Luxurious Accommodations
European Elegance in Wine Country
If you’re looking for luxurious French style, you’ll find it in the heart of Amador’s wine country. The 40-acre Davancy Chateau at Helwig Winery is nestled in the vineyard. The six-bedroom, four-bath villa is perfect for a family or friends getaway. With its beautiful gardens and pool, you’ll feel like you’re frolicking in Provence. For a five-star B&B experience, the Grand Reserve Inn in the Sierra Foothills Wine Country can’t be beat. The five suites offer vineyard views, with guests enjoying gourmet breakfasts, wine and cheese receptions, and a VIP tasting experience on the property.
Desolation Hotel
Imagine 165 acres of pristine nature nestled in the foothills of the Sierra Mountains, and you’ll have the site of Desolation Hotel, a luxury wilderness escape and basecamp boasting cabins. With luxury and off-the-grid yurts, it’s the perfect spot to explore the mountains and nearby Lake Tahoe.
La Quinta Resort & Club
If your idea of luxury is relaxing at a top resort without ever having to leave the property, La Quinta Resort & Club in Coachella Valley is calling. Guests can enjoy amenities including world-class golf courses, boutique shopping, three unique restaurants, a full-service spa and 42 climate-controlled pools, including the newly renovated Plunge at the Renker pool.
Oceana Santa Monica
Tucked within a quiet neighborhood just steps from Montana Avenue’s designer boutiques and the iconic Santa Monica Pier, Oceana Santa Monica is a serene hideaway that feels like an ultra-exclusive beach house. Guests can enjoy the outdoors with beach butler service, private boat excursions, coastal horseback rides and beachfront yoga.
Luxurious Dining
Highland House Restaurant
If you’re looking for dinner with a view, The Highland House Restaurant serves up a spectacular choice with expansive views of Mount Shasta. With a menu to please all palates, diners can opt to sit inside or on the large patio.
Harbor House Inn Restaurant
The tiny town of Elk is a surprising foodie paradise with the two-Michelin-starred and Michelin Green Star Harbor House Inn Restaurant. The 20-seat dining room is intimate, ensuring that all diners have a spectacular view of the Pacific Ocean lapping just outside. Helmed by chef Matthew Kramer, the menu changes daily to feature the freshest local ingredients from Mendocino County.
Santa Clara Scene
From traditional steakhouses to internationally inspired cuisine, Santa Clara is ready to wow visitors to wine country. Birk’s Restaurant, a Wine Spectator award winner, caters to the elevated meat-and-potatoes crowd, while Restaurant Gish offers an Asian-inspired menu that changes each month.
The Palms
The Palms brings a taste of the Mediterranean with an American twist to California’s Central Valley. Using almost exclusively local ingredients, the menu brings fresh, rich flavors to the different ethnic dishes. Set in a Spanish-style building, the restaurant exudes a romantic vibe – perfect for a couple's getaway.
Paso Palates
One of the newest fine-dining options in Paso Robles, in bloom, has already been recognized by the Michelin Guide. Housed in the Paso Market, the laid-back eatery sources from area purveyors. You’ll find whimsical dishes, vinyl spinning on the turntable and a cellar stocked with local wine. For a great view of town, the Tetto Rooftop Bar, perched atop the boutique Piccolo Hotel, is the hotspot for light bites, craft cocktails and local wine.
SHOR Bazaar
Led by Michelin-recognized chef Imran “Ali” Mookhi, SHOR Bazaar is serving up one of the best deals in Los Angeles. To introduce more people to South Asian cuisine and make elevated eats more accessible, the restaurant introduced a $35 seven-course Desi tasting menu. The tasting experience takes diners on a tour of South Asian flavors: no passport required!
Eating the OC Way
From traditional fine-dining to elevated contemporary experiences, Irvine has something to please every palate. The soon-to-open Mastro’s Ocean Club provides a classic menu and the perfect ambiance for the steak-and-seafood crowd, while hot spots like Solstice, Bistango and Marble pair style and culinary substance.
Experiences
Filoli Estate
Take a step back in time at Filoli Historic House & World-Class Garden, one of the remaining country estates of the 20th century. Located just south of San Francisco, the sprawling property features a 54,000-square-foot mansion, a 16-acre English Renaissance Garden, a 6.8-acre Gentleman’s Orchard and hundreds of acres of natural landscape. With something in bloom every season, there’s never a bad time to visit Filoli to enjoy the property and an afternoon garden tea.
Bernardus Lodge & Spa
Carmel Valley’s bucolic Bernardus Lodge & Spa goes over the top for guests with unique experiences like Wine in the Sky. The memorable wine country experience includes a scenic helicopter ride for two, followed by a private wine tasting and lunch paired with Bernardus’ wine at Lucia Restaurant & Bar.
Relax and Revive in Murrieta
Giddy up for adventure in Murrieta at the Susie Q Ranch with a vineyard horseback ride and wine tasting. Afterwards, soothe your aching muscles with a soak in the natural mineral baths at Murrieta Hot Springs Resort.
Del Mar Racetrack
If betting on the ponies is more your style than riding them, visiting the iconic Del Mar Race Track is a must. Founded by Bing Crosby, Del Mar remains one of the most glamorous West Coast spots, offering a wide range of trackside experiences in an unbeatable setting. Once the setting for Hollywood A-listers and still attracting celebrities and socialites, the racetrack is a surprisingly affordable luxury (providing you don’t bet it all!).