California Dreamin’

Written by Christy Waller of CW Luxury Travel / Photos Courtesy of Alila Ventana Big Sur, Farmhouse Inn and Bardessono Hotel & Spa

BIG SUR

Big Sur is located at the intersection of the Pacific Ocean and Santa Lucia Mountains and is equal parts of American legend and natural wonder. As you drive along the highway atop the coastline, you quickly come to understand the allure of this iconic destination. From star-strewn skies to pristine beaches and forests, Big Sur offers plentiful opportunities to unwind and explore. Adventurers will find enticements, including an array of hiking trails and a variety of other outdoor pursuits such as cycling, surfing, and horseback riding. Central Coast landmarks, both man-made and natural, dot the landscape, including the purple sands of Pfeiffer State Beach, the arches of Bixby Bridge, and the historic Point Sur Light Station. Destinations such as Hearst Castle, Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park, and Point Lobos State Reserve have earned national acclaim, for a good reason.

Alila Ventana Big Sur is the perfect place for those looking to relax and recharge. You will be connected to the great outdoors in one of Ventana’s luxurious, rustic, and inviting 59 secluded suites perched on 160 acres of natural beauty. Guests (18 and older) will bask in luxurious bedrooms, with private balconies, some with private pools, allowing you to take in the Pacific breeze. If you would rather be closer to the ground, Ventana recently reopened their tent cabins in the beautiful Redwood Forest, where safari-style accommodations meet luxury for the ultimate glamping experience.

The Sur House sits high above the Pacific where the forest, mountains, and sea build the most fantastic backdrop. The restaurant is reserved for Ventana overnight guests featuring Big Sur-inspired cuisine with fresh ingredients from their very own organic gardens. An impressive collection of small-production Central Coast wines have been thoughtfully assembled by a team of local vintners and the Sur House sommelier. This elegant, rustic setting is by far one of the most inviting places in the world to dine al fresco.

When guests are not spending time outdoors marveling in all Big Sur’s beauty, I suggest visiting Spa Alila for a memorable couples massage in one of the new outdoor cabanas or traditional reflexology treatment. Not to be missed is the resort pool, boasting spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean.

SONOMA COUNTY

Life opens in Sonoma County, just 30 miles north of San Francisco. Acclaimed food and wine, relaxing spas, and stunning beauty create a wine country experience like no other. Taste a diverse terroir at more than 425 wineries, hike among towering redwoods, marvel at the spectacular Pacific Coast, and get to know inviting small towns.

Farmhouse Inn’s story began more than a hundred years ago. Siblings Catherine and Joe Bartolomei are part of a five-generation Sonoma wine-making family who purchased a neglected property a few miles from their grandparent’s ranch in the Russian River Valley and turned it into a showplace to sustainability, authenticity, and exclusivity. Today, Farmhouse Inn is one of the most highly-rated hotels globally, complete with a Michelin-starred restaurant. (Travel & Leisure, 2016)

Farmhouse rooms and suites are a haven of stylish comfort, handcrafted amenities, and unparalleled attention to detail. Guests will enjoy the charm and laid-back warmth of these meticulously designed spaces allowing for true relaxation.

Farmhouse organizes select Sonoma County wineries tours through a Winery Partner Program designed to ensure guests have access to wineries that they know will provide a delicious product and excellent service experience. For the guest who wants to control their day they can use one of the Farmhouse Inn’s Car Program vehicles, a Volvo XC90 T6, and explore the scenic backroads and valleys of Sonoma. Chauffeur services are also available for up to four guests for seven hours. Tours are not limited to wine country; guests may also explore the coast and redwoods.

Farmhouse Inn houses a world-renowned Michelin-star dining experience with fresh Sonoma farm ingredients and some of the best wines in the area. Menus are ever-changing and rely solely on what’s seasonal in Sonoma. So don’t be surprised if you see Joe or Catherine greeting guests or offering advice on their favorite wines.

Sustainability is a way of life for the Bartolomei’s at Farmhouse. The siblings are actively involved in keeping what is natural to Sonoma as authentic as possible. Joe’s family raises pigs, lamb, turkeys, and make their own honey. Catherine grows all the flowers at her home that are used throughout the Inn. The property’s water filtration systems make a conscious effort to reduce plastic and glass water bottles. Product sourcing is primarily through locally owned businesses.

This truly amazing boutique hotel is in the heart of Sonoma Wine Country, striking the perfect balance between five-star service and a quaint country inn. Farmhouse Inn is a not-to-be-missed stop on your Wine Country tour; I will for sure be back soon.

NAPA VALLEY

More than 400 wineries are in Napa Valley, one of the world’s premier wine regions. Stroll through the vineyards, talk to the winemaker or sip award-winning wines with amazing views of the valley floor. In addition, Napa is a place where you will discover refined tastes in its restaurants, a small-town charm offering distinctive boutiques, and exotic adventures such as hot air ballooning over the valley.

Bardessono is a five-star luxury spa resort in Yountville, recently named Top-10 Resort Hotels. You will be transported to where the earth meets the sky and function meets form. Bardessono is a place where couples, friends, or just you can come to rejuvenate at the spa, walk the gardens and immerse in the beautiful views and taste extraordinary wine.

The resort is renowned for its luxury, privacy, and graciousness. Its sustainable aesthetic includes light-filled spaces, custom furnishings, organic bed linens, and hand-crafted bath products. In addition, each balconied suite is pet-friendly and adorned with commissioned photography.

Intentionality is the backbone of all that Bardessono stands for, best expressed by its signature restaurant Lucy. Lucy offers seasonal dishes fresh from her garden and healthy selections from within and around Napa Valley. Everything is original at Lucy’s, from her cocktails to the vividness of her wine. The culinary philosophy blends a modern aesthetic with a decidedly eco-spirit.

At Bardessono, the amenities add to the property’s chic, indulgent ambiance. Guests can enjoy lounging at the rooftop pool, strolling around its eclectic gardens, or experience spa treatments at B Spa. Spa treatments honor the four seasons allowing guests to restore and enhance their mind, body, and spirit. Nama-stay. sl

SourcesAlila Ventana Big Sur / 1915 Main Street, St. Helena, CA 94574 (707) 963-7000 Farmhouse Inn / 7871 River Road, Forestville, CA 95436 (707) 887-3300 Bardessono / 6526 Yount Street Yountville, California 94599 (707) 204-6000 NOTABLE OTHER STOPS: BIG SUR Big Sur Bakery / 47540 CA-1, Big Sur, CA 93920, 831.667-0520 / bigsurbakery.com Deetjen’s Big Sur Inn / 48865 CA-1, Big Sur, CA 93920, 831.667-2377 / deetjens.com Nepenthe / 48510 CA-1, Big Sur, CA 93920, 831.667-2345 / nepenthe.com COAST Big Sur / 49901 CA-1, Big Sur, CA 93920, 831.667-2301 / coastbigsur.com

SONOMA Farmhouse Inn Restaurant / 7871 River Road, Forestville, CA, 95436 707.887-3300 / farmhouseinn.com Terrapin Creek Café / 1580 Eastshore Rd, Bodega Bay, CA 94923, 707.875-2700 / terrapincreekcafe.com Santé Restaurant at Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn / 100 Boyes Blvd, Sonoma, CA 95476, 707.938-9000 / fairmont.com/sonoma Drakes Sonoma Coast / 103 Coast Hwy1, Bodega Bay, CA 94923, 707.875-3525 / drakesbodegabay.com Single Thread Farm Restaurant-Inn /131 North St, Healdsburg, CA 95448 707.723-4646 / singlethreadfarms.com Chalkboard / 29 North St, Healdsburg, CA 95448, 707.473-8030 / chalkboardhealdsburg.com

NAPA VALLEY The French Laundry / 6640 Washington St, Yountville, CA 94599, 707.944-2380 / thomaskeller.com Bouchon Bistro / 6534 Washington St, Yountville, CA 94599, 707.944-8037 / thomaskeller.com Meadowood Napa Valley / 900 Meadowood Ln, St Helena, CA 94574, 707.531-4788 / meadowood.com Auberge du Soleil / 180 Rutherford Hill Rd, Rutherford, CA 94573, 800.348-5406 / aubergeresorts.com La Toque / 1314 McKinstry St, Napa, CA 94559 707.257-5157 / latoque.com