QUIET YOUR SOUL IN FRONT OF A FIRE PIT IN FLUFFY ROBES. fluffy robes. Rest in an anti-gravity chair that tilts backward to improve circulation. Move between the sauna and co-ed eucalyptus steam room. If you’re in the mood for vigorous activity, practice your serve on the repaved tennis courts with complimentary rackets and balls. Take advantage of free guided weekend hikes, bocce ball, and free wine tasting at Bernardus Winery nearby—keeping in mind, of course, that at Bernardus, balance matters most, and personal renewal is the ultimate goal. RATES START AT $425. BERNARDUS LODGE & SPA, 415 WEST CARMEL VALLEY ROAD, CARMEL VALLEY, 831/658-3400. VISIT BERNARDUSLODGE.COM. CALISTOGA RANCH February/March 2016 87 CALISTOGA l tucked into a 157-acre canyon, calistoga ranch is so hidden away that even the paparazzi won’t be able to track you down. This rendezvous brings mythical Shangri-La into reality with individual, cedar-shingled lodges set beneath canopies of clouds and groves of lichen-covered trees. The 50 contemporary guest lodges celebrate nature, rather than compete with it. Everywhere you note touches that dissolve the walls between outside and inside: Earth tones abound, as do raw woods and large windows that allow you appreciate the Ranch’s leafy bounty. In that same spirit, many suites feature a separate bedroom and living room joined by exterior decking. Each room offers an outdoor garden shower, but only the spa lodges come with their own patio hot tub. At the gym, you can run or walk on a treadmill under an open awning. And at the Lakehouse Restaurant, a favorite table can be found on the deck with a view of Lake Lommel. Golf cart drivers happily take you anywhere around the premises. AURA Hibiscus vines trailing a stone wall lead your eye down to the spa’s show stopper— a bubbling hot tub infinity pool. Indeed, the Auberge Spa at Calistoga Ranch is a stunning example of an outdoor spa facility so perfectly outer shell, and they feel vulnerable but safe. It’s good to get in touch with these emotions.” Some clients of the Tuning Fork Ritual include the curious who simply want to try something new. Others, already familiar with meditation and body energy, seek out the treatment. While Bernardus may be the only resort spa in the Bay Area offering vibration therapy, it is commonly offered in European spas, says Ingram. “It is similar to music therapy and good for anyone.” INSIDE TIPS Surprise your sweetheart with the Loving Luxury treatment where a tub with bath bubbles in a private patio garden is strewn with rose petals strewn as in a fairy tale setting. This 30-minute immersion is followed by a massage for two. Book dinner at the resort’s new Lucia Restaurant & Bar, an American bistro with personal banquet booths and a chandeliered patio, and a dining table in the wine cellar. Under the direction of renowned Chef Cal Stamenov, the seasonal menu brims with beloved favorites including wagyu beef, crab cakes with arugula and pickled green tomato, and seared day boat scallops with thyme roasted squash. Ingredients not sourced from the resort’s two-acre garden are derived from Stamenov’s backyard, or obtained locally. Can’t decide? Choose the chef ’s four-course tasting menu with wines from its award-winning wine cellar. Ask the concierge for directions to drive to the Refuge, a tropical oasis with plunge pools. Quiet your soul in front of a fire pit in COURTESY OF CALISTOGA RANCH (2) CALISTOGA RANCH Inviting lights from the private Lakehouse restaurant reflect off Lake Lommel.
South Bay Accent - Feb/Mar 2016
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