SAN DIEGO PILLOW TALK:
COOL PLACES TO PUT YOUR HEAD
Story and photography
by Eric Anderson & Nancy Allen

Beauty amongst Nature


If you love the outdoors, the cliffs at Torrey Pines are close to the new Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa, www.estancialajolla.com named by Conde Nast Traveler only eleven months after its opening in June 2004 as one of “2005’s Hottest New Hotels in the World.” Their readers may be elitist but they do know quality and that’s obvious in this 210-roomed hotel and spa designed like an early California rancho estate.


Located on Torrey Pines Road close to UC San Diego and perfect for university visitors and business travelers to the Golden Triangle, Estancia La Jolla is California's only Luxury Hotel, Spa & Executive Learning Retreat. But its garden spa, great restaurants and numerous scheduled weekly activities make it a family destination as well.


So what can guests do? They can check out the Salk Institute one of the country's architectural triumphs; it's within walking distance next door. They can get the hotel golf coordinator to arrange a tee time at the acclaimed, nearby Torrey Pines Golf Course provided they give the concierge six days' notice. And they can drive the mile or two to the Torrey Pines Gliderport and even fly tandem with an instructor if their weight isn't too embarrassing.


The best weight loss advice, of course, is to exercise by finding an activity we like and do it. Tennis qualifies for many and it brought its devotees to Rancho Valencia www.ranchovalencia.com when it opened in 1989 as an intimate resort built like a Spanish hacienda. To that grand event came some of the great names in tennis including Pancho Segura, a three time winner of the United States Pro Championship, and Ken Rosewall, who won the Australian and French Opens at the age of 18 and the US Open twice. Rosewall became the resort's touring pro. Although the 49-suite resort now has 18 Deco-Turf handcourts staffed by eight tennis pros, it has expanded and tennis is only one of its offerings. Four golf courses lie nearby; the concierge can make golf reservations including Del Mar Country Club and Rancho Santa Fe Farms.



It’s all a beautifully landscaped sprawling estate in glamorous Rancho Santa Fe. Historically the area began as a Mexican land grant of 1841 -- later bought out by the Santa Fe Railway. The railroad planted the 8824 acres with eucalyptus trees for railroad ties but the wood was too soft and the land had to find other uses. Early on the ranch was discovered by Hollywood personalities like Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks and later the resort by celebrities such as Bill Blass, Bill Clinton and Bill Gates – and that’s a lot of $ bills!

The gorgeous architecture with hand-painted tile work and antique furnishings all complement the beauty of the individually decorated, secluded casitas. They have open-beamed vaulted ceilings, working fireplaces, private patios and lush landscaping. Guests soon appreciate tranquility is the theme. They can walk down to the village but it is sure better back at the ranch, a really cool place to put your head.