Sublime getaway two hours from LA-- RANCHO VALENCIA

Rancho Valencia is one of the most beautiful, well-appointed resorts we've ever experienced.  Located in Rancho Santa Fe, horse country which is 20 minutes from San Diego and two hours from LA, the property is rambling, yet thoughtfully laid out with hillside and tree top views.  The Spanish style Casistas are so much more than rooms, but truly small houses-- the cheapest is 850 sq. ft. with beamed ceilings, a step down living room with a wet bar and fireplace, a huge private patio and an enormous bathroom/dressing room.  Pay a little extra and get your own private hot tub outside.  Everything in the mini bar (no booze, but waters, sparkling waters, coconut waters, iced tea and soft drinks) is complimentary and is restocked daily.  This service includes snacks-- nuts, chips, energy bars-- as well.

The day begins with fresh squeezed orange juice (from those Valencia oranges!) delivered to your door.  Breakfast is also included in the daily rate and is a great spread of fruit, yogurt, oatmeal and pastries.  For $5 you can supplement with eggs.  We enjoyed three meals in the cozy dining room in front of a roaring fire.  You may also dine on one of the patios that overlook the many tennis courts, it was just too chilly last weekend for us.  Rancho Valencia is know for its tennis program-- they provide you with everything and it is a beautiful setting for hitting the ball around.

After jogging off some of our Thanksgiving debauchery in the gorgeous, clean gym with all new machines and equipment, we checked out a complimentary yoga class in the "Movement Studio."  It was a great class-- lots of twisting which is meant to be cleansing and purifying....

Feeling we had earned it, we headed to the stunning spa.  The spa is truly one of the most lovely we've seen (rivals the Ojai Valley Inn & Spa), with fireplaces, handpainted tiled showers and steam rooms, two jacuzzi areas al fresco and an adults only Spa swimming pool (there is another enormous pool and two jacuzzis that are kid friendly in the middle of the property).  After a eucalyptus scented steam, we indulged in the "Autumn Quench," a spa special that included a salt scrub for our feet and full body massage.  Lucy had an outstanding therapist -- Timi-- who she highly recommends.

Lunch (again before the fire) was not exactly spa friendly.  The kobe beef sliders are honestly the most delicious hamburger item we have ever had!!  Fish tacos were a bit of a disappointment but the chicken quesadillas made up for it.  And we must report that the most expensive chardonnay by the glass, the Lewis for $18 is definitely the best.  If you're not willing to spend that much on a glass of wine, go to the next one down, the AKS, but skip the Melville-- at $14 still expensive and very disappointing.

After more exercise -- a dip in the 82 degree pool followed by a warm up in one of the jacuzzis, it seemed to be time to eat again....

Dinner was cozy, for the third time, fireside.  We were the only people in the restaurant with our Dad!  Granted it was the Sunday after Thanksgiving....  Sort of nice to have our own private dining room!  The oysters were fresh and tasty and the grouper was outstanding and light.  The peach/berry cobbler was not, but it was worth it.....

And then it was time to recap the day in front of our own fireplace in our casita and then sink into the heavenly beds with top notch linens.

Rancho Valencia is honestly the best place to recuperate and get away from it all.  It is expensive, but it is the best value we've ever found for a hotel.  Go for a romantic rendezvous (Mary and Napper celebrated their engagement here!) or come for a family vacation like we did with our Dad....  Doesn't matter why you go, just do!