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.

Courtesy of La Costa Resort and Spa

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