Things to do / Travel Guide
When seeking a luxury vacation, few places in the world can match the allure of the central California Coast. Centered around magnificent San Francisco, the region also encompasses the coastal areas of Monterrey, Big Sur, Carmel, and Pebble Beach to the south, Sausalito to the north, and the rural, sophisticated wine country of Sonoma County and Napa Valley.
Luxury Accommodation around the San Francisco Bay Area and Napa Valley
For places to stay in San Francisco, you can almost throw a dart at the map and hit something worthwhile. There are the old classic standards like The Fairmount and the Mark Hopkins - old rivals facing each other atop posh Knob Hill. In the financial district, there's the venerable Mandarin Oriental, with its Asian charm and sophisticated service, and Le Meridien, San Francisco with its fantastic views and elegant public spaces. In addition, Union Square has long been associated with high-end hotels, with visitors enjoying establishments like the modern, elegant Pan Pacific San Francisco and the legendary Westin St. Francis. Not far away, the Four Seasons San Francisco offers a very modern flavor of elegance and luxury.
Another great choice for accommodations in the region is that standard-bearer of luxury, the Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco. This beautiful property, built in 1909, presents museum-quality art in its public areas. Guests can take advantage of spectacular views of the city, San Francisco Bay, or the lovely courtyard. Amenities include iPod stations, TVs in the bathrooms, and Bang & Olufsen surround-sound systems.
The lodging standards in Wine Country are quite high - great views, world-class service, gourmet dining, large rooms with fireplaces, and decks and modern amenities abound. You just have to pick the style. Get pampered at The Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa, stay in a real working vineyard at the English Tudor-style Harvest Inn, or enjoy the seclusion of private cottages and country living at Calistoga Ranch, to name but a few. Looking for an all-American atmosphere? You will probably find the white-clapboard cottages and the sports facilities of Meadowood Napa Valley to your liking. Of course, the Auberge du Soleil has long held dominion over wine country lodgings, and it certainly caters to its upscale clientele. Its patrons get complimentary wine upon arrival as well as other treats, and the service is as good as it gets. The Auberge du Soleil restaurant has four-star fare and a fantastic outdoor patio with an exquisite view of Napa Valley.
South, on the coast, is Casa Palmero Resort, with intimate suites and cottages on the Pebble Beach Golf Course, the Post Ranch Inn, cliffside at Big Sur and The Ventana Inn, also at Big Sur. The Post Ranch Inn is a favorite romantic getaway for the rich and famous who seek some privacy. In 1975, Lawrence Spector took his profits from the movie “Easy Rider” and built the inn on a hillside, over 1,000 feet above the Pacific Ocean. The Ventana, on the other hand, is a little more laid-back than most luxury hotels, with features like a separate “clothing-optional” pool and Japanese bath. But don't let that fool you - we're talking five stars here.
Luxury Dining around the San Francisco Bay Area and Napa Valley
Fine dining in the central California Coast region is a true joy to experience. Indeed, there are more four-star restaurants in this region per capita than anywhere else in the U.S., so where do you start? Well, try Hawthorne Lane, where Chef Bridget Baston prepares California fusion cuisine. And, during your stay in the region, be sure to reserve a table at the award-winning Cielo restaurant - fantastic cuisine and views to die for. Another excellent choice is Café Gibraltar in Half Moon Bay. Chef Jose Egalde has created a menu of Mediterranean dishes using Middle Eastern flavors. The décor is also unique with low tables and seating on cushions.
Arguably the top restaurant in the central California Coast region is The Dining Room at the Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco. With gorgeous formal décor, a world-class wine list, over-the-top service and tasteful live music, guests are in for an outstanding experience. Chef Ron Siegel runs a tight ship and cranks out dishes like Tasmanian sea trout with Provence-style vegetables, New Zealand snapper en papillote and champagne-poached Alaskan halibut. The resident Sommelier can offer a fantastic choice of California as well as European vintages. Magnifique!
Chef Gary Danko of San Francisco is on to something. At least, those patrons who have visited Danko's seem to think so. This talented chef prepares outstanding continental cuisine in a luxurious dining room with modern art and light woods.
Another great option for dining in this region is the Napa Valley Wine Train. Luxury and romance meet the rails for a throwback dining experience in one of the most beautiful areas of the central California Coast. Guests can choose from three different dining cars, each with its own style and cuisine. The train winds its way through Napa Valley during a three-hour run, while the formal and expert wait staff attends to your every need. Fantastic cuisine, a classic train, excellent service and views, views, views. What else could you ask for?
Luxury Activities around the San Francisco Bay Area and Napa Valley
A word at this point about another way to experience luxury, central California Coast style - shopping. If you want it, you'll most likely find it here. There is fantastic shopping region-wide. From Chinatown and Ghirardelli Square to the boutiques and galleries of Sausalito, from the art colony at San Simeon to the malls in San Jose (do you know the way?), there is no shortage of places to drop some serious change on baubles, beads, and things that sparkle and jingle. Pace yourself; your credit cards are likely to get quite a workout!
To complement your luxury vacation in the central California Coast region, a few suggestions for an evening out are in order. If you want to see a concert, a world-class opera, or to go to a massive dance club, your best bet is San Francisco, home to the some of the best performing arts in the United States, with the San Francisco Symphony, the San Francisco Opera and the American Conservatory Theater. Things are definitely mellower to the north, in wine country, and to the south, where jazz fans will not want to miss September's Monterey Jazz Festival.
Luxury isn't always defined as sitting at a restaurant and being served. For the active luxury-seeker, this region has a special attribute - golf. But not just any golf - some of the best courses in the country are right here!
We might as well get to it. There is one course here that rises above all others in such a dramatic way. When you mention Pebble Beach to a golfer, notice their eyes start to glaze over, and their mouth sort of hangs open with awe. It's really that kind of course! How can you not play here at least once? Small greens, narrow fairways, and spectacular Pacific Ocean views are only part of the challenge. As you'll see for yourself, it ain't the site of many a PGA championship event for no reason.
Admittedly, it's not easy being in the shadow of Pebble Beach, but the Links at Spanish Bay is no shrinking violet. The awesome ocean views from this links-style course will offer at least some solace for the many balls you're apt to lose playing this highly-rated, highly-challenging course. Keeping your tee shots on the narrow fairways is the first key to success. The second is to pray for good weather so you can keep playing.
Last, but not least is another legendary course, Spyglass Hill. Plentiful sand, uneven lies, super-fast elevated greens, and a double dog-leg. If these words don't scare you off, then maybe this super-challenging course is for you. Spyglass Hill is a regular stop on the PGA and amateur tours, and for good reason. Sandy seaside dunes greet the golfer at the start of play before the course begins winding its way through tall pines and holes with elevated greens. Beware - this course can be humbling, but you'll enjoy it, nonetheless.
It's obvious to those who visit the central California Coast that vacationing in a luxurious style is an effort worth making if at all possible. The options here are almost limitless, and, well, it's a tough job, but someone has to do it. Might as well be you!
Luxury Vacation Ideas in San Francisco Bay Area, Carmel, Napa Valley, Central California Coast
Luxury-Vacations
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