The perfect weekend getaway!
Unexpectedly, he had the weekend ahead of him when he could do anything. I said a quick prayer so that I could still get a reservation at the last minute. After getting an affirmative response from Big Sur’s Ventana Inn, I ran to my closet to pack quickly. Having consulted with an expert the year before, I knew how to pack confidently in 10 minutes knowing that I would have everything I would need to look my best and feel good all weekend.
From San Francisco, I drove south on Route 1. Knowing that I couldn’t get past Nepenthe Restaurant without a visit, I planned to enjoy a relaxed late lunch soaking up the splendor of the Big Sur coastline that stretched out in front of me.
Nepenthe made the phoenix his emblem when he opened in 1947. The architect, a student of Frank Lloyd Wright, designed a redwood and glass building that appears to grow on the hill. At one point it was Orson Welles and Rita Hayworth’s getaway home. The restaurant and the shop have been run by the same family for 3 generations.
I was lucky enough to get a seat in the backyard that offers the most spectacular of all the views from Nepenthe. I had placed my request for the perfect day and the Universe was certainly cooperating. A clear pristine day, a bright sun, a very light breeze playing with a few fluffy white clouds, and the ocean lapping below was my idea of heaven!
Known for their perfectly cooked Ambrosia burgers and fries, I decided to indulge myself, including the blueberry pie with ice cream. Absolutely decadent!
Not much further south was my destination, the Ventana Inn and Spa. Nestled in the Santa Lucia Mountains along California’s spectacular Big Sur coastline, the inn is surrounded by 243 acres and rests 1200 feet above the Pacific Ocean, serene, secluded, and beautiful.
The inn is rustic yet luxurious and sophisticated. My room had a wood burning fireplace as well as a private deck with magnificent views of the rugged coastal surroundings amidst the redwood, oak and laurel trees. Perfect to enjoy a relaxing weekend.
After that delicious lunch, exploring some of the inn’s 243 acres and grounds gave me a chance to drop off some of that food.
The Ventana Inn offers spa services every day, either in your room or at its Allegria Spa. All treatments are designed to relax and nourish the body and spirit through the healing gifts of nature. I arranged for a massage in my room after a couple of hours of exploring and before getting ready for dinner.
This is also home to The Restaurant at Ventana, formerly Cielo, which has received the Wine Spectacular award for excellence since 1992. The restaurant’s legendary terrace reveals the drama of the 50-mile shoreline views right before your eyes. A perfect place to enjoy a good California shiraz as you watch the sun sink into the sea and try to catch that flash of aquamarine in a split second when the sun “sinks under the water”.
As the pink sky turned to dusk, I decided to see if Heaven met my expectations and ordered dinner by candlelight on the terrace. The wild salmon was perfectly grilled with a lemon dill sauce. The fresh asparagus, summer squash, and newborn potatoes arranged like an artist’s palette in front of me definitely stirred my gastric juices. Every bite was savored and enjoyed. I decided to skip dessert after my blueberry pie and ice cream earlier in the day, but the menu was certainly tempting. Settling in, watching the moon rise and the stars rise, I enjoyed a cappuccino while any lingering worries faded into the ether.
Japanese hot baths were calling me, so after a quick trip back to my room, I soon found my way to the baths where I relaxed even more under the stars before happily retiring to sleep.
Waking up early and refreshed, I got up in time to attend the yoga class offered by the inn. After a healthy breakfast I joined the guided walk offered by the Inn. A light lunch preceded the retreat to the pool, book in hand. After swimming several laps, collapsing into a chair, I reveled in the pleasure that my skin was gently kissed by the sun. I was scheduled for a full spa treatment before dinner, which included another deep massage and a full facial. Another splendid evening of dining on the restaurant terrace was followed by an early return with my book and shortly thereafter floating off to dreamland.
The next day I got up again in time for yoga class followed by a few laps in the pool before breakfast. I spent my last meal at Ventana absorbing and memorizing the incredible view from the terrace before having to head north.
Perfect clothes, perfect weather, perfect surroundings, perfect weekend!