Escapes

Escapes

YOU'RE TRYING TO DECIDE between the Perfectly Peach roses or the Yellow Triumph chrysanthemums. You want Frank Sinatra for your first dance while he’s opting for Garth Brooks. Your mother tells you to add another 50 guests to the list, and his mother tells you not to worry about the rehearsal dinner—which makes you worry even more.

There are few things more stressful than planning your wedding day. Tensions rise between you and your friends, between you and your family, and especially between you and your beloved. And somehow reading all those books that warned you about the aggravations and frustrations didn’t really prepare you for the experience.

May we suggest one solution? A month before The Day, take a weekend and get to know each other all over again. By retreating for a few days, you’ll remember why you wanted to get married in the first place. Your wedding is about your future—take some time now to bask in the present.

Here are a few places where all your attention will be on each other, time stands still for a little while and all your cares and calls are put on blissful hold.

Palm Springs and Environs

While the heat can be fearsome in the summer, fall and winter are perfect times to visit this region of the desert, where Old California and New Hollywood come together. After the fading of Hollywood’s Golden Era, the area was seen as just a collection of retirement towns. But today’s A-listers such as Brad Pitt, Sienna Miller and Matthew Perry have taken Palm Springs and its neighbors to new levels of hipness and excitement. The villages are close together, so you can check out the latest restaurant on Palm Canyon and get back to your hotel in plenty of time for a stroll under the stars.

Two Bunch Palms Resort & Spa in Desert Hot Springs

Legend has it that Two Bunch Palms served as the desert hideout of gangster Al Capone; seven decades later you can enjoy your own escape in privacy and luxury. The resort is a 256-acre retreat with natural mineral hot springs, tennis courts and suites and villas (some rooms date back to Capone’s time). Tropical landscaping and a lake where turtles come over to beg for lettuce provide the ambiance that Italians describe as “bel far niente,” or “the beauty of doing nothing.” The renowned spa offers more than 45 treatments, including the exclusive Egyptian Clay Body Wrap, which incorporates exfoliation, detoxification and rehydration all in one treatment, using green clay extracted right on the property. Or you can simply relax in the natural mineral hot springs pool with two different temperature zones as fresh warm water bubbles up from deep beneath the earth.

A complimentary buffet breakfast is provided every morning, and the restaurant serves up healthy gourmet lunches and dinners, as well as spectacular views of the San Jacinto Mountains and the Coachella Valley. The villas and suites have outdoor patios, some with whirlpool spas, and most rooms have plasma TVs. WiFi is available throughout the property.

Two Bunch Palms was the magical setting for the wedding of Buffy the Vampire Slayer alums Alyson Hannigan and Alexis Denisof. The two spread their celebration over three days, beginning with a martini reception in the grotto and exchanging their vows under two trees by the lake.
67425 Two Bunch Palms Trail | Desert Hot Springs | 800.472.4334 | www.twobunchpalms.com

Miramonte in Indian Wells

The Santa Rosa Mountains pose as the backdrop to this luxurious Mediterranean-themed resort. To set the weekend in motion, stay at one of the villa suites with its private candle-lit entrance and terrace, oversized Jacuzzi tub and Tarocco bath amenities.

Once the hangout for the Rat Pack and other Hollywood celebrities, Miramonte has reinvented itself for those who are looking for tranquility and pampering amidst beautiful surroundings. Immerse yourselves in a sensual experience as you stroll through the 11 acres of olive and citrus trees, herb gardens and Italian fountains. The Well Spa takes inspiration from the ancient wells for which the town was named. Drop one of the special coins into the wishing well before your treatment and let your cares fall away. The two of you can indulge in a Pintura Festa per Due—a painting party for two—where you’ll use brushes and pigmented clays to bring out your artistic talents while your bodies serve as the canvas.

Restaurante Brissago is named for the Italian village on Lake Maggiore and serves up Mediterranean-influenced dishes with ingredients from around the globe. For breakfast, try the lobster omelet with marscarpone cheese and woodland mushrooms or the kaffir lime-scented free-range chicken breast for dinner.

If you are searching for a venue, Miramonte recently completed its Mediterranean Ballroom, superb for large celebrations. For more intimate gatherings, check out the Piazza with its stone fireplace and wonderful views of the resort and mountains.
45-000 Indian Wells Lane | Indian Wells | 800.237.2926 | www.miramonteresort.com

Guadalupe Valley, Baja California

Just to the southeast of San Diego is Mexico’s Napa Valley, Valle de Guadalupe. Together with the Ensenada wineries, the region now produces approximately 90 percent of the wine in Mexico.

Roughly 14 miles long and three to five miles wide, the valley is about three-quarters the size of Napa and quite a bit more quiet. Several luxurious hideaways let you bask in the serenity while indulging in the local vino. Wineries such as Château Camou and L.A. Cetto offer tours and tastings, but knowledgeable innkeepers can help you find the more out-of-the-way places. September is a wonderful time to go, as the summer tourist season has slowed down and the harvest is in full swing.

You can drive down Highway 1 from Tijuana, or, if you feel a little more adventurous, enter by way of Tecate and head down the “Ruta del Vino” (Highway 3) toward Ensenada.

La Villa del Valle (formerly Las Brisas del Valle)

Perched on a hilltop and encompassing 70 acres, La Villa del Valle beckons with its emphasis on tranquility. The owners, Eileen and Phil Gregory, are more than happy to share their knowledge of the area, from recommendations of local restaurants to which wineries to tour.

The six romantic rooms are individually decorated and all enjoy views of the valley and surrounding mountains. Fresh fruit and traditional Mexican wedding cookies await your arrival, and every evening at 5:30, you can partake of a complimentary glass of wine by the fireplace. Yoga classes are held in the specially built studio. Stroll through the fruit orchards and relax under an olive tree. In the morning, awaken to a full breakfast of homemade granola, Mexican sweetbreads and eggs from the resident chickens. The restaurant boasts a culinary philosophy of Mediterranean and Mexican fusion in its dinner menu, resulting in a delightful Mexiterranean cuisine. The wine list showcases local wineries. La Villa del Valle is an adults-only hotel. Check Web site or call for directions.
818.207.7130 | www.lavilladelvalle.com

Casa Natalie Hotel & Spa

This luxury boutique hotel is located near Ensenada and is a marvelous destination for those who come down Highway 3 from Tecate and spend the day in the wine country. In the five suites, stone and wood blend to create a serene oasis on the edge of the Pacific. Stay in the Yuca Presidential Suite for sunset views from your private Jacuzzi and enjoy the ocean breeze on your balcony, warmed by the handmade chiminea. The spa offers Swedish massages for two while lounging beds by the infinity pool let you forget everything except the blue sky, the magnificent sea and your beloved.

Casa Natalie’s limited rooms and growing reputation mean you’ll want to make a reservation to ensure the room of your choice. Casa Natalie is an adults-only hotel.
Km. 103.3 Carreterra Tijuana–Ensenada | 1.888.562.8254 | www.casanatalie.com

room at the WDowntown

Don’t feel like driving? Escape to downtown San Diego. The center of a major city may not sound like a sanctuary, but once you step inside the W San Diego on the corner of B and State, you can leave your troubles with the accommodating doormen. Book the Extreme WOW suite and you’ll be living the rock star life with a custom Italian leather couch in the living room, complimentary munchies and mini bar, two 42-inch plasma televisions and the knowledge you have the only suite of its kind in the entire hotel.

When you’ve finished exploring your room, head up to Beach, the rooftop place to be seen. Your toes will sink into the ten inches of heated sand and the two full-service bars will make sure your drink is perfect. Try The Angel with your angel, a sweet blend of Stoli Razberi, Grand Marnier, fresh lime and cranberry juice, topped with a float of champagne. Once your appetite is whetted, visit Rice, the hip W restaurant. Curved banquettes, plushy booths and chef Alex Facio’s ever-changing menu create an unforgettable culinary experience.

The Away Spa offers facials, body treatments and massages with Bliss, Eminence and Ole Henriksen spa products. But if you’d like to venture out, stroll across the street to Spa Velía. There, an earth tone palette and sinuous interior design transport you immediately into a state of bliss. The staff at the spa know what stress can do to a bride and her groom—in fact, they’ve put together a tip sheet on how to handle the pressure of planning a wedding. In the Couples’ Suite, indulge in Amoré, a 25-minute Aroma Thermal Wrap and a 50-minute Couples’ Massage. If you’d like to enjoy separate treatments, try the signature Body Drench or the Milk and Honey Cocoon. Afterward, cuddle together and relax with a glass of wine or frosty mug of beer.

W Hotel
421 West B Street
San Diego
619.398.3100
www.whotels.com

Spa Velía
401 West A Street, Suite 180
San Diego
619.235.0000
www.spavelia.com