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1906 LODGE FOR A RESTORATIVE CORONADO GETAWAY!

07.25.11

Review By Terra Flores

If you love history, seaside locales, and lots of quiet, 1906 Lodge on San Diego’s picturesque Coronado Island is a restorative vacation getaway.

Unlike other busy Southern California beaches where the 20-something crowd reigns, 1906 Lodge is a 17-suite boutique hotel that sits in a no-hustle residential area. It’s an easy, 10-minute walk to the Pacific-side, award-winning Coronado Beach and dozens of shops and restaurants.

We stayed at this meticulously renovated historical lodge built in 1906 (thus the lodge’s name!). Originally it was a boarding house, but it was overhauled from the foundation to the roof in 2004 and has since received Coronado Historic Designation.

Within eyesight view of the famed red-roofed Hotel Del Coronado, all luxury suites are tastefully done with individual themes. Plus, most rooms have Sanijet pipeless spa tubs for a lavish, romantic, and relaxing experience.

Tea Garden Room & In-Room Spas

On a tour of the property, our favorite room was the Tea Garden. A honeymoon couple’s dream, this room has a massive gold-leaf, four-poster king bed with a tea garden tapestry headboard.

Our Tent City room was a private, quiet master suite with historical décor, Tiffany lamps, a first-class fireplace and a private porch overlooking a garden courtyard with relaxing water feature. We were greeted in our room by signature lemonade and chocolates, and were happy to see that we had free wireless and a small refrigerator and wet bar.

Biking Around Coronado Island

Coronado Island has quite a bit of history, such as the famed tent city, and all rooms explore this element. And the best way to discover island history is by parking your vehicle in the lodge’s private garage (parking is complimentary) and renting a bike from an around-the-corner bike shop. Yes, at Little Sam’s, you can rent a bike by the hour, day or week.

We toured the periphery of the public part of the island (the other half is occupied by a military base) on our sturdy Huffy cruisers in an hour. We pedaled along the local golf course, under the Coronado Bay Bridge, to the edge of Tidelands Park and Ferry Landing, through gorgeous residential neighborhoods and parallel to Coronado Beach. It was a lovely bike ride with lots of clean air and not a lot of people.

Eateries Abound

Each morning, 1906 Lodge serves a classy, complimentary breakfast. A cook offers one hot entrée option and there’s also delightfully displayed cereal, fruit, yogurt and hard-boiled eggs.

For lunch and dinner, Coronado Island has more than 70 eating establishments, and most of them are within a 5-10 minute walk. The innkeepers are happy to inform guests about the best island eateries.Some of their favorites include the Italian Vigilucci’s Ristorante and for French cuisine Chez Loma.

We tried street savvy Mexican fare at Clayton’s Take Out. These authentic tacos with homemade salsa really wake you up. Yum!

Hotel Del & Beach Strolling

A morning walk took us over to Hotel Del Coronado. This historic resort has some lovely, high-end gardens on its Pacific surf side with plant identification labels on exotic succulent varieties.

Coronado Beach is one of the top beaches in the world, especially for families. It’s not over populated and contains several protected tidepool areas. We saw several families with kids balancing on rocks and looking for marine life in these little pools of water.

Another great thing about 1906 Lodge is this boutique hotel loans complimentary beach chairs, umbrellas and towels.

We highly recommend 1906 Lodge for your next vacation getaway, especially if there’s just two of you.

1906 Lodge at Coronado Beach, 1060 Adella Ave., Coronado, California, 866-435-1906, www.1906lodge.com.

Terra Flores is a freelance travel writer.

GET THE ROYAL TREATMENT AT PARK HYATT AVIARA

07.22.11

Review by Terra Flores

If you are ready for the royal treatment, then look no further than Park Hyatt Aviara in nearby Carlsbad. Yes, we experienced non-stop service and attention from the moment we drove up to this resort’s lovely Mediterranean entrance.

Who knew service was this good? At Park Hyatt Aviara, we marveled at each detail and how each guest request was executed with sincerity. From the front desk manager to the pool attendant to the spa director, it seems comfort and ease are this resort’s main goal.

Situated just above the expansive and picturesque Batiquitos Lagoon wildlife preserve, Park Hyatt Aviara resort has a rolling hills view with the Pacific Ocean beyond. The 200-acre resort sits amid the preserve’s natural beauty. With its dramatic, yet rustic Spanish colonial architecture and super lush grounds, Park Hyatt Aviara is definitely one of North San Diego County’s most luxurious resorts.

Luxury Suites at Park Hyatt Aviara

The Park Hyatt Aviara has 285 rooms and 44 suites. Each room features a private balcony or landscaped terrace and each room has a view of the hills, valleys, lagoon and the blue Pacific.

Our very roomy suite was located on a private wing of the property. There are three such suites at Aviara and each has a different décor theme plus a small kitchenette, three bathrooms, living room, dining room, master bedroom, multiple private outdoor patios (and available adjoining king room for romance even with the kids in tow).

Resort Life at Aviara

Those who love to live life around the pool love Aviara. The main pool is expansive with private cabanas, Jacuzzi, a family pool, children’s wading pool and splash play area for little ones.

We enjoyed the “tranquility pool.” Only for guests 16+, this designated quiet area overlooks the ecological preserve’s lake and has an escape-inducing waterfall. We also loved the free wireless and lots of power outlets so we could work by the pool next to sweet-smelling tropical flowers. My personal attendant delivered lemon water and the view of nature here in North San Diego was breathtakingly beautiful.

In fact, we are told some of the most coveted rooms at Park Hyatt Aviara are situated next to this tranquility pool. With some of the best views, these rooms are also highly relaxing as the waterfall’s lullaby soothes during slumber.

Aviara Spa Pampers

For more relaxation, check out the full-service Aviara Spa. Hidden amongst the resort’s lush tropical foliage, the spa is a gorgeous haven. The spa features his and her whirpools, steam room, sauna and fully-stocked locker rooms. The spa also has a full range of body treatments, aesthetics and massage therapy services.

We were impressed with all the high-end details: fresh cut fruits and vegetables, crunchy nuts, healthy teas and flavored waters awaited in the Roman-style waiting room. Aromatherapy face cloths with relaxing herbal scents are offered immediately to start the unwinding process. Soft aromatherapy diffusers are everywhere – waiting to envelope you into a renewed state.

We experienced the “anti-age ritual” facial. The treatment was gentle, quiet, organized and aromatic. Using Darphin Paris products, our aesthetician was an expert at comfort. After the facial, we were lulled into a sleepy dream state on a heated treatment bed while the therapist finished the treatment with a foot and leg massage. Heaven!

Four Restaurants Cater to All Palates

The Park Hyatt Aviara is serious about food and drink. The resort has four restaurants that cater to all tastes and even special needs such as gluten-free dishes.

For breakfast, we tried the resort’s California Bistro. This lovely garden-type restaurant has big windows and scenic vistas. The expansive buffet has everything: fruits, cooked-to-order eggs, breads, cereals, meats and much more. We loved the housemade vanilla bean yogurt with some fresh fruit and crunchy made-this-morning granola.

Come dinnertime, we dressed and took a quick shuttle to the resort’s Argyle Steakhouse. Located on the 18^th green of the award-winning Aviara Golf Course, Argyle Steakhouse focuses on seasonal cuisine and naturally-raised prime steaks. We were wowed by the white asparagus soup, braised tofu and slow-braised boneless short ribs. The tender and juicy bone-in rib eye (from Vintage Farms) was the star of the dinner.

If you are traveling with kids, spend a little down time in the resort’s “game room” after dinner. Located right next to the Camp Hyatt (a daytime camp for kids 3-12 years), we played classic video games and foosball to everyone’s delight.

Lively music led us into the resort’s sumptuous lobby lounge for some live bluegrass music. Sitting on a lovely couch and surrounded by other relaxed adults and families, we finally sat back and enjoyed the ultimate indulgence of an impromptu before-bed concert.

Golf and Tennis at Aviara

For golfers, Park Hyatt Aviara is a dream. The 18-hole championship course was designed by Arnold Palmer and is one of the best golf courses in the world. A complimentary shuttle service takes you to the course directly and golfers love the service at the clubhouse, golf shop and post-golf lounge.

Like tennis? Park Hyatt Aviara has six well-tended courts as well as an on-site tennis pro. For those who love to run and hike, each room has a detailed brochure of well-marked scenic hiking routes.

Additionally, the resort’s “recreation center” offers complimentary croquet, badminton, lawn bowling, horseshoes, sand volleyball, and a children’s playground. The hotel also offers shuttle service to the beach.

Ready to be truly refreshed? Get away to Park Hyatt Aviara for the luxury, the décor, the spa, the food, the sea, the gardens, the golf and, mostly importantly, the service.

Terra Flores is a freelance travel writer.

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