Greer's OC

Travel

Wine Country Month in Atascadero

06.14.13

Wine lovers in need of a weekend getaway can escape to Atascadero and celebrate its inaugural "Wine Month" with special events, customized hotel packages and discounts on wine, food, olive oil tasting, spa, golf and outdoor activities. Atascadero, nestled between Paso Robles and Edna Valley Wine Country features more than 250 wineries, as well as excellent restaurants, and activities like golf and zip lining and it’s near Hearst Castle and relaxing beaches.

The wine month’s main event, the Atascadero Wine Festival will be celebrated on Saturday, June 22 at the beautiful Atascadero Lake Park. Enjoy world-class wines, food and artistic talents featuring more than 80 San Luis Obispo County wineries, pairings, fine art, live music and entertainment. To purchase tickets, visit AtascaderoWineFestival.org.

Need a place to stay? Mention “Atascadero Wine Month” at one of these hotels while booking and receive a bottle of wine upon arrival. Participating hotels include Best Western PLUS Colony Inn Packages, The Carlton Hotel Packages, Holiday Inn Express & Suites Packages and Olivas de Oro Olive Company Guest House Packages.

To find out more about participating wineries, olive oil tasting rooms, restaurants, golf and spa specials for Atascadero Wine Month, visit here.

The Breathtaking, Iconic Westin Resort in Cabo

06.02.13

We laughed out loud at one review of the Westin Resort and Spa, Los Cabos, someone referred to as “colorful and exciting architectural gem” like a “Candyland meets Frank Lloyd Wright” and there is some truth in that. This spectacular resort designed by famed architect, Javier Sordo Madaleno was created with the nearby rock formation "El Arco” in mind.

The hotel’s design is literally cut into the side of the cliffs blending colors of the sea, sun and desert with straight lines, rigid edges and fantastic geometrical forms. Once you arrive, the beauty of award winning design, the desert terrain, and the magnificent red stone building leading out to Sea of Cortez will take your breath away.

If relaxing in the sun, sleeping with the sounds of waves crashing nearby, and taking in expansive views of the beach, pools, and the sea appeals to you, the Westin Resort and Spa, Los Cabos is your place.

You’ll want to explore the property, an oasis with seven pools to choose from including a free-form pool with an infinity edge offering amazing views of the ocean, an adult only Margarita Pool featuring a swim-up bar, and La Cascada Pool, offering shade and shallow waters for younger children.

In each of the 243 guest rooms you’ll find a private balcony, request an ocean view if available!) and you’ll sleep soundly in Westin’s signature Heavenly Bed, that’s so comfortable that we want one at home now too!

Make your vacation even more restful and memorable. Book a pampering treatment at the world class Spa and Fitness Center. You can take advantage of cutting-edge treatments to traditional therapies such as grapefruit body exfoliation, moisturizing honey wrap, or a skin-rejuvenating Celestial Body Wrap.
The Spa offers 5-minute sample treatments to enjoy by the pool or beach or go for a full 50 minutes of bliss. There’s even a private beach side cabana for treatments.

At the Westin, you’ll never go hungry or thirsty with five restaurants and four bars to choose from, you can enjoy upscale dining to casual poolside bites. We especially recommend the fine dining Arrecifes, it’s a top rated restaurant in the area, and Chef Jesus Olivares creates exceptional dishes as tuna tartar with chipotle aioli, avocado puree, salmon steak with creamy risotto and squash blossom sauce, and duck breast with plantain mashed and mole. Nearby, at On the Rocks Bar, you can watch the sunset, enjoy cocktails, and live music on the weekends.

Book a room in one of the Royal Beach Club Room and Suites and you’ll have access to a Royal Beach Club Lounge that allows you to stop in for a continental breakfast with hot options; coffee, tea, fruit, and snacks anytime; and at sunset, hors d’oeuvres, wines and beers, soft drinks, and bottled water.

Need ideas on what to do outside the hotel? Just a few of your choices include golfing, fishing, horseback riding, boating, shopping, and dining. You can take a sunset cruise along the coastline, or rent a car and explore Santa Maria Bay, Marina Cabo San Lucas, Old Light House, Buenavista, and Todos Santos, a beautiful small coastal town 60 miles away known for spectacular surf.