Mornings at Rancho Valencia start with fresh-squeezed orange juice delivered to your door—creating the new bar by which all mornings must be measured.
That small gesture is indicative of the experience at this five-star resort near Del Mar in San Diego County, where the same attention to detail applies to everything from the lush landscaping to the hacienda-style design. There’s even a menu of made-to-order dog dinners for canine travelers.
Here, your room is a Mediterranean casita larger than a city apartment, with beamed ceilings, rustic furnishings, a cozy fireplace, and a garden patio. Choose a suite with a soaking tub, a steam shower, or even an outdoor whirlpool, perfect for kicking back with caviar bites and a half-bottle of bubbles from the room service menu.
Resort activities range from lessons at the 18-court tennis center to Champagne-sabering classes, and guests can hone their swing at nearby golf courses like Torrey Pines with a complimentary loaner set of Callaway clubs. Should you want to cruise the nearby Pacific Coast, you can get behind the wheel of a Bentley—Rancho Valencia has a test-drive fleet of the luxury cars available to borrow (and ultimately buy, if you love one enough to take it home).
An oasis awaits at the spa, an indoor/outdoor enclave of private grottoes set among gardens with tiled fountains and soaking tubs. Treatments feature luxe products or blends of herbs and clay customized for your particular needs. When you’re ready to sweat, hop a spin bike in the fitness center or breathe into warrior pose in the dreamy open-air yoga pavilion, where you’ll work on your practice surrounded by a reflective pool.
When it’s time to refuel—whether for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or in between—dine on fresh Mediterranean fare at the Pony Room—along with a coffee, craft beer, or one of their eight signature margaritas. Or book a cabana and order a spread at the adults-only poolside dining venue Rien. The resort’s private, brick-lined wine cave serves as an intimate place to sample fine wine during special events and private gatherings.
