My Vacation Escape part 2 of 2 - by Kelly Early
Please
allow me to begin with a hearty dose of full disclosure: I am a
Californian. I’m a fifth generation, blue-eyed, blonde-haired Southern
Californian. Orange County-cheesy-reality-show-land Californian.
Surrounded by sun and sand, cloudless days and easy average
temperatures.
And I realize that I completely take it for granted.
I
don’t spend my weekends at the beach, or skiing in the local mountains,
or rock climbing in the local desert, or spending obnoxious amounts of
money at the local high-end shopping centers.
Are you kidding
me? I’m a mom, expecting our third daughter (!!!), and living on a
crazy tight budget. I live in the real Orange County, the one where
money doesn’t flow like water, and taking a break can’t break the bank.
Now I’m a mom on a mission. To deliver a way to re-discover the
gorgeous state that I live in, bring the hubby and kids along for the
ride, and not have to sell a kidney to do it. So, in the interest of
fun, family and not wanting to take advantage of sunny California
anymore, I threw the family in the minivan and we took a fantastic (and
very memorable) old-school road trip down the coast.
We began up
north a bit in Monterey. I absolutely love the area with its amazing
trees, beautiful peninsula shoreline and the simple fun that is offered
there. Our hotel, the Portola Hotel and Spa, was located in the heart
of downtown right by Fisherman’s Wharf and the Marina, and easy walking
distance to the historic Cannery Row and world-renowned Monterey Bay
Aquarium.
I did mention that this was a family friendly trip,
and the Portola did not disappoint! They have begun a new complimentary
program for kids - called Portola Pirates – that provides young guests
with a treasure chest upon check-in, complete with pirate-inspired toys
and a scavenger hunt “treasure” map. The program was inspired by Gaspar
de Portola, the late 1700’s Spanish explorer that is the area’s
namesake, to introduce children to Monterey’s historically rich
culture. This was a huge hit, as my daughters insisted on wearing their
pirate eye patches to the unforgettable Monterey Bay Aquarium and
adorable Dennis the Menace Park, which are definitely not to be missed!
From
there, we headed back down the coast – on a gorgeous drive along the
Pacific Coast Highway (PCH), I might add – to the city of Anaheim.
There we stayed at the Hyatt Regency Orange County, a hotel whose
location is convenient to Disneyland, which was a major destination for
us. Our room was a family suite, which was wonderfully well-appointed
with a lovely parlor area, king bedroom for the hubby and I, and a kids
room with bunk beds and a flat screen TV. They offered a poolside movie
in the evening for the kiddos, and a great family-friendly cooking
class with chef Laura de Martin in TusCA restaurant’s demonstration
kitchen.
Next we decided to head to the beach, and what better place
than Surf City USA, otherwise known as Hunting Beach. Our hotel, the
Hilton Waterfront Beach Resort, is a pet-friendly establishment that is
literally connected to the beach by a beautiful bridge running over
PCH. Our recently-remodeled room was gorgeous, with ocean views and
room service that couldn’t be beat. Huntington Beach’s Main Street, a
great place for shopping and dining, was within walking distance, as
was the International Surf Museum and famous Dog Beach. A highlight of
our time there was our visit to the Bolsa Chica Wetlands, which
includes over 1200 acres of undeveloped wetlands, lowlands and lower
mesa areas. The wetlands are an important stop for migratory birds
along the Pacific Flyway, and more than 200 species of birds have been
spotted there. We had fun counting crabs and horn snails, and even saw
a stingray in the water under the loop trail’s walkbridge!
Our
next destination kept us near the beach, but took us into the realm of
legend and fantasy. The St. Regis Monarch Beach is an absolutely
gorgeous piece of property located in Dana Point. We went there
specifically for one thing (I’ll get to that), but discovered that this
truly is a first class establishment. The resort boasts a private
beach, butler service and wonderful poolside assistance, not to mention
the incomparable teaming of celebrated chef Michael Mina and
world-renowned designer Tony Chi at Stonehill Tavern. You haven’t lived
until you’ve tried the Truffled Mac & Cheese. It is simply divine!
Back
to our reason for heading to The St. Regis: the Butterfly Ritual, which
was created to honor the sacred breeding grounds of the Monarch
Butterfly located on the St. Regis property. This amazing one-of-a-kind
event takes place through the summer for guests of The St. Regis
Monarch Beach and their children. After a procession through the main
lobby to the ocean view terrace and a reading of the Monarch Butterfly
legend, a St. Regis Butler releases dozens of Monarch Butterflies for
everyone to enjoy. Children then have an opportunity to bring another
set of once-frozen butterflies to life by warming them in their hands
before they take flight. The Butterfly Ritual was an enchanting
experience for our whole family – it was truly a memorable event!
Last,
but definitely not least, we drove to the southern hub of California
and stayed at the Hyatt Regency Mission Bay in San Diego. This recently
transformed hotel is the area’s ultimate waterfront destination. The
coastal chic hotel features panoramic bay and ocean views, waterside
dining and a poolside lounge, an eco-friendly spa, redesigned guest
rooms and meeting rooms, as well as three pools with waterslides. And
of course the resort is in close proximity to San Diego’s famous
Mission Beach, Sea World, the Gaslamp Quarter, PETCO Park, the San
Diego Zoo, the U.S.S. Midway, Old Town, Balboa Park and more.
This
was the perfect end to our family road trip, as the hotel has a
wonderful spa for the adults and camp program for the kiddos. Named one
of the “Top 10 Green Spas and Resorts” in the world by Organic Spa
magazine, the Blue Marble Spa features all natural and organic products
derived from the environment. Camp Hyatt, a children’s camp that offers
fun daily activities, is available at the Hyatt Regency Mission Bay
during the summer, as well as other family activities such as hula hoop
contests, pool-slide races and water balloon toss competitions.
Year-round, kids can enjoy the hotel’s three pools with waterslides and
s‘mores. We had an especially good time cruising Mission Bay and
exploring San Diego’s Old Town, where the girls loved running around
the historic adobe and eating delicious guacamole until they were
stuffed.
All in all, our trip was laid-back, relaxing and
invigorating. We truly re-discovered the hidden, and not-so-hidden gems
of the California Coast. I was reminded every day of why I love living
here, and why millions of people come here each year to visit. And now
that I’ve done your research for you, you can plan your family-friendly
California vacation. It’s California here we come!
Resources:
 Portola Hotel and Spa
www.portolahotel.com
Two Portola Plaza
Monterey, CA 93940
(866) 711 1534
 Hyatt Regency Orange County
http://orangecounty.hyatt.com
11999 Harbor Blvd.
Anaheim, CA 92840
(714) 750 1234
 The Waterfront Beach Resort, A Hilton Hotel
Huntington Beach: Surf City USA™ lifestyle: www.surfcityusa.com
www.waterfrontresort.com
21100 Pacific Coast Highway
Huntington Beach, CA 92648
(714) 845 8000
 The St. Regis Monarch Beach
www.stregismb.com
One Monarch Beach Resort
Dana Point, CA 92629
(949) 234 3200
 Hyatt Regency Mission Bay
http://www.missionbay.hyatt.com
1441 Quivira Road,
San Diego, CA 92109
(619) 224 1234
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