Some of you may have noticed on my social media that I like to take short weekend trips from time to time. It’s my way to change the scenery, get inspired, or simply decompress when I need it.
It may sound strange, but I’m not the person who is ready to sit in a car for hours just to spend a few hours somewhere and then drive back. If the drive lasts two hours or more, I’d rather stay the night. It’s a matter of my comfort and enjoyment of the trip.
Since I try to maximize my relaxed lifestyle, I choose places where I feel my best. And after my recent trip to Carlsbad in March, I realized I finally have enough stays to share with you. Places to relax, recharge, or have a great meal if you find yourself somewhere in the area.
And I’ll start with the most recent one.
Park Hyatt Aviara (Carlsbad)
When I was looking for a place to celebrate our anniversary, I had a few options in mind, but food was the deciding factor. So Park Hyatt Aviara won. Park Hyatt is the luxury tier within the Hyatt portfolio (around 48 properties worldwide), focused on personalized service and attention to detail. Aviara is one of them.
This 5-star resort is located in Carlsbad, in the Aviara neighborhood, a quiet resort area in the southern part of the city, about an hour from Los Angeles. It sits on 250 acres overlooking Batiquitos Lagoon and the only Arnold Palmer-designed golf course on the California coast.
The area is surrounded by beautiful nature with lagoon views, coastal plants, and lush greenery. A lovely spot to walk around and enjoy the wildlife. Evenings here are very quiet, perfect for sitting on the balcony with a book and a cup of tea.
On the property you’ll find restaurants, two pools, a full-service Miraval spa, tennis and pickleball courts.
All rooms are roughly the same size — 540 square feet with a king bed, sofa sleeper, soaking tub, and a separate shower. The main difference is the view: coastal, pool, courtyard, or foothill. I stayed in a foothill view room and from my balcony I could see the lagoon and the Four Seasons Residence Club just below. Suites are more spacious and come with the same view options.
The resort has two main restaurants. Ember & Rye is a steakhouse by celebrity chef Richard Blais, focused on fire-cooked steaks and seafood. It sits at the bottom of the property near the golf course - a 17-minute walk from the rooms, or you can ask the front desk for a complimentary ride from the lobby. Dinner and the meat was incredible. Btw, instead of bread they serve a croissant. I never expected that in a steakhouse, and it was a great touch
Ponto Lago is a Baja-inspired seafood restaurant with a terrace, and it also serves breakfast. The breakfast here is really good, with great menu and a buffet option with everything from omelettes to pancakes.
Near the lobby you will find Pacific Point, a small cafe and bar, and Waters Edge by the pool for casual poolside dining. If you need a quick coffee or a snack, Aviara Market inside the hotel has pastries, coffee, and light bites.
Overall, Park Hyatt Aviara is a great place to spend a weekend. I got to relax by the adult pool with beautiful views, play pickleball, enjoy the food, and walk around the property. Spring is a particularly lovely time to visit, because everything is in bloom. And now I’m already thinking about coming back. Which view would you choose for your room?
Fairmont Grand Del Mar (San Diego)
I chose this hotel to celebrate my husband’s birthday. I was looking for something interesting with nature around, but without feeling too far from everything.
Fairmont is a luxury hotel brand known for landmark properties and iconic locations — from The Plaza in New York to The Savoy in London. Grand Del Mar is one of their most celebrated resorts.
This 5-star resort is located in the Carmel Valley area of San Diego, tucked into the Los Penasquitos Canyon Preserve. It sits on 400 acres surrounded by canyon, eucalyptus groves, and rolling hills. The property has 249 rooms, restaurants, pools, luxury spa, an 18-hole Tom Fazio-designed private golf course, hiking trails, horseback riding, archery, tennis and pickleball courts.
So many things to do, so you really don’t need to go anywhere else. It is a large resort with a very distinct feeling. It looks like a Mediterranean estate, but surrounded by California nature.
Accommodations at Fairmont Grand Del Mar range from rooms and suites to private villas. Most rooms overlook the lush grounds, canyon, or pool. I stayed in a Deluxe Veranda King with canyon view on the second floor, with a balcony. The bed was incredibly comfortable.
Fairmont has several dining options. The most celebrated is Addison, a 3-Michelin-star restaurant by chef William Bradley. I would strongly recommend booking it well in advance, when I tried, the only available time was 8:30pm on my checkout day, so I had to skip it. Next time for sure.
Instead, I had dinner at Amaya, and it was a great choice. The restaurant has panoramic canyon views and serves California cuisine. The service was warm and attentive, and the tartare was absolutely delicious.
If you walk toward the golf course, there is also The Clubhouse Grill, a great spot for lunch even if you don’t play golf.
Grand Social is a large outdoor terrace with gazebos and tables in front of the hotel, open on Fridays and Saturdays only. For a quick coffee, pastry, or sandwich - Cent Anni cafe.
One more place worth mentioning is the Lobby Lounge. It is not just a bar. It’s a spot where you can have cocktails, light bites, or afternoon tea experience, all surrounded by Venetian glass chandeliers in an atmosphere that feels like an Italian palazzo. So, lovely.
Overall, Fairmont Grand Del Mar is a wonderful place to recharge and enjoy nature. With so many activities on the property you can stay busy the entire weekend without ever leaving the resort
The Lodge at Torrey Pines (La Jolla)
I still remember the first time I saw a photo of this hotel. Endless golf fairways right above the ocean, surrounded by pines and open sky. At some point I just knew I had to stay there at least once.
The Lodge at Torrey Pines is a 5-star resort located in La Jolla, set on the cliffs above the world-famous Torrey Pines Golf Course with views of the Pacific Ocean. The hotel has held its Five Diamond rating for 20 consecutive years.
The architecture is Arts and Crafts style: rich woodwork, natural stone, hardwood floors and warm earth tones throughout. It feels more like a beautifully crafted lodge than a typical luxury hotel, which is exactly what makes it different. On the property you will find a spa, heated outdoor pool, fitness center, croquet lawn, and access to two daily guided hikes in the adjacent Torrey Pines State Reserve.
I stayed in a Palisade Room with a balcony overlooking the golf course and the California coastline. I really enjoyed is having breakfast in the room with that view. The room has an in-room fireplace, and it feels cozy and warm in a way that most luxury hotels don’t quite pull off.
Some rooms on the first floor come with a firepit instead, which is a nice touch too. Suites are more spacious and also offer coastline views.
The Lodge has two restaurants. A.R. Valentien is the fine dining option, a romantic spot with cozy balcony seating and views of the pool and golf course. If you enjoy meat, duck or pate, this is the place. The Grill at Torrey Pines is more casual but equally pleasant, perfect for a relaxed lunch or dinner.
Overall, The Lodge at Torrey Pines is a perfect choice if you want peaceful and beautiful scenery. The hotel has access to several hiking trails in the adjacent Torrey Pines State Reserve, so if you enjoy walking, this is an ideal place to spend time together both on and off the property.
Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach (Dana Point)
If you knew how much I love Dana Point. To me, it is exactly what an oceanfront town should look like. I first stayed in a small hotel on the bluff there and fell in love with the area. So I decided it was time to try something bigger and spend a summer weekend properly. And I am so glad I did.
Just a quick note, I stayed here in summer 2020, right before the property joined the Waldorf Astoria collection, and has been renovated. So some of my photos may look slightly different. But honestly, not much has changed.
This 5-star resort sits atop a 150-foot seaside bluff in Dana Point, with panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean. On the property you will find pools, a full-service spa, an 18-hole oceanfront golf course designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr., a fitness center, and coastal hiking paths.
It also has a private beach club - Monarch Bay Beach Club, accessible by a complimentary tram. And that detail alone is worth mentioning: umbrellas, chairs, and towels are all taken care of. You just show up and enjoy the beach. And the beach here is private, just hotel and club guests.
The resort has two main restaurants. Bourbon Steak by Michael Mina is open for dinner only. It’s a modern American steakhouse with panoramic ocean views, and one of the best wine and whiskey selections in Dana Point. The grilled meat and lobster salad here are just perfect.
Aveo Table & Bar is open daily for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The menu takes inspiration from Latin America. It is located on the lower level of the resort. For a quick coffee or snack - Part + Parcel Market.
Rooms and suites come in different categories and views. I’ll skip my older photos of room, the updated rooms look even better.
To me, this hotel is perfect for long walks with ocean views and relaxing by the pool or on the beach. That combination is hard to beat.
Rancho Bernardo Inn (San Diego)
I chose this hotel to celebrate one of our first anniversaries here in California. The photos looked charming online, but when we arrived, the property turned out to be even more cozy and atmospheric than I expected.
Rancho Bernardo Inn is a 4-star resort located in the rolling hills of San Diego’s North County. It is a member of Historic Hotels of America, which tells you a lot about the character of the place.
The architecture is Spanish Colonial - low-slung buildings, handmade fountains, winding garden paths, and lush landscaping. It feels like a different world from the city, quiet and tucked away, but with everything you need on site.
On the grounds you will find outdoor pools, a full-service spa, a championship golf course, tennis courts, and two restaurants. The spa has its own private saline pool exclusively for spa guests.
Rooms and suites offer views of the golf course, spa, garden, courtyard, or fountains. I stayed in a garden view room with a patio, surrounded by lush greenery.
The Inn has two main restaurants. Avant is on the second floor with views of the golf course — a stylish fine dining spot serving contemporary California cuisine, open for dinner only. It is simply stunning and delicious.
Veranda is on the first floor, perfect for breakfast or evening cocktails by the firepit while watching the golfers. There is also a poolside bar for casual drinks and snacks during the day.
Overall, Rancho Bernardo Inn is one of the most atmospheric hotels on this list. Walking around the property feels like strolling through a garden where quiet seating areas with fountains. It is genuinely romantic and cozy. And if you are looking for a wedding venue in San Diego, this place is also one of the most beautiful options in the area.
The Ranch at Laguna Beach
This hotel was one of my discoveries. It is tucked into Aliso Canyon, just a short walk from the ocean, and it was one of the first places I stayed in Laguna Beach back in 2019.
The Ranch is part of Preferred Hotels & Resorts, a collection of over 650 independent luxury hotels worldwide. The hotel sits in the canyon, about 350 yards from Aliso Beach. It is a 4-star boutique resort with cottage-inspired rooms and suites, a heated outdoor pool, a 9-hole golf course, a spa, and direct beach access with a shuttle service.
The vibe here is different from the other hotels on this list, it’s more laid-back, and more nature-focused. Live music plays every evening on the terrace by the fire pits.
The room design has a coastal ranch aesthetic: warm wood finishes, and natural materials. Accommodations range from standard rooms to one and two bedroom cottages with suites. I stayed in a Canyon Room on the first floor with a private patio. A great option if you enjoy morning coffee outside surrounded by nature.
Harvest is the signature all-day restaurant serving seasonal California cuisine made with ingredients grown on the property’s own farm. It’s a great spot for a breakfast with a view and romantic dinner.
The Porch is a more relaxed spot with live music every evening — a great place to sit by the fire pit with a cocktail. There is also a pool bar for casual drinks during the day.
Overall, The Ranch at Laguna Beach is a great choice if you want to slow down and spend time in nature. The canyon setting and the proximity to the beach make it a perfect spot for a quiet weekend away from the city.
