Not all beach towns are created equally…yet there is one location that is time and time again compared to our beloved Santa Barbara. Laguna Beach is often called our southern cousin, boasting a similar picturesque topography, but with its own unique character. I venture to The Ranch at Laguna Beach, a new private resort strategically nestled between land and sea, to find out if the rumors are in fact true.
My date and myself arrive late Friday evening to The Ranch at Laguna Beach, and quickly realize that this is less “ranch,” and a lot more “luxury meets the great outdoors.” Positioned within a canyon, the resort provides a hideaway from the outside world—literally and figuratively—thanks to an emphasis on connecting with nature, while disconnecting from technology (note: service is close to non-existent here, so prepare to embrace a cell phone-free stay) and enjoying high-end accommodations. In an effort to soak in as much of our surroundings as possible we take to the 24-hour hot tub. A bottle of refreshing rosé with strawberry notes combined with the steaming water is the distressing formula I needed after a hectic few weeks. Not to mention, the lack of city lights exposes stars I haven’t seen in years. The onyx sky overflows with glistening shimmers, far more captivating than string lights that so commonly decorate my evenings. It doesn’t get much more romantic than that.
We make our way down to Harvest, the resort’s roomy restaurant that boasts glorious mountain views and a front row seat to the evergreen golf course. The rustic beach design mixes historic memorabilia from the country club that previously occupied the 87-acre location in the ’50s with industrial accents, for a cozy-meets-cool feel. Given the heavenly weather—sunshine sans glaring heat—I choose a window booth to enjoy my breakfast, consisting of a fluffy cappuccino, avocado toast and a pastry basket, I’m on vacation, after all. My “basic” dish, which is absolutely delicious thanks to an added poached egg and generously heaped crab atop creamy avo, is met with a not-so-basic sight; a baby owl and a red tail hawk just outside the window. Although traditional “ranch” animals are not present on the grounds, the resort partners with a local wildlife preservation organization to bring these breathtaking creatures by on Saturdays as part of their education initiative. Note: deer are known to graze the golf course, providing quite the photo-op for visitors. I must admit, it’s the most interesting thing I’ve witnessed while enjoying a morning coffee.
In order to fully evaluate how LB compares to SB, we leave the property, taking the scenic coastal road into town with the top down, letting the wind caress my hair. We begin with a hike at Crystal Cove State Park that overlooks the ocean, and end our mission with local gelato on the beach watching iridescent clouds at sunset. On the way back to the car we explore the various shops and galleries that line PCH, including one that’s filled with Dr. Seuss’ paintings, sketches and sculptures—it’s a must see. We wrap up the day with cuddled up cocktails by the outdoor fire pit, enjoying live music (a nightly treat at The Ranch) and the crisp evening air.
My Sunday morning begins with a visit to the spa—shouldn’t all Sundays start this way? From an extensive menu that features an array of massage therapies, facials and body treatments, I settle on a deep-tissue massage, although I wish I could try each one…TJ, my therapist, walks me to a toasty private room that smells of delicious oils, the perfect de-stressing combo. With deep strokes and minty fresh lotion she works out every knot and kink, from head to toe. After an hour, I feel completely renewed. I leave in a state of absolute nirvana, that lasts the whole drive up north.
The Ranch at Laguna Beach is exactly what you’d expect from the name; it’s coastal living embracing nature with an emphasis on sustainability and of course, a little luxury. It may hold similarities to SB, but it’s best to find out what’s unique about our cousin town all on your own. It’s the perfect excuse to unplug and unwind where land and ocean converge.
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