North San Diego
The Lavish Side of Life
By Sheree Bykofsky
 You either like San Diego or you love it. From La Jolla to
Oceanside, the rich landscape and diverse activities of Northern San Diego have
something for everyone to adore. For those seeking a relaxing vacation that
combines supreme luxury with spiritual meditation, I’ve found two resorts that
beg to be experienced.
Every inch of the newly renovated La Costa Resort and Spa
is a study in design. Water, light and fire are used throughout the resort the
way a fine artist uses paint. Myriad fountains dance in the light beneath
baskets of fire. The walls of the Bluefire Grill change color, while the
aesthetically-pleasing fresh food tempts, nourishes and satisfies. The aroma of
the toasty grill will whet your appetite for herb-crusted lamb or Kobe pork
loins. Breathtaking flowers perfume the air; the songs of birds blend with the
trickle of water to create the perfect vibe to lull you into a meditative state.
Live musicians enhance romance. And after you’ve walked the grounds, you will
wander naturally into the Chopra center, named for Deepak Chopra, a place that
offers a full escape with classes on meditation, yoga, and tantric breathing.
Each element of beauty is a full sensory experience.
A day of golf. An afternoon at the pool or the spa. An
evening of fine dining. A night in a dreamy bed. This is the stuff of vacations.
The golf course at the La Costa Resort is so scenic that you won’t mind losing
your many balls into the omnipresent bodies of water. Or you’ll enjoy the
challenge of lofting the balls past them. Two pools are situated high on the
hill above the course; one is for families, the other provides peaceful swimming
and relaxation.
 The most unique and compelling aspect of the La Costa
Resort is the newly renovated spa, which is available to guests willing to pay
an extra charge or those enjoying a spa treatment. One luxurious spa treatment
is an avocado cilantro body scrub, which includes a half hour massage. All spa
treatments include a quick aromatherapy loofah exfoliation. The spa itself has
many special amenities. The outdoor Roman hot power shower is an exhilarating
and muscle-relaxing experience. Sit beneath the strong jet and enjoy the
pulsating surge of hot water. Every other spa pleasure is available as well from
a sauna to a steam bath to a hot tub. The salon provides feng shui beauty
consultations and treatments. No stone has been left unturned to provide guests
with the ultimate golf and spa vacation.
The rooms, and especially the suites, are comfortable, with
the kind of beds you’ll be wanting at home. Large soaking tubs, magnifying
mirrors, fresh orchids, robes and slippers, and flat screen TVs await you in
your lodgings. If you visit La Costa in May, be sure to seek out the nearby
Carlsbad flower fields. It’s a unique vision: millions of flowers in giant
patches of varying colors are spread out over the hillside. A wagon ride whisks
you around them, or you may walk on paths right through them. You’ll feel like
Dorothy as she approaches the Emerald City’s fields of poppies, but without the
witch’s spell.
Next, head over to La Jolla. La Jolla may be one of the
most enchanting places on earth, and the Torrey Pines golf course and resort is
the jewel of La Jolla. Situated on the cliffs above the beach, the course
provides breath-taking views of the Pacific. On hole 3 of the South Course, it
takes work not to be distracted by the hang gliders sailing overhead with their
colorful parachutes. On the North Course, it’s the 6th hole that provides the
best views of the ocean and cliffs. Both courses are as challenging as they are
stunning, and these municipal PGA courses draw golfers from around the world
because they’re deservedly famous for hosting the Buick Open (formerly the San
Diego Open). The Golf Grill serves up outstanding hamburgers and Rueben
sandwiches—a fine choice after 18 holes of golf on the famous course.
 The first thing you’ll notice upon arriving at The Lodge at
Torrey Pines is the unusual entourage greeting you – doormen in traditional
Scottish kilts! Pass through the grand porte cochère and breathe in the smell of
fresh wood. The lodge was renovated several years ago in the California
Craftsman style of Greene & Greene, giving it a turn-of-the-century minimalist
feel with its clean lines and rough-hewn materials. Everywhere you’ll find
beautiful Jatoba wood secured by ebony pegs under soft light from reproductions
of Tiffany stained glass that truly looks like the real thing. The smell of a
wood-burning fire welcomes guests into the lobby, and the rustically elegant and
luxurious rooms have gas-powered fireplaces and porches. Sprawling public rooms
feature wide fireplaces, squashy couches, and views of the golf course, Pacific,
and ocean cliffs. The lodge features a heated pool with individual cabanas for
guests and a croquet lawn. Forgo TV and ipods in favor of a long afternoon of
swimming and croquet, walking on the beach, or strolling along the breathtaking
trails through the Torrey Pines reserve adjacent to the lodge as the breeze off
the ocean takes you back to the early twentieth century.
The A.R. Valentien restaurant is the only 5-star restaurant
within the San Diego city limits. The restaurant is named for Albert Robert
Valentien, a turn-of-the-century Impressionist and one of San Diego’s own. His
ceramics, watercolors, and oils decorate the restaurant in one of the largest
collections of his early works. Thus dinner is a cultural experience designed to
woo your eyes and your taste buds. The menu is local farmers’ market driven,
guaranteeing your meal will always be fresh and delicious, innovative and
spontaneous. San Diego magazine named A.R. Valentien the best breakfast in San
Diego. Be sure to try the lemon ricotta pancakes with raspberry sauce. And on
Thursday evenings, join the chef at the Artisan Table for a breathtaking prix
fixe tasting menu. You won’t be able to leave the Lodge without also trying the
plush Spa at Torrey Pines, which features more than 9,500 feet of sheer
relaxation. Indulge in a Coastal Sage Scrub to purify and detoxify your skin, or
keep fit with a yoga, Pilates, or T’ai Chi class. Afterward, unwind in the Spa’s
infinity-edge whirlpool.
Whatever amenities you try when you visit La Jolla and La
Costa, you won’t leave the same as you came. Let San Diego slough off your
stress, hand you a golf club, and treat you to some of the finest food you’ll
ever taste.
IF YOU GO:
San Diego North Convention & Visitors Bureau
360 N. Escondido Boulevard
Escondido, CA 92025-2600
760-745-4741
800-848-3336
Fax 760-745-4796
www.sandiegonorth.com
La Costa Resort and Spa
2100 Costa Del Mar Road
Carlsbad, CA 92009
800.854.5000
www.lacosta.com
Bluefire Grill
Reservations 760-929-6306
Dinner Tues - Sat 5pm - 10pm, Closed Sun & Mon
Happy Hour Tues - Sat 4pm - 6 pm, Closed Sun & Mon
Lounge Open Tues - Thurs 4pm - 12pm, Fri & Sat 4pm - 1:30 am, Closed Sun & Mon
The Lodge at Torrey Pines
11480 North Torrey Pines Road
La Jolla, CA 92037
858.453.4420
www.lodgetorreypines.com
The Spa at Torrey Pines
11480 North Torrey Pines Road
La Jolla, CA 92037
Reservations 858-777-6690
Fax 858-777-6698
www.spatorreypines.com
Carlsbad Flower Fields
5704 Paseo Del Norte
Carlsbad, CA 92008
http://visit.theflowerfields.com
info@theflowerfields.com
Located in Carlsbad, California, east of Interstate 5 off Palomar Airport Road,
near LEGOLAND, California and Carlsbad Premium Outlets.
Photos Courtesy of La Costa Resort and Spa
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