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HOORAY 4 TERRANEA!

05.30.10

by Joanne Tucker

For dazzling Pacific Ocean views, none can compare to the rugged Palos Verdes Peninsula, where the newly-opened and rather luxurious Terranea Resort & Spa sits on 102 acres of gorgeous coastal property (once home to Marineland).

Conveniently located between OC and LA’s South Bay beach cities, this elegant Mediterranean-inspired resort is surrounded by seemingly endless blue water on three sides with Catalina Island directly across the channel. At Terranea’s aquatic paradise, we spotted a whale guiding by and watched porpoises leaping out of the water from the resort’s high-walled and unbelievably scenic cliffs.

Terranea Resort & Spa offers 582 guest rooms and suites and residential-style bungalows, casitas and villas for family vacations, couples getaways and single retreats. Our guest room was bathed in mellow yellow with a view of both the ocean and the sophisticated adult lounging pool. Furnished in light and dark wood tones, the room had a warm and spacious feel, along with modern chrome accessories, plasma TV, ergonomic desk and small couch.

At mar’sel, Terranea’s fine dining restaurant, we sipped chili-pineapple margaritas while seated around an outdoor fire pit in the refreshing ocean air. Mar’sel features California-inspired Mediterranean cuisine, which is made from locally-grown organic produce and herbs picked from mar’sel’s own by-the-sea garden.

Golf at the award-winning nine-hole golf course, The Links at Terranea, swim at one of three pools, choose from eight restaurants to sup or snack or just wander around the lushly landscaped grounds with a grand ocean view at every turn.

Indulge yourself at Spa at Terranea, which includes a variety of ocean-inspired treatments. Before your spa treatment, work out in the resort’s gym or take yoga classes.

Although you’ll feel like you’re on an isolated island, nearby cities, attractions and sport venues abound including downtown Long Beach, Aquarium of the Pacific, San Pedro, Torrance, Manhattan and Redondo beaches. Even LA and OC destinations are a short car’s drive away (depending on traffic, of course). And, you can return to Terranea Resort at sunset for awesome views.

Need a family getaway? Kids can spend the day playing at the kids-only pool, complete with super fun spiral slides. There’s also a small beach cove for exploring the coastline at low tide. Terranea’s Nelson’s Restaurant is a casual restaurant to enjoy breakfast, lunch or dinner. You can also order up a family dinner in your room, casita or villa and end the evening with milk, cookies and a bed time story.

Ready to experience a new spa club level while staying in a sumptuous oceanfront bungalow? Terranea Resort is taking the “club and concierge floor” concept to a whole new level, which includes oceanview bungalow accommodations, personal concierge service, complimentary all day dining at The Spa Café, complimentary use of spa pool and spa amenities, 10% savings on cabana rentals at spa pool and 10% savings on spa treatments.

Club guests stay in a spacious bungalow suite with a separate living room, kitchen, indoor and outdoor fireplaces and private balcony or patio. Bungalow suites are located close to The Spa Café, where complimentary dining options are offered throughout the day. Club guests enjoy poolside relaxation and access to The Spa’s many amenities. The Spa setting is provided for all club guests.

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

HEAD TO HEALDSBURG

05.29.10

by Sheryll Alexander

The charming small town of Healdsburg is an ideal home base to explore Sonoma County’s wine country. Healdsburg sits in the center of Sonoma’s four top grape-growing valleys: Alexander Valley, Chalk Hill, Dry Creek Valley and Russian River Valley. And, the more than 100 world-class wineries in Sonoma County just happen to be surrounded by a rugged Northern California coastline, the meandering Russian River and old-growth redwood forests.

A stay at the highly organic and super comfortable Hotel Healdsburg puts you in the middle of Sonoma wine country action. More like a boutique hotel complex, the hotel sits on an entire corner of Healdsburg’s historic village and features spacious rooms, a pool, a spa, a news stop and café, a home store and Sonoma transplant Chef Charlie Palmer’s Dry Creek Kitchen.

At Hotel Healdsburg, the décor is as organic as it is minimalist with dark wood floors and furniture, fluffy feather beds, contrasting burnished silver metals, golden-colored walls and all shades of green in everything from mosaic-tiled walls to hallway paintings to surprising indoor-outdoor landscaping.

Everything about Hotel Healdsburg shouts relaxation from the almost hidden pool to complimentary wireless to the casual European-style buffet breakfast in the mornings. Step outside the hotel’s doors and you are situated right across from Healdsburg’s darling central plaza with a tree-lined park, wine tasting rooms, antique stores, art galleries, restaurants and boutiques.

Head out from Healdsburg for a day’s drive on Sonoma County’s winding country roads and you’ll feel like in the wine-growing regions of France or Italy. Reserve a day for a relaxing drive down the Russian River to the beautiful coastal town of Jenna or drive through the Armstrong Redwoods near Cazadero. On a road trip through Sonoma’s Valley of the Moon, you end up at the beautiful Fairmont Mission Inn & Spa, where you can soak in natural hot mineral springs.

In the evening, don’t miss dinner at Dry Creek Kitchen where, if you bring along a bottle of two of Sonoma County wine, there’s no corkage fee and the seasonal wine country cuisine is absolutely delectable.

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