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Terranea Resort: Serene Coastal Escape From Los Angeles

Al fresco patio dining with boundless ocean views. Terranea Resort A southern California vacation can be a whirlwind affair, what with the encircling ring of still-life highways clogged by road-ragers at any and all hours of the day. Visitors from the heartland can find themselves fit to be tied trying to get from here to there at high noon and asking the eternal riddle: Doesn't anybody work in this town? Are the buses and subways empty? And finally, and most troubling, what kind of gray goo am I breathing while waiting for this used car lot to budge? Here's the good news, comrades, and a nifty solution for those who want to take in the usual touristic haunts--Disneyland, Universal Studios Tour, etc.--without reaching for the blood pressure pills every ten minutes. Just an hour south of the gaseous maelstrom otherwise known as the City of Angels lurks a quiescent hideaway called Terranea Resort, set like a rare gemstone on 102 acres of Palos Verdes Peninsula oceanfront. It is a favorite haunt of passing whales and dolphins, and a serene oasis for frazzled humans in an otherwise bustling metropolis. And for those of us who can't get through a weekend jaunt without hunting for birdies and eagles--good luck there--Terranea also boasts a beautifully-conditioned nine-hole, par 3 golf course--The Links--with Insta-worthy ocean views from every vantage point. For those traveling as a family, half a full round of golf on a short course is a great way to maintain domestic bliss, given that one can easily finish playing in 90 minutes rather than four-plus hours. And beginners or novices will find themselves able to reach the greens with a single tee shot, rather than doing battle with a cumbersome driver all day, and its gently sloping fairways make for a lovely bit of sea-breezy exercise to boot. Added bonus: PGA golf pro Andrew Price is a mellow presence and great teacher who can help cure what ails your swing at the Golf Academy. A recent visit to the Mediterranean-styled resort found it abuzz with activity: Terranea's 582 guestrooms and suites provide a cozy retreat for couples, while the spacious and recently-refreshed casitas and bungalows--ranging from one- to four-bedrooms per unit--can accommodate the extended clan with room to spare. The ocean-view casitas sleep seven, have fully equipped kitchens and private balconies and patios. There's even an outdoor foyer replete with a fireplace adjacent to one's entryway perfect for a pre-dinner glass of wine. Four swimming pools grace the property as well, which is also exceedingly pet-friendly should you be traveling with furry companions. Speaking of comestibles, Terranea has nine dining options, from full-service to casual fare, and all defying the usual wisdom about 'hotel food." Sometimes a resort stay makes one a captive prisoner of haphazard culinary habits, but not here. Executive chef Andrew Vaughan collaborates with local fishermen, ranchers, and farmers to source farm and sea-to-table ingredients in providing some truly memorable dining experiences. Bashi is the resort's Asian-inspired venue, with its signature Sizzling Shaking Beef sounding as good as it tastes, and the elegant Sunday brunch at Mar'sel is a something-for-everyone spread to be enjoyed on the outdoor terrace with its views of passing freighters and ocean wildlife. And on July 27, there's a glorious, all-day Food & Wine Festival with live entertainment and artisanal vendors, for adults only. The lobby at the Spa at Terranea Terranea Resort An extra level of serenity and relaxation are to be achieved at the newly updated spa, where LA-based design firm RVD Associates has completed a top-to-bottom modernization, starting with the new earth-toned entry and lobby, and continuing to the upgraded locker and treatment rooms as well as the lounge. Even the outdoor areas have gotten a facelift, with new furnishings, patio umbrellas and recanvassed cabanas surrounded by fresh greenery. The spa pool has undergone a similar refresh, as has the fitness center which now features the latest and greatest equipment. Try the spa's new Harmonic Aura Awakening treatment, a sacred sound therapy guaranteed to soothe body, mind and soul, not necessarily in that order. Technicolor sunsets at no extra charge at Terranea Terranea Resort Of course, one's proximity to the vasty deep requires one to interact with nature on a more intimate level, and Terranea provides ample opportunities to get up close and personal with the aquatic life. Try a 90-minute guided kayak tour of the marine protected areas of the Palos Verde Peninsula, where bottlenose dolphins, harbor seals and various and sundry rays abound. Horseback riding, tennis and falcon encounters fill the bill back on terra firma, as well as copious hiking trails just steps from your outdoor patio, with views of the Point Vicente Lighthouse and the Terranea Sea Salt Conservatory. A long summer weekend at Terranea is the perfect vacation within a vacation when visiting Southern California.