
(800) 965-9776 ~ Reservations
(805) 965-4577 ~ Tel
(805) 965-9937 ~ Fax
PHOTO
COURTESY
HOTEL OCEANA
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THE US GRANT
Historic
Downtown Grandeur
http://luxurycollection.com/usgrant
Topping
the list of destinations with something
for everyone, San Diego has it all:
world-class arts and culture; nightlife;
activities for families; opportunities
to relax or be pampered; and countless
forms of exercise. For the young
at heart, there’s Sea World
and the famous zoo, while championship
golf courses, scores of great stores,
and some of the southland’s
best restaurants compete with 70
miles of sun-soaked beaches for your
leisure time and attention.
It
is typically the outstanding weather
and warm ocean waters that draw visitors
to California’s second largest
city. Often overlooked, though, is
the historic Gaslamp Quarter District,
a 16-square-block area with a sophisticated,
urban vibe full of sidewalk cafés,
jazz clubs, boutiques, and galleries
showcasing the work of resident artists.
The best hotel in which to absorb
the history of the area is the landmark
US Grant—a majestic, 1910 Beaux
Arts property built in honor of the
18th president, by his son.
Recently
renovated to the tune of $52 million,
the grand lobby of black and gold
travertine and white Italian marble
has been restored to its original
splendor, while the 270 luxury guestrooms
were completely upgraded with all
modern conveniences. With one-of-a-kind
headboards by artist Yves Clement,
imported custom wool carpets, Empire-style
furnishings, rich Italian linens,
and elegant bathrooms of stone and
marble, the redesign left no elegant
detail overlooked.
In
a serendipitous turn of events, the
property is now owned by the Sycuan
Band of the Kumeyaay Nation—the
very tribe for which President Grant
ordained 640 acres of land in 1875.
The Sycuan see the purchase as an
ancestral tribute to Grant and have
directed the restoration while also
commissioning new paintings, sculptures,
and mixed media, thus securing the
glorious building as a cultural landmark—in
the midst of the hottest modern,
urban spots—for ages to come.
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Deluxe Rooms from
$295 – $499
Suites from
$595 – $3500
326 Broadway, San Diego
(619) 232-3121
PHOTO
COURTESY
THE US GRANT
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PASO
ROBLES INN
The
Best of Both Worlds
www.pasoroblesinn.com
The
appeal of Central Coast living lies
in the unique opportunity to access
all the benefits bigger cities offer
without leaving the pristine countryside
or losing the charming small-town
culture. Paso Robles Inn is a classic
example of this felicitous position.
Built in 1864 at the center of the
booming agricultural town, the inn
is bolstered by a rich history of
cowboys, outlaws, and missionaries,
and—over 100 years later—is
still at the heart of the region’s
modern industries and developments,
This
Central Coast wine country hub (minutes
from more than 90 premier wineries)
looks out onto the idyllic City Park.
Bordered by some of the region’s
best restaurants and boutiques, the
park is the crux of cultural activity
in Paso. Here, a farmer’s market
unfolds each week, wine festivals
and other exciting community events
take place, and visitors can lounge
on the grass or partake in games
of horseshoe or Frisbee between bouts
of shopping, dining, and wine tasting.
The inn’s popular Steakhouse
and Lounge and 1940s-diner-style
Coffee Shop provide a prime view
of these daily happenings. The
convenience of proximity, however, is not had at the price of comfort
or quiet; the centrally located inn is like the eye of the lively
Paso “storm.” A soothing stream trickles through the
middle of a lush inner courtyard accessed by winding, Oak and brick-lined
paths and bridges, and streams into large, mesmerizing koi ponds
at one end, and into the pool area at the other. Both the Deluxe
Spa rooms and the newest two-room suites (in the Jesse James Building)
offer comfortable, Monterey-style décor with mineral hot
spring Jacuzzi tubs on private balconies. The Grand Ballroom and
other meeting venues allow for tasteful private parties and, to
reconnect with the inn’s early bathhouse roots, they will
break ground this fall on the construction of a brand new, 8,000
sq.ft., full-service spa—the final touch for this relaxing
and convenient oasis from the comings and goings of the bustling
downtown right outside.
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Summer rates range from
$125 – $330
1103
Spring St.
Paso Robles
Toll Free ~ (800) 676-1713
Local ~ (805) 238-2660
PHOTO
COURTESY
PASO ROBLES INN
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ON THE BEACH B&B
Cayucos
Dreamin'
www.californiaonthebeach.com
There
are few towns along the California
Coast that manage to retain the flavor
of the old romantic California beach
community; Cayucos, just north of
Morro Bay, is one of the last. And
nestled along the quaint stretch
of stores and restaurants that flank
the tidy beach and pier, there is
the appropriately named On the Beach
Bed & Breakfast.
On
the Beach is a throwback to a time
when whitewashed wood buildings matched
the sand outside and surfers parked
their woodies and waited for the
next set to roll in. All of that
is still alive at this B&B—but
don’t be fooled; this is truly
laid back luxury. The rooms are full
and airy. All of the amenities are
included: wireless, fireplace, large
screen TV (if you get tired of the
awesome 360 degree views), rooftop
spa, and evening wine tasting (each
month they feature a different regional
winery). Plus, there’s a gourmet
breakfast. After all, this is a bed
and breakfast. And to top it all
off, each suite comes equipped with
towel warmers and incredibly fluffy
robes.
If
you can force yourself to leave the
perfect surroundings of On the Beach
Bed & Breakfast, the town of
Cayucos is easily explored on foot
from your base of operations. Stroll
the pier. Have lunch next door at
the funky Schooner’s Wharf.
Dine at Hoppe’s Garden Bistro
across the street and enjoy cuisine
provided by CCM®’s 2007
Iron Chef Central Coast champion,
Wilhelm
Hoppe. All of this within one square
block. So, if you’re California
dreamin’ for classic beach
town culture, you don’t need
to go any farther than Cayucos.
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Weekdays from
$189 – $249
Weekends from
$275 – $350
181
N. Ocean Ave.
Cayucos
Toll Free ~ (877) 995-0800
Local ~ (805) 995-3200
PHOTO
COURTESY
ON THE BEACH BED & BREAKFAST
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THE LODGE AT SONOMA
Ultimate
Wine Country Retreat
www.thelodgeatsonoma.com
Though
it is known as Valley of the Moon,
Sonoma is a place to see by daylight.
Rolling, tree-studded hills and peaceful
valleys made up of infinite hues,
vast vineyards under wide, bright
blue skies, and rambling country
roads that pass clusters of charming
homes are sights that cause the body
to relax and the mind to unwind.
Emanating a slightly slower tempo
than its big sister, Napa—Sonoma
is a wine country getaway that will
smooth your rough edges.
Paramount
to a perfect Sonoma experience is
selecting the right accommodations:
you’ll want a fully-equipped
resort in casually sophisticated
surroundings, comfortably elegant
rooms, and a tranquil, rejuvenating
atmosphere. You’ll want to
choose The Lodge at Sonoma.
Located
just a few blocks from the famed
Sonoma city park square, The Lodge
is a perfect base from which to explore
the charming downtown—assuming
you decide to leave the grounds.
The property and all of its buildings
are reflective of the inherent beauty
of the region; decorated in warm,
lush earth tones and pleasing textures.
Each of the 182 luxurious rooms and
private guest cottages features a
balcony or patio, king-sized feather
bed, and most have a deep soaking
tub and fireplace. The grounds, which
are landscaped with native plants
and grasses, provide a backdrop for
the permanent, rotating art collection
featuring the work of local artists.
The
Lodge’s award-winning Carneros
Bistro and Wine Bar offers a menu
utilizing a bounty of quality artisan
ingredients from the area; though
you’ll surely want to try some
of Sonoma’s famous restaurants,
don’t miss out on Chef Janine
Falvo’s exceptional regional
cuisine. Rounding out the resort’s
amenities is the outstanding Raindance
Spa with its menu of innovative treatments
using indigenous Sonoma products.
The
ultimate Sonoma experience won’t
require much effort. You’ll
just need to make the right choice:
The Lodge at Sonoma.
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Weekdays $289 – $339
Weekends $439 – $459
1325
Broadway
Sonoma
(707) 935-6600
PHOTO
COURTESY
THE LODGE AT SONOMA
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THE HADSTEN HOUSE INN & SPA
A
Scandinavian Escape
www.HadstenHouse.com
Most
of us don’t remember when Solvang
was simply a community founded by
persons of Danish extraction bound
together by common heritage and customs.
Today, we tend to overlook the meaningful
roots and think of it as a draw for
tourists, where visitors can experience
Danish culture without traveling
across the ocean; perhaps indulge
in some Aebleskivers or pick up a
few souvenirs.
Attracting
visitors from around the country,
Solvang—which means “sunny
field”—remains true to
its authentic Danish roots, but the
town has evolved in the last few
years to reflect the fact that it
is smack dab in the middle of the
famed Santa Ynez Valley wine country.
Successfully incorporating tasting
rooms and gourmet restaurants into
the scene of Danish bakeries and
Scandinavian architecture, luxury
accommodations within Solvang city
limits were a little harder to come
by—until now.
While
the Hadsten House Inn & Spa’s
walls may have been part of a former
motor hotel, it isn’t accurate
to say this charming property has
been merely renovated. Rather, it
has been entirely transformed from
floor to ceiling, and is reincarnated
as a luxurious boutique-style hotel.
A sophisticated color palette of
olive greens and dark browns is the
backdrop for the 71 uniquely appointed
guestrooms that feature custom mattresses,
plush bedding, European furnishings,
decorative fireplaces, flat screen
TVs, and granite and tile bathrooms
stocked with L’Occitane products—some
with top of the line, pipeless Sanijet
tubs.
The
property’s dining room is a
destination spot of its own—a
chic atmosphere of dark wood and
soft lighting, and an enticing menu
of gourmet wine country cuisine including
giant, succulent New Zealand Green
Lip Mussels in a luscious white wine
broth; perfect Lobster Bisque topped
with puff pastry; prime steaks and
fresh seafood with flavorful sauces;
and a Santa Barbara County wine list
that changes regularly. The service
in the restaurant (and elsewhere
on the property) is absolutely first-rate.
To
complete the retreat experience,
the onsite Haven Day Spa is staffed
by practitioners dedicated to rejuvenating
the skin while soothing the soul.
Featuring an awesome line of organic
seaweed products from Sea Flora,
they offer some of the best facials
and body treatments found anywhere
in the county.
Just
steps away from all that is Solvang,
The Hadsten House Inn & Spa makes
this delightful village destination
oh-so-much more perfect.
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King Rooms from
$174.60 (Sun– Thur)
$255.60 (Fri
and Sat)
King Jacuzzi Rooms from
$255.60 (Sun– Thurs)
$336 (Fri
and Sat)
One Night Spa Package from $300 plus
applicable taxes
One Night Dinner Package from $205
plus
applicable taxes
(Sun– Thurs only)
1450 Mission Dr.
Solvang
(800) 457-53731
PHOTO
COURTESY
THE HADSTEN HOUSE
INN & SPA
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