Greer's OC

Travel

HAPPY HOLIDAYS AT THE RITZ-CARLTON MARINA DEL REY

12.01.10

By Sue Facter

When towering above a gaggle of yachts in a peaceful harbor, it is hard to believe you are in the hustle and bustle of Los Angeles. But the Ritz-Carlton Marina del Rey is close enough to LA’s excitements and yet this seaside resort makes you feel as if you are ensconced in a private retreat. Plus, The Ritz-Carlton Marina del Rey is both family and pet friendly.

Located on the swanky Admiralty Way, The Ritz-Carlton Marina del Rey has 304 guest rooms overlooking a stunning harbor. And where better an oasis to spend the holidays? The hotel is just a mere seven minutes from LAX airport and neighbors with Venice Beach, Santa Monica and Malibu. And, The Ritz-Carlton Marina del Rey is near all the exciting and family-friendly LA attractions.

At holiday time, imagine walking into the inviting lobby of The Ritz-Carlton Marina del Rey with twinkling trees and sophisticated decorations. Smiling staff members greet your family and offer each one a hot cider upon check-in (replacing the yummy watermelon mint drink available the rest of the year). Or, how about walking hand-in-hand along the harbor’s boardwalk or clinking champagne on an outdoor terrasse with warm and glowing fire pit.

The Ritz Club Level Privileges
We suggest booking a room on the resort’s club level floor as you then have privileges to the Club Lounge, which serves four meals each day and features a dedicated concierge on duty at all times. Yes, just down the hall from your room, you can find sizable bites for breakfast, lunch, snacks, dinner and dessert. And the adults have a treat too: unlimited alcohol (including champagne) is complimentary. In addition, you can use one of three computers and borrow books from the club’s library.

Perhaps the best part of being a club lounge member at The Ritz-Carlton Marina del Rey is the telescopes. Ask for a telescope from the concierge and you can spy some of the best views in LA. When you take a peek, you may feel a little naughty prying into the confines of a neighbor’s yacht in the harbor. You may also see the resort’s oversized heated pool and Jacuzzi (open 24 hours) as well as the tennis courts. The fitness center, which is hidden from view, offers signature spa yoga classes with Sivajyoti, who just returned from training in India and Dubai. The fitness center also features state-of-the-art Precor weight equipment and a eucalyptus steam room.

Spending the Holidays at The Ritz Marina del Rey
What else is The Ritz-Carlton Marina del Rey offering for the holidays? Well, there’s always sumptuous meals at the in-house eatery, Jer-ne Restaurant Bar. Chef Joshua Hasho is already planning menus top notch menus for Christmas Eve Dinner, Christmas Day Brunch, Christmas Day Dinner, New Year’s Eve Dinner and an extended breakfast on New Year’s Day.

What about the kids? Chef Hasho prepares a special children’s buffet for each holiday meal that includes cheese and pepperoni pizza, chicken strips with French fries, peanut butter and jelly triangles and mixed fruit cups.

Not sure about the food? On our recent trip, we happily tasted butternut squash (with frangelico and pumpkin oil), sea bass with caramelized fennel and a rib eye with snap peas, pearl onions and confit Yukon potato. Pastry chef Travis Horn wowed us with “soft chocolate” (banana croutons and malted buttermilk sorbet) as well as lemon and peppermint ice cream.

Still not sure? After an excellent dinner and dessert, we were totally relaxed and toasty while sitting on the hotel’s scenic terrasse by a raging fire. Later, we headed to the Club Lounge for after dinner drinks and a little conversation. Finally, we fell straight into our fluffy bed and slept until the sun rose again over the beautiful marina.

Did you know Marina del Rey means “Sea Coast of the King”? Yes, at The Ritz-Carlton Marina del Rey, each holiday guest is treated like royalty.

Sue Facter is a luxury travel connoisseur based in Los Angeles. She is a 20 year-contributor to USA Today.

ONLY IN OXNARD

11.23.10

By Joanne Tucker

Seven miles of uncrowded, unspoiled, white sandy beaches and tons of sun and surf activities make Oxnard a fun seaside weekend getaway or an extended family vacation. Plus, Oxnard is a rural getaway par excellence, is close to Santa Barbara wine country and is the perfect spot to be truly adventurous and visit the highly isolated and totally exotic Channel Islands.

Located one hour north of LA off Highway 101, this thriving Central Coast California town is not only a haven for sun lovers and surfers, but it also offers visitors a pedestrian-friendly downtown district filled with historic buildings, world-class museums, art galleries, antique stores, chic shops and trendy restaurants.

With easy access to the Channel Islands Harbor, Oxnard’s waterfront activities include kayaking, scuba diving, jet skiing, sport fishing and sailing. The harbor also serves as a launching point to the Channel Islands National Park & National Marine Sanctuary and whale watching boat cruises from January through mid-April.

Embassy Suites Mandalay Beach Hotel and Resort, Oxnard
We began our weekend getaway at one of Oxnard’s most beautiful beaches—Mandalay Beach. This is where the Embassy Suites Mandalay Beach Hotel and Resort sits on 8.5 acres of prime coastal property. The glowing pink Spanish Colonial-style stucco hotel creates a striking backdrop for its lush tropical gardens, broad lawns, sparkling waterfalls and blue lagoons.

The Embassy Suites Mandalay Beach Hotel and Resort has 248 spacious two and three-room suites with two marble baths, wet bar, refrigerator and microwave. All two-room suites have patios or balconies with pool, ocean or garden views.

We stayed in a deluxe two-room suite with a tropical motif of lime greens, sunny yellows and sultry oranges. Our spacious suite had a terrific view of the ocean, and in the morning, we gingerly stepped from our open patio, crossed over a waterfront pathway and onto Mandalay Beach’s pristine sand for a leisurely walk along a sun swept shoreline.

In the afternoon, we highly enjoyed an easy-going waterfront bike ride from Oxnard Beach Park to the Channel Islands Harbor. And, while sitting on the patio, we watched a beautiful sunset of soft pinks and glowing oranges that highlighted a silhouette of the Channel Islands. A perfect ending to a fun-in-the-sun day!

We found this resort makes a beach stay affordable with a complimentary fully cooked-to-order breakfast and a hosted evening reception, which serves cocktails, spirits, lagers and ales and soft drinks.

And there’s no need to leave the resort for lunch or dinner. Set in a south seas tropical décor, the on-site Capistrano’s Restaurant features California cuisine and a Sunday Champagne brunch. Plus, the Cabana Lounge next to the restaurant has live entertainment and dancing every weekend.
For outdoor enthusiasts, take a dip in an outdoor heated pool or relax in a whirlpool. Bike and boogie board rentals are offered on-site as well as in-season surfing and kayak lessons.

Touring, Drinking and Eating at Herzog Wine Cellars
We decided to venture out of the resort and drove to the Herzog Wine Cellars. Conveniently located off Highway 101, this modern winery is the largest producer of kosher wines in the world.

After a winery tour and wine tasting, we lunched at Herzog’s Tierra Sur Restaurant. This intimate restaurant is not to be missed!

Tierra Sur Restaurant has received numerous awards for its Mediterranean-influenced seasonal cuisine prepared from fresh local produce and paired perfectly with tantalizing wines.

We ordered the red orach spinach salad with warm mustard and lamb bacon vinaigrette and a spicy squash soup ($7) and entrees of pomegranate marinated lamb sandwich with roasted red peppers, garlic aioli and arugula and chipotle chili marinated skirt steak with sweet potato fries and cabbage slaw ($24 each), paired with Herzog Special Reserve Pinot Noir from the cool Edna Valley appellation in California.

Oxnard’s Downtown District
After lunch, we strolled around Oxnard’s downtown district. Steeped in early California history, Heritage Square boasts a variety of 1900s era buildings and Plaza Park marks the turf where Oxnard first sprang up in 1882.

On Fourth Street, we visited two museums: the Gull Wings Children’s Museum, a space for kids to have fun exploring and discovering the world around them, and the Woolworth Museum that has a nostalgic collection of 50s and 60s items.

The Carnegie Art Museum, located across from Plaza Park, is the only museum in Ventura County dedicated to fine art with a permanent collection of 20th century California artists.

For car buffs, the Murphy Auto Museum on Statham Boulevard has an impressive collection of 40 antique and classic autos and hot rod cars.

Only in Oxnard can a visitor enjoy the pleasures of cruising along miles of uncrowded beaches, kayaking at the Channel Islands Harbor, people watching in a downtown historic plaza and sampling locally grown produce and hand-crafted wines in fine dining restaurants. With its year round sunny weather, Oxnard is an ideal vacation venue for both land and sea adventures.

Joanne Tucker is a lifestyles writer based in Costa Mesa, California.

‹ First < 81 82 83 84 85 > Last ›

More Travel

Follow Greer on Pinterest

Advertise Here