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A EURO HOLIDAY AT WESTLAKE VILLAGE INN

12.16.10

By Sue Facter

You feel like you are strolling through Europe and forget that you are just 75 minutes north of the OC at Westlake Village Inn.

A quiet treasure during the holidays, Westlake Village Inn first opened in 1968. Founded by Swiss-born developer John L. Notter, Westlake Village Inn originally had 75 simple rooms. Today, the resort has expanded to seven buildings that house 141 European-style rooms in which no two are the same.

Yes, if you want to get away from OC and LA holiday madness, Westlake Village Inn can be your private escape. Housed on 17 acres, this boutique estate has bungalow-style buildings with no more than two floors. Each room or suite is designed with different views of the lake, golf course, English gardens or mountains. You’ll see rock waterfalls, steams, floral ponds, a rose arbor with 25 various hues and fragrances, European fountains, a gazebo and ivy-vined trellised walkways.

A Perfect Holiday Oasis
If it’s quiet and privacy that you are seeking, you are in luck. Even Tiger Woods stayed here recently (solo!) and he retained his privacy. Rooms have cozy gas fireplaces, vaulted ceilings, private terraces, Jacuzzi tubs, two sinks in the bathroom and Italian Matteo bedding.

The most notable room is the Ronald Reagan Master Suite featuring never-been published photos of the former President. The suite was created for visiting dignitaries and features an adjoining room for secret service agents. Each visit includes a copy of “The Ronald Reagan Diaries” and a jar of jelly beans.

If the weather is warm, the resort’s pool has first-come, first-served poolside cabanas around a circular pool. Plus, you can enjoy a soothing massage in spa treatment rooms adjacent to the pool. Or, there’s nothing more relaxing than getting your massage (solo or couples) right in your poolside cabana.

Guests have access to a golf course, tennis courts and a fitness center, which also borders the lovely pool.

Cuisine and Spirits
Each morning, a continental breakfast is included with your hotel room. The pièce de la resistance, however, is the resort’s bistro-style restaurant, Mediterraneo. Executive chef Alberto Vazquez has created Med-bistro fare with fresh, seasonal ingredients.

You might want to toast the holidays at Mediterraneo with a bottle of champagne outdoors, under the stars or overlooking the lake. Or, you can dine just as comfortably in two private rooms with fireplaces. Both lunch and dinner are served at this casual restaurant as well as a Sunday brunch. On a second terrace (with fireplace and heat lamps), you’re within view of the hotel’s herb gardens and vineyard.

The resort’s more casual eatery, Bogies, is a popular spot for cocktails each evening. Plus, Bogies is hosting a Venetian Masquerade Ball for New Year’s Eve with live entertainment, dancing, and gaming tables.

Additional Features and Outings
What else can you do in Westlake Village? Complimentary bicycles are provided right outside the lobby. Maps of the scenic Conejo Valley provide routes used in the 2010 Amgen Bike Tour. The world’s top cyclists, including Lance Armstrong, have traveled these roads.

Camarillo Outlets are just a 15-minute drive from the hotel and Santa Barbara and all of its attractions is just 45 minutes north. For some history, the Ronald Reagan Presidential Public Library and Museum are a few miles away.

Saddle Peak Lodge
Saddle Peak Lodge is reason enough to visit Westlake Village Inn. Located in nearby Calabasas, Saddle Peak Lodge is a romantic destination restaurant. The history of Saddle Peak Lodge is legend as this woodsy, yet elegant building was once a Pony Express stop, hunting lodge and bordello.

Today, however, Saddle Peak Lodge is one of Malibu Canyon’s most acclaimed restaurants with excellent cuisine, unique dining rooms with rustic fireplaces, a bar bedecked with vintage guns and fishing rods and a terrace surrounded by pines and peaks. Executive chef, Adam Horton, who trained in Europe, serves hearty mountain retreat fare with an emphasis on massive steaks, game meats and seafood. The wine list is extensive and features mostly well-chosen California wines.

Want to get away for the holidays, but don’t want to go too far? Take a trip to the relaxing Westlake Village Inn and give yourself and your family a lavish holiday meal at Saddle Peak Lodge.

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

MONTEREY FOR THE HOLIDAYS!

12.13.10

By Holly Wong

Looking for a place to relax and decompress this holiday season? Consider taking a drive towards the Central Coast where California’s scenic shores can work wonders for clearing one’s mind. And once you arrive at the sunny seaside city of Monterey, you’ll know you picked a fantastic destination to unwind.

Artsy and bohemian, yet sophisticated too, Monterey is akin to OC’s own Laguna Beach with the distinct advantage of being home to the world-renowned Monterrey Bay Aquarium – a destination that makes this seaside locale excellent for family trips.

Site of the famous aquarium, the all-encompassing Cannery Row provides an entire day’s worth of dining and shopping pleasure. Plus, California adobes and charming historical buildings make a walk through downtown Monterey just like stepping back into time.

Skate and Stay Free Holiday Package
This winter, families staying at the newly renovated Portola Hotel & Spa can enjoy an extra special perk. Starting now and up until Jan. 9, you can book the “Stay and Skate Free” package, which affords guests a complimentary full day of ice skating in true outdoor fashion for up to four people. Located just behind the hotel in Custom House Plaza, the ice skating rink is open all day and into the late evening. Packages start at $199 a night.

Overlooking super scenic Monterey Bay, the Portola Hotel & Spa is definitely a hot spot to spend a peaceful or romantic holiday. With 369 rooms, 10 suites and the largest day spa in Monterey County (Spa on the Plaza), the hotel offers an array of amenities similar to a larger hotel yet still maintains a residential feel.

Freshly decorated Portola Rooms all have a city or garden terrace view and most have balconies. Each room features floor-to-ceiling -length white shutters, rich wood furnishings and large bathrooms with separate vanity areas. All overnight guests have access to the outdoor pool and Jacuzzi, sauna, steam room and fitness facilities. High-speed internet, a large workstation and video games are available when guests simply want to relax in-room.

Dining in Monterey
Even though Portola Hotel & Spa is adjacent to Fisherman’s Wharf and a short walk to several restaurants on Cannery Row, the dining options at the Portola Hotel are pretty awesome. Touted as Monterey’s “best kept secret,” Jack’s Restaurant & Lounge features California coastal cuisine prepared with local ingredients, sustainable seafood and produce, and naturally raised beef.

Guests can pair their meal with wine list selections that showcase the wineries of Monterey County. Adults can take a break and enjoy a seasonal martini such as the spiced pumpkin, eggnog or Godiva Double chocolate concoctions.

For something more low-key, Portola Hotel is also home to Monterey’s sole microbrewery, Peter B’s BrewPub. At the pub, guests can pair hand crafted beers by brewmaster Andrew Wyer with gourmet pub food prepared with fresh and local ingredients.

With picturesque surroundings, a plethora of activities, an array of dining options and a charming vibe, it’s no secret that Monterey has it all. When it comes to choosing a relaxing holiday destination that the whole family will enjoy, a trip to the Central Coast will certainly fit the bill.

Holly Wong is a food and travel writer based in Irvine, Calif. Check out her blog here [url=http://www.savoredblog.com/]http://www.savoredblog.com/[/url].

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