There are so many great places in our own country for a quick getaway that feels far removed from your every day life for a restorative reset - especially off season!
Excerpt below from 11/1/2024 article produced by Virtuoso with Visit Laguna Beach can found here.
This Orange County haven captures SoCal’s sunny spirit all year long. Between white sand, soaring bluffs, and some of Southern California’s last undeveloped coastal canyons, Laguna Beach showcases larger-than-life beauty in under nine square miles. It’s a fitting juxtaposition for the Orange County retreat just 50 miles south of Los Angeles, known for combining SoCal sophistication with laid-back surf culture – and beloved as a sunny wintertime getaway for everyone from solo travelers to multigenerational families. A storied golf course, wine tastings, and coastal wildlife await active visitors, while oceanfront spas offer relaxation with a view. Whether you’re planning a long-weekend retreat or dreaming of a coast-hugging California adventure, here’s how to spend three winter days in Laguna Beach.
Day 1: Greener Golf, Hyperlocal Cuisine, and Wine
A fortunate, 87-acre site in the oak- and sycamore-wrapped Aliso Canyon lends The Ranch at Laguna Beach exclusive appeal – but it’s a focus on sustainability that makes this a favorite among thoughtful travelers. (This fall, the Surfrider Foundation named the 97-room resort California’s first “Ocean Friendly Hotel,” in part for eliminating single-use plastics from the property.) Start the day by teeing off at its nine-hole, GEO Foundation for Sustainable Golf-certified course, whose green initiatives include irrigation with reclaimed water and recycled glass “sand” in sand traps.
For lunch or dinner, head to the on-site restaurant, Harvest, and dine on hyperlocal menus that pay homage to California’s vivid seasons. Executive chef Kyle St. John sources many of the restaurant’s ingredients at the resort’s half-acre Harvest Farm – find them in garden-fresh dishes ranging from ricotta-stuffed squash blossoms to branzino with marinated artichokes. Savor even more California terroir at an after-dinner tasting at Laguna Canyon Winery; don’t miss award-winning bottles such as a 2020 Paso Robles grenache or 2022 Super Tuscan-style red made with grapes from the Sierra Nevada foothills.
Day 2: Wild Exploring – Forest to Sea
Grab a sun hat before setting out on a morning hike on some of Laguna Coast Wilderness Park’s 40 miles of trails, which snake through dense woodlands to ridges and seaside bluffs. Watch the scenery change as you hop between ecosystems: aromatic coastal sage scrub gives way to native grassland and maritime chaparral, habitat for mule deer, bobcats, and red-tailed hawks. While exploring, stick to trails and sand – that’s one of the town’s seven principles of sustainable fun, created in partnership with the conservation organization Leave No Trace.
Wildlife-spotting opportunities extend to the water’s edge and beyond. After a morning of hiking, get up close with marine life at low tide by hopping among four tide pool areas at Crystal Cove State Park, home to eye-catching sea stars and harder-to-spot octopuses. Your Virtuoso travel advisor can arrange kayaking and whale-watching tours off the coast, where a protected marine reserve is a prime feeding ground for migrating gray, blue, and humpback whales, as well as hundreds of thousands of dolphins. Nature’s big show doesn’t stop when the sun goes down, so ask your Virtuoso travel advisor about stargazing alongside a master astronomer at The Ranch at Laguna Beach.
Day 3: Spa Treatments, Sushi, and Seaside Drinks
After two active days, treat yourself to a morning of relaxation at Montage Laguna Beach. The 262-room oceanfront hotel has a 20,000-square-foot spa, complete with thermal eucalyptus steam rooms and dry redwood saunas. Some signature treatments, such as the California wildflower massage, even draw on the surrounding landscape. To make a day of it, snag a cabana at the resort’s oceanside pool. Stick around for their signature sunset s’mores made with homemade marshmallows, toasted at outdoor firepits.
Or spend the afternoon strolling downtown Laguna Beach’s eucalyptus-lined streets. Set aside some time for window-shopping and perusing local art galleries before dinner at Rebel Omakase, which won its first Michelin star this summer. Chef Jordan Nakasone serves leisurely, prix fixe meals starring exquisite sushi such as white salmon and shima-aji (striped jack). End the evening at the coastal Rooftop Lounge for a pomegranate martini paired with wraparound views and the soothing sounds of the Pacific.
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