TUCKED UP THE COAST

A weekend getaway to Bodega Bay is only as successful as your ability to truly step away

Written by Amy Dong

I’ll be the first to admit that living in Santa Barbara is everything it’s chalked up to be. I can surf in February, get a healthy dose of Vitamin D year-round, and still have a city at my fingertips. But every now and then, I crave a getaway that creates the mental headspace to unwind, reflect, and intentionally slow down. This time around, I decide to take a trip to Bodega Bay, an hour north of San Francisco and a destination that has been on my ‘must-visit’ list for too long.

After a little research, my friend Lena and I unanimously decide on Bodega Bay Lodge, a property that shoulders up against the coastline with a refined, rugged aesthetic that would make any design fanatic swoon. Reminiscent of the beachside cabin I stayed in as a kid, I am already brimming with positive associations.

By the time we arrive it’s past dusk, and while I’m not able to appreciate the view, I’m enamored by our home for the next two nights; a rustic, wooden exterior contrasted by a clean modern feel and topped off with an in-room fireplace. We waste no time lighting the fire and opening a Duckhorn Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir. To date, I’ve never felt cozier.

We wake up nestled in fog and bound out the door to explore the property. Based on the aesthetic of our room, I’m not the least bit surprised to find the concept of rustic minimalism echoed across the grounds. Originally built in 1960 and recently renovated, Bodega Bay Lodge encapsulates a rare simplicity and a dedication to craftsmanship. This is perfectly captured in the Lodge’s hot tub; an infinity-ledge overlooking the bay and blocked from the wind by clear glass panels. Needless to say, our morning was extremely well spent.

Drawn away from the hot tub only by the rumblings of our stomachs, we make our way to the property’s restaurant, Drake’s Sonoma Coast, for a local and sustainably sourced culinary experience. We trade one ocean view for another and take a seat in supple leather chairs right in front of the westward facing windows. In my book, breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and my Local Dungeness Crab Omelet attains a spot on my highlight reel of best breakfasts (I know, a large claim). As I savor my cup of coffee, we sit silently, watching the fog give way to brisk sunshine and clear skies.

After a hike to Goat Rock beach, a breathtaking 8-mile trek, we arrive back at the Lodge exhausted, happy, and hungry. Still

discussing the Dungeness Crab Omelette, we decide we’d be remiss to not experience dinner at Drake’s. For our encore, we swap coffee for an aromatic Albarino and pore over the menu. A chef in a previous life, I always look to Lena when navigating culinary decisions. She examines the complexity of the flavor profiles, which typically go completely over my head, and we decide on Line-Caught Ahi Tuna Carpaccio, Roasted Rocky Half Chicken, and the special—Cioppino filled with locally caught seafood (need I say more?). The carpaccio, drizzled with ponzu vinaigrette and garnished with daikon, melts in my mouth and I have to make an active effort to savor every bite. While the Rocky Roast Chicken accompanied by roasted baby vegetables is divine, the Cioppino takes the cake. Lena and I close out the evening battling over the last spoonfuls of Cioppino and discussing the whimsical moments of the day.

In my humble opinion, the best part of a getaway is the unplanned stillness of an afternoon spent aimlessly. The next morning, I promptly park myself in a hammock, hidden along the side of the property and overlooking the ocean, with a thermos full of freshly brewed coffee. I page through a book that’s been sitting on my nightstand, untouched, for the past month, and spend the next few hours in a state that’s nothing short of bliss. We round out the most relaxing day with a bike ride down to the beach on the Lodge’s sand bikes. While I feel undeniably ridiculous riding one (Google it; you will understand), we arrive at the beach just as the sun sets, and for the first time in a while, I feel calm and entirely present. *

bodegabaylodge.com

This summer may not yield the same charms as summers past—obnoxiously crowded beaches, traffic clogging the span of Pacific Coast Highway, a shortage of lounge chairs at your favorite pool—but that does not mean Written by Delaney Willet you cannot indulge in its greatest luxuries. The Balboa Bay Resort, an extension of the forever posh and lively Balboa Bay Club, is a weekender’s playground. Situated as the exclusive hotel on Balboa Bay, the resort and club offer every imaginable amenity—a world-class spa equipped with medicinal CBD massages, a sought-after happy hour around massive fire pits facing the bay, a fully-stocked pool bar—not to mention it is a stone’s throw away from one of Southern California’s shopping and dining hubs, Lido Marina Village. The village boasts high-end retailers, a Malibu Farm, and its own Nobu on the bay.

After whittling my day away in and out of stores, Balboa Bay Resort whisks me away on a personal Duffy boat ride around Newport Beach and Balboa Island. What better way to get a lay of the land than in the water with a charcuterie board and wine glass in hand?

If fun in the sun has filled your summer schedule and you just want some time to yourself, may I recommend the signature massage at the hotel’s spa, which is housed inside the prestigious club across the way? Entering the spa’s lobby, with its towering ceilings and stone pillars, I’m awed by the prestige the club communicates without saying a word. Through a series of two keycard-protected doors, I’m both soothed and surprised by a modern oasis. Lush furnishings dapple a cozy cream-colored room, the space’s metaphorical warmth only emphasized by a lulling fire encased in dark marble. I begin thinking I would be happy to spend my afternoon in my robe simply enjoying the overstuffed chairs when my massage therapist summons me through yet another keycard-protected entrance. Bay Watch Country club prestige and Southern California charm commingle at the Balboa Bay Resort & Club

Somehow bliss falls short of describing my thirty minutes on the massage table, the relaxation afforded by ocean waves lapping in the background accentuated by the CBD-infused oils soaking through my skin. A transformative sixty minutes is capped with a sauna and a dip in the pool, which feels all the more luxurious as happy hour looms around the corner.

The 5 o’clock light reflecting off of the bay into the patio of A&O Kitchen and Bar dances through the fire pits as though it were a celebratory occasion. That’s the sense one gets when staying at Balboa Bay Resort: every day is a special occasion. The hotel’s casual, pub style restaurant pulsates with locals and guests alike. A football game is broadcast on each of the many TVs circling the bar and all walks of life mingle under its glow, debating favorites and placing bets while making selections from the expertly crafted, California-sourced beverage menu. As the sun sets on an exquisite day by the bay, we chaperone our cucumber-mezcal and vodkagrapefruit cocktails to the restaurant’s interior for dinner.

Many would be reluctant to dub the often disregarded Brussels sprouts as a revelation, but at A+O Kitchen and Bar they are nothing short of such. The tapas menu does everything to tantalize the taste buds, complementing a lobster roll with blistered shishito peppers, all tied together by a crunchy, creamy, impossibly rich chocolate hazelnut parfait. Is your mouth watering yet? Throughout the course of a two hour meal the friendly staff has become nearly family, arming us with miniature bottles of Moët Chandon Rosé to indulge in upstairs.

The soaking tub calls my name as I swing open the door to my suite, marveling at the glittering lights of boats and homes reflected by the bay. A bubble bath and my miniature Champagne bottle practically spell luxury before my eyes, the quintessential end to an incredibly indulgent weekend on the bay. * balboabayresort.com