My editor called. "Research and compose a perfect, relaxing day in Boston," she said. I'm not that good at relaxing. It's not that I am a stress-ball or severely Type A or anything like that. It's just that, like most people I know, I have a lot more things to do on any given day than I can possibly complete and relaxing seems like a self-indulgence that just doesn't ever bubble up to the top of my to-do list. Relax for a whole day? Well, in the name of research, I'll try.
Two hours east of Los Angeles, nestled at the base of the San Jacinto Mountains, in the heart of Palm Springs, a hidden enclave of serenity and relaxation awaits. Step inside the whitewashed walls of a Moorish inspired retreat, and you're instantly transported to a haven of comfort, quiet and attentive service.
Mexico is often associated with tequila and cerveza, but wine is quickly taking the lead as the drink of choice. Valle de Guadalupe may be the best kept secret among wine connoisseurs. Located between Rosarito Beach and Ensenada in Baja Mexico are several family run wineries that offer unique wine blends at reasonable prices. Restaurants, hotels, shops, hiking trails and hot springs in the area make this a perfect day escape. My friend Janet and I recently visited the Ruta del Vino (Wine Ruta) and made some wonderful discoveries.
The appeal of San Diego has always purportedly been sun-filled days and beaches for miles. While these perks aren't likely to diminish any time soon, lately it's San Diego's nightlife that's shining thanks to the presence of boutique hotels like the Ivy. Both a luxury accommodation and nightclub, 600 F Street is a destination spot itself; in particular, our destination for today.
Beyond the Long Beach tourist-packed haunts such as the Queen Mary and Aquarium are many quaint neighborhoods worth exploring such as the Belmont Heights Art Quarter. Friendly storefronts, cozy coffee shops, art galleries and great restaurants offer many ways to discover the area. For a leisurely day of relaxation and pampering begin at Ambiance Skin Care Salon.
Cabo San Lucas sits at the tip of the Baja Peninsula where the bountiful Sea of Cortez meets the Pacific Ocean. A launching point for early sailors heading westward and a haven for pirates, it remained a remote outpost until the early 1950s when it became a destination for celebrity sport fishermen like John Wayne and Bing Crosby. Since the 1970s, it has been a favorite destination for those seeking luxe accommodations and amenities.
The gentle rolling hills of the Willamette Valley are home to over 200 of Oregon's renowned vineyards. The climate in this wide valley is known for its long and gentle growing season. The warm summer days, cool evenings and wet, mild winters with a long rainy spring season make it a pinot grape grower's version of heaven. With all this going for it, pinot grapes are still a finicky bunch. It is said that each change in the climate can be tasted in the glass. Maybe it's that very challenge that makes it such a beloved wine, and one so many vintners grow.
Located on the edge of Los Angeles County, 30-minutes south of LAX, Long Beach is the little city that could. Clean and modern, it is home to first-rate tourist destinations like the Queen Mary and the Long Beach Aquarium of the Pacific. But at night Long Beach offers another side: an old-school, gentleman style that glimmers like the jewel in your grandfather's pinky ring.
The civilized man and his inner child.
Arriving at the Paradise Point Resort and Spa, located on a private 44-acre island in San Diego's spectacularly scenic Mission Bay, is like entering your own private playground. It is a world apart - yet just ten minutes drive - from the heart of downtown San Diego and five minutes to Sea World and The Zoo.
The resort's comfortable California beach bungalow style guest rooms are nestled amidst lush, tropical gardens and lagoons. Rooms feature a kitchenette nook, and Adirondack chairs that beckon on the outside deck.