Secluded Summer Retreats
If your summer vacation wish list includes peace and quiet at a secluded retreat near the water, you’re in luck. Less than a day’s trek from any Southern California starting point, you’ll find lakes and rivers that serve as scenic sites for quiet lodges and campgrounds. And of course, there’s the Pacific Ocean. Here are some close-to-home waterfront escapes that feel worlds away.
Talk about a room with a view! The Post Ranch Inn in Big Sur is dramatically located on the bluffs overlooking the ocean, offering spectacular views from the 39 guest rooms and two private homes. The Post Ranch Inn blends rustic luxury, elegance and solitude — the rooms do not have TVs or alarm clocks — with amenities including a daily gourmet breakfast, yoga and tai chi, guided nature walks, stargazing, an infinity pool and the use of a Lexus vehicle or shuttle to explore Big Sur. You can also hike down to the shore. postranchinn.com
The towering red rock cliffs of Sedona, Ariz., and nearby Oak Creek Canyon, with its lush greenery and flowing water, are about as picturesque as it gets. Find quiet relaxation away from the tourist crowds in Sedona by staying in a luxury cottage or lodge-style guest room at L’Auberge de Sedona. Some cottages offer fireplaces, outdoor open-air cedar showers and private balconies. Just outside of Sedona along the flowing Oak Creek, guests enjoy fine dining at the inn’s elegant restaurant, Cress on Oak Creek. lauberge.com
Get out on the ocean with a trip to Catalina Island. Visit Two Harbors on Catalina’s less-touristy side to enjoy solitude and the island’s natural beauty. The Banning House Lodge is a former vacation home of Catalina’s onetime owners and now a Craftsman-style bed and breakfast with ocean and harbor views. Located on a hilltop perch, the Banning House has 12 guest rooms and is a short drive to the ocean and swimming, sailing or snorkeling. Guests enjoy free shuttle service between the lodge and Two Harbors village and there’s plenty of hiking near the lodge. visitcatalinaisland.com
–AMY BENTLEY
