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We are Happy at Hotel Laguna!

05.10.12

Review by Jennifer Morris

Historic Hotel Laguna is certainly more than just a place to rest your head. On the contrary, Hotel Laguna is an iconic boutique hotel. Nestled in the heart of downtown Laguna Beach and overlooking Main Beach, this charming hotel provides scenic atmosphere, comfortable rooms and impeccable hospitality for tourists and locals alike.

“Build it and they shall come” must have been the mantra of Hotel Laguna when it was constructed in the late 19th century. It is recognized to be the first hotel and first substantial business building in Laguna Beach. However, do not let its age fool you as this hotel offers as many amenities as its newer resort counterparts.

One amenity no other Laguna hotel can boast is the location. Walk outside the hotel and Laguna’s downtown village is at your feet. Take a stroll and you are among Laguna’s best cafes, shops, restaurants, bakeries, galleries, boutiques and entertainment.

Hotel Laguna, however, is even better known for its spectacular view. Make sure to ask for Room 201 when you make reservations. This way, you can enjoy the same view that News Channel 7 does. That’s because they have a Live Beach Cam mounted to the hotel that showcases breathtaking vistas to viewers at home. But why watch it on television when you can experience it first hand?

History in the Making

Upon arrival, we were efficiently checked into the Bogart Suite, which was named after the famous actor who once stayed at Hotel Laguna. Other famous past hotel guests include Hollwood legends Errol Flynn and John Barrymore who enjoyed retreating from their hectic Hollywood lives to this ‘California Riviera” destination).

Guest rooms at Hotel Laguna exude the same classic and understated style these “Old Hollywood” celebrities possessed. Recently renovated rooms reveal new bedding, carpeting, and curtains, while the original doorknobs and lighting fixtures remain for a charismatic and historic appeal.

A quick tour through the two-story, 65-room hotel is like a walk down memory lane. Black and white photos of Laguna Beach throughout the lobby chronicle the rich history of this tranquil seaside town. These snapshots in time show a once-barren landscape and how it has developed into what it is now -- occupied with multi-million dollar homes, high-end restaurants and trendy boutiques.

Where to Dine

Fortunately, you don’t have to travel far while staying in Laguna Beach to find many of OC’s best restaurants including the hotel’s Claes Ovation. Claes Ovation offers traditional dishes served alongside more progressive dishes as well. Offerings such as pan-roasted monkfish and vanilla-braised pork belly delight the palate.

For those looking for something more casual, check out the hotel's Ocean View Bar & Grill. The OceanView serves breakfast, lunch, and a popular-with-locals happy hour.

Looking for a breakfast place that rivals mom’s pancakes? Pop into The Cottage, which is another landmark in Laguna Beach. Like the name depicts, this cozy eatery has been serving guests for more than 45 years. Other excellent restaurants within walking distance of the hotel include Tommy Bahama’s, WaterMarc, The Beach House, The Deck, Broadway by Amar Santana, Brussels Bistro, Café Zoolu, House of Big Fish & Ice Cold Beer, Las Brisas, Lumberyard, Sundried Tomato Café, 230 Forest, Zinc Café & Market.

Nearby Historic Adventures

Keeping with the theme of historic attractions in Laguna Beach, make sure you pay a visit to several the following:

PAGEANT OF THE MASTERS AND THE FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS

World Famous “live-art re-creations” and art show founded in 1932. Season runs July through August.

BETTE DAVIS HOUSE

An English Tudor-style home, the Bette Davis House was built in 1929. It overlooks beautiful Wood's Cove. Bette Davis lived here during the early 1940s.

EDWARDS SOUTH COAST LAGUNA CINEMA

Built in 1934 in the Mediterranean Revival style, this downtown movie theatre was the first building in Laguna to be constructed of steel and concrete.

HEISLER POINT

Heisler Point is situated on a coastal bluff just north of Main Beach. This spot, which features a picturesque gazebo, offers incredible views of Laguna's coastline and is a popular wedding site.

LAGUNA ART MUSEUM

The Laguna Art Museum, which is the oldest cultural institution in Orange County, is a museum of American art with a special focus on the plein air art of California.

LAGUNA PLAYHOUSE

Founded in 1920, Laguna Playhouse is one of the region’s premier professional theaters. Season runs September through June.

Hotel Laguna, 425 South Coast Highway Laguna Beach, 949-494-1151,

http://www.hotellaguna.com

Jennifer Morris owns Ajenda Public Relations, which specializes in all things hospitality related in Orange County. Follow her! @jennlynnmorris

KIDS LOVE PELICAN HILL!

04.23.12

Review by Sheryll Alexander

We love all the seaside resorts in OC, but Pelican Hill Resort offers its own brand of decadence (three restaurants and a spa) and recreation (two Fazio-designed golf courses and Camp Pelican for the kids!) this spring and summer. And, did you know the three valet services at Pelican Hill are complimentary? Yes, you can pull up and just pay a tip when visiting the resort even during OC’s warmest months. Wow!

On our recent visit to Pelican Hill, we drove right up to the Coliseum Pool & Grill entrance where the valet held our car while we dropped off our daughter at Camp Pelican’s super cool club house.

“It’s a fun, wonderful experience for young children,” so says our progeny after spending a delightful afternoon with about eight other children at Camp Pelican, which has its own pool, sandy beach and computer room for older kids. Crafts, games and books also abound in this cozy, yet high-tech cottage.

A year-round children’s retreat, Camp Pelican offers half- and full-day visits with lunch included for ages 4-12 (for resort and day spa guests only). On select dates in July, August and September, the following activities are available to children at Pelican Hill:

Kids’ Night Out at Camp Pelican: Saturday nights from 5-9 p.m., children ages 4-12 can enjoy a fun-filled evening of dinner, popcorn and a movie at Camp Pelican. $60 (excluding tax and gratuity) per child.

The Lizard Wizard at Camp Pelican: Children get a look into the world of reptiles, amphibians and arthropods with the Lizard Wizard! Come tickle a millipede’s feet, stroke the spines of an iguana’s back and tap the shell of a giant tortoise all complimentary for children ages 4-12 enrolled in Camp Pelican. This activity is complimentary for children enrolled in Camp Pelican for the day, or $25 (excluding tax and gratuity) per child for non-enrolled participants.

Mindful Octopus at The Spa: Inspired by the traditional art of storytelling and the ancient science of yoga, Mindful Octopus is a philosophically based program committed to bringing peace, love, and happiness to kids, through a modern practice of story, yoga, and art. Sessions for children ages 4-12 are held in The Spa’s movement studio. $35 (excluding tax and gratuity) per child.

Summer Junior Golf Camps: June 25-28, July 9-12, July 16-19, July 23-26, August 6-9, August 13-16 & August 20-23

Junior golfers ages 7-13 are invited to attend a four-day camp at Pelican Hill Golf Academy overseen by Director of Instruction Glenn Deck. Limited to 10 students per camp with a five-to-one student-to-teacher ratio, Junior Golf Camps run from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., focusing on putting, full swing, short game, rules and etiquette.

$375 (excluding tax and gratuity) per child per camp. Reservations may be arranged by calling Glenn Deck at 949.467.5810.

Dining at Pelican Grill

And, while our daughter ate a gourmet lunch, made a craft, played a game, walked the grounds for housemade gelato in the resort’s café and then frolicked in the pool, we dined at Pelican Grill.

Yes, we drove to another complimentary valet station at the resort’s famed Pelican Hill Golf Club for lunch with a relaxing ocean view. On sunny days, sit on Pelican Grill’s indoor-outdoor terrasse with expansive views of the Pacific Ocean. Or, pick a rather private booth in the hushed main dining room.

Remember, Pelican Grill may look fancy, but it is also the golf club’s restaurant and lounge. So you’ll find upscale bar appetizers on the menu such as braised baby calamari, grilled jumbo artichokes and a trio of hearty bruschettas. And don't miss pairing these starters with an ice-cold and carefully-chosen microbrew or a shaken-by-hand cocktail. There's also an entire wood-fired pizza menu (try the fennel sausage!).

Or consider ordering a lush white wine from Napa Valley with a palate-opening Irvine ranch beet salad. We also thoroughly enjoyed the cheese and charcuterie plate (with a bold red), the braised short rib and the Skuna Bay salmon. Don’t miss ending with dessert as the pastry chef here is a genius with the "chocolate s'more" (housemade marshallow and graham crackers along with creamy dark chocolate).

Bellies full and totally relaxed, we drove back to the resort’s main entrance to spend some laptop time in the resort's grand "living room." We sank into sumptuous sofas, which faced a huge white marble chimney with roaring fire. Back in the car after a couple hours "working" in the living room, we got back in the car and headed again to the Coliseum Pool valet stand. At Camp Pelican, we yanked our kid reluctantly out of the pool. But after a dry change and a warm car ride home, she became happy yet again. And so did mom and dad.

For reservations and more information, please visit [url=http://www.pelicanhill.com]http://www.pelicanhill.com[/url] or call 800-820-6800.

About Pelican Hill

Set on 504 acres by the Pacific Ocean in Newport Beach, Pelican Hill features: 128 two-, three- and four-bedroom villas with magnificent coastal views and an unparalleled array of appointments, immersing guests in the absolute finest of everything; 204 luxuriously appointed bungalow guest rooms and suites with private terraces; a rejuvenating Five-Star spa with a menu of the world’s most celebrated therapies; world-class restaurants, including Andrea serving authentic Northern Italian cuisine; an iconic “Coliseum Pool,” one of the largest circular pools anywhere with tiered decks and luxurious cabanas; and Pelican Hill Golf Club with 36 dramatic holes by Tom Fazio, nearly all with ocean panoramas. A Five-Diamond destination, Pelican Hill has earned acclaim as the 2012 Grand Resort selected by Andrew Harper’s Hideaway Report, as Condé Nast Traveler’s #1 U.S. Resort and Top-Rated Golf Resort Worldwide (2012 Readers’ Choice Awards), in Travel + Leisure’s "Top 100" World's Best Hotels (2011 Readers’ Poll), and with two courses ranked among Golf Digest's America's 100 Greatest Public Golf Courses (2011). For more information, visit [url=http://www.pelicanhill.com]http://www.pelicanhill.com[/url].

Sheryll Alexander runs a news media agency based in Costa Mesa, California.

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