Tag Archives: Pacific Ocean

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The Biltmore Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara beach

Now owned by the Four Seasons group, the Biltmore Santa Barbara was first opened in 1927, boasting iconic Spanish Colonial architecture that sets it apart from its competition. An oceanfront resort situated on idyllic Butterfly Beach, the Biltmore offers luxury accommodation, beach-side dining venues, rejuvenating spa treatments and a number of other unique activities, all the while tying this in with its historic charm.

The Accommodation
Unlike the many high-rise hotels that have become all-too-common, the Biltmore consists of low-lying buildings and single storey bungalows, each being home to around five guest rooms and boasting private entrances. The Ty Warner Bungalow not only includes a large living area with a fireplace, but also a 1000 square foot garden patio, complete with fire pit and heated plunge pool, while the Anacapa Suite has a private driveway and panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean. Each of the various rooms offer something slightly different, and are able to cater to just about every need that their guests may have.

Dining Options
The Biltmore is home to some of Santa Barbara’s most revered restaurants. Bella Vista, the resort’s Italian restaurant, is considered to be the restaurant with the most beautiful oceanfront setting in all of Santa Barbara, and has made quite the name for itself thanks to their focus on fresh and organic ingredients, as well as their iconic Sunday brunches. Tydes, which focuses on modern Californian coastal cuisine, is another one of the resort’s oceanfront restaurants, overlooking Butterfly Beach, but is a much more exclusive venue and is only open to guests of the resort and members of the nearby Coral Casino Beach and Cabana Club. In terms of their more casual dining options, guests can choose from the Coral Café and Bar, as well as Fins, which focuses on healthy and light dishes.

The Spa
The resort’s spa consists of eleven elegant treatment rooms, with the treatments on offer making full use of ingredients from the ocean, as well as botanicals from the many gardens of Santa Barbara. With fourteen different massages, as well as a range of body and facial treatments, this is the ideal way for guests of the Biltmore to relax and unwind.

Beach Volleyball
For guests that are sports enthusiasts, the Biltmore offers a truly unique experience that guarantees to make your stay totally unforgettable. Santa Barbara native Todd Rogers is a two-time Olympic gold medallist, and has been playing beach volleyball for around twenty years. The Biltmore can arrange for guests to spend some time on world-famous East Beach with Rogers, picking up some of the many tips he has learned over the years while facing off against the champion for a friendly match.

Sophisticated yet casual, the Biltmore perfectly mirrors California’s vibe, and offers guests the opportunity to truly indulge. With a stunning oceanfront setting, some of the best dining options in all of Santa Barbara, and activities to make each visit extra-special, it is no surprise that the Biltmore is considered to be one of the finest resorts in the region.

Lifestyle |

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J. Paul Getty Museum Tour

J. Paul Getty Museum

Orhan Cam / Shutterstock.com

Commonly referred to as the Getty, the J. Paul Getty Museum is based in Los Angeles, and is known around the world for its extensive historic collection of visual art. One of the best ways to take in the impressive art, as well as the architecture and gardens that surround the museum, is by taking a guided tour, as this will help to really bring the museum to life.

The Collection Highlights Tour
The Collection Highlights Tour lasts for fifty minutes, and gives visitors a detailed overview of some of the major works within the museum’s collection. Visitors will usually be taken to four distinct pieces, where your guide will discuss elements of the piece that you likely would have otherwise missed. You will also learn more about what each of the pieces represent, and why they have been created in specific styles, or with the use of certain techniques.

Exhibition Tours
The Getty Museum always has featured exhibitions, and the Exhibition Tours are a curator-led overview of a specific exhibition. This is ideal for those who want some in-depth knowledge on a current exhibition, and will really help you to immerse yourself in that particular style or time period. Currently, the Exhibition Tour’s theme is Woven Gold: Tapestries of Louis XIV, and explores the grand tapestries that Louis XIV inherited, collected and had commissioned – an exclusive international loan collection that the museum is currently exhibiting.

Artworks at the J. Paul Getty Museum

Anton_Ivanov / Shutterstock.com

The Focus Tour
The Focus Tours are one-hour themed tours of the museum’s collection. The topics that the tours cover change each day, so even if you decide to take the tour each day for a week, you would still learn something new each time.

The Architecture Tour
The Getty Center was designed by Richard Meier, who was inspired by the relationship between the structured grid of the city and the natural elements surrounding it, from the Pacific Ocean to the San Gabriel Mountains. The innovative modernist complex of the Getty that Meier has brilliantly created has been widely praised, and the museum’s Architecture Tour is a must for anyone wanting to learn more about the talented architect and his unique design for the museum.

The Garden Tour
The beautifully landscaped gardens of the Getty Villa were inspired by the Ancient Romans, and are a stunning representation of a bygone era. The highly informative 45 minute Garden Tour will take you through the four Ancient Roman gardens, as well as Robert Irwin’s Central Garden. This tour is usually much more enjoyable in the mornings or evenings, as the afternoon sun can often make it quite uncomfortable.

Each of the tours that the museum offers are succinct but extremely informative, and since many of them change on a daily basis, you will be able to learn something new with each visit. In addition to the tours, the museum also hosts a large number of talks and discussions, which are the perfect next step for those who want a more interactive experience after taking a few of the tours.

Lifestyle |

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Mexico’s Luxury Spa Accommodations

Luxury resort

When it comes to a luxury spa hotel or resort, no setting can quite top what Mexico has to offer. With lush tropical jungles, secluded stretches of white sand, and a deep history of natural healing, Mexico is the perfect place to head to when you want a luxury spa getaway.

Rosewood Mayakoba, Playa del Carmen
Inspired by Mayan traditions, this luxury resort opened in 2008, and, situated just north of Playa del Carmen, sprawls out across 1600 acres of emerald jungles and pristine white beaches. The resort has 130 suites, each with their very own private plunge pool and individual docks. The resort’s spa is quite special – situated on its own little island, the spa’s setting seems almost magical. The treatment menu features everything from an Intuitive Wellness Massage to a Mayan Shaman Consultation, offering guests some of the best traditional healing methods around.

The Resort at Pedregal, Cabo San Lucas
Carved into a cliff on the southernmost tip of Mexico’s Baja California Peninsula, The Resort at Pedregal offers the ultimate in luxury – residential style villas dot the 24-acre resort, each boasting private plunge pools, rainforest showers, modern amenities, and, best of all, a personal concierge service. The resort’s spa, called Luna y Mar, was inspired by three specific aspects – the moon, the sea, and Mexican folk healing. By combining these three elements, the spa is able to offer some truly unique treatments that have a whole stream of guests coming back time and time again.

St. Regis Punta Mita, Punta de Mita
Situated about an hour’s drive from downtown Puerto Vallarta, the St. Regis Punta Mita is a stunning Mexican resort that overlooks the Pacific Ocean. Their wide range of guest rooms cater to a variety of needs, while their 10,000 square foot spa is one of the best in the area. Each treatment is specially customized to suit the needs of each guest, ensuring that specific issues are properly addressed, and the spa makes a concerted effort to ensure that all ingredients used are not only natural, but of the freshest quality.

Misión del Sol Resort and Spa, Cuernavaca
The Misión del Sol Resort and Spa is considered to be a destination spa. This wellness resort is all-inclusive, with the accommodations consisting of a mixture of rooms, apartments and villas, most of which feature separate living and dining areas. Every inch of the resort has been designed specifically to help harmonize the body, mind and soul, making this the ideal destination for those who want some time away from the grind of daily life. The spa offers a wide variety of treatments, and their extensive menu ensures that you leave feeling completely rejuvenated.

From Cabo San Lucas to Punta de Mita, there are luxury spas to be found all over Mexico. The very best ones manage to incorporate Mexico’s healing traditions, as well as native ingredients, so be sure to keep an eye out for treatments like this the next time you are at a Mexican spa.