In an effort to dine at all 3000 San Francisco restaurants (800 and counting) and to visit all 600 Napa wineries (350 and counting), my wife Linda and I recently traveled to the 5 star luxury resort at Pelican Hill in Southern California.
From our home in Danville, it is a easy 1 hour flight to
Orange County Airport and 15 minute drive to a 504 acre slice of heaven on the
deep blue pacific that offers "something for everyone."
From the moment you drive into this Italian Renaissance
inspired 504-acre luxury Resort with 750 mature olive trees, all your cares and
concerns quickly disappear as you are greeted by a happy staff of people with a
" What can I do for you " attitude dedicated to making your stay a
memorable experience. The architecture was inspired by the renowned Italian
Renaissance architect Andrea Palladio. Many of the resort furnishings are
antiques imported from Spain, Italy and France. A self guided tour book is
provided to guests describing Palladio's influence throughout the property as
well as excellent descriptions of the art and tapestries located in the Lobby,
Hallway and Great Room Social Lounge.
Our favorites were the Flemish Tapestries that were from Brussels
located on the walls beside the fireplace in the Great Room Social Lounge. These tapestries date back to the 17th century
and depict flower filled vases lined by cupids on each side. The colors are
vivid and provide the beautiful room with a tranquil effect as guests gather
and linger at the heart of the Resort.
We checked into our elegantly appointed Bungalow guest room complete with fireplace,
balcony and ocean views ranging from 847 square feet to 2100 square feet. If you
require more room for a family affair or other event, the resort offers villas
that are much larger and up to 3500 square feet of luxury. These accommodations
may be reserved by the evening, weekly or monthly.
The 23,000 square foot Spa has been Awarded the Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star rating consistently each year since opening. It offers a wide array of services to soothe your senses from the rigors of modern life and where every moment is one of extraordinary pampering and rejuvenation.
The 23,000 square foot Spa has been Awarded the Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star rating consistently each year since opening. It offers a wide array of services to soothe your senses from the rigors of modern life and where every moment is one of extraordinary pampering and rejuvenation.
After a spa treatment, relaxing by the unique "Coliseum Style" pool forming a
136-foot diameter circle with over 1 million hand cut mosaic tiles and stunning
ocean views is a great way to wind down before dining at one of the Resorts 3
restaurants or 2 cafes.
For the more adventurous, guests can enjoy the Crystal Cove Experience. You can explore
3.5 miles of ocean front strolling the beach, swimming, jogging or cycling
along the trails at Crystal Cove State Park on one of the last oceanfront
preserves left in Southern California
Executive Chef Jean Pierre Dubray brings his French Culinary
training and passion for perfection to the resort's restaurants. There is a dining experience for
every mood a guest may have. Our
experience included Andrea Ristorante, the Pelican Grill at the Golf Club and the
Coliseum Pool & Grill.
Andrea Ristorante
offers Northern Italian cuisine with an extensive wine list and fresh
pasta homemade daily in a temperature controlled pasta room. Pasta Chef Julia
also offers weekly classes in traditional pasta making. We especially enjoyed
the risotto prepared in a unique manner. A large 90 pound wheel of parmesan
cheese that is imported from Italy is wheeled to your tableside. The chef
shaves the inside of the cheese wheel and then puts the hot Italian Risotto
into the middle. The melted cheese and risotto then are expertly mixed together
resulting in a burst of incredible flavor for the diners. We loved this experience and highly recommend
it.
The Pelican Grill
also offers an extensive wine menu and outstanding coastal California cuisine
prepared in an open kitchen. Views from the ocean view terrace make for a
"very special " culinary experience. There is also a popular lounge
with two huge 9’ x 6’ HD TVs for viewing sports events after your golf game or
for a more casual get together.
There are also 2 World Class Golf Courses designed by legendary architect Tom Fazio that offer panoramic views from each of the 36 holes. A modern and high tech Golf Academy led by Glenn Deck and a team of knowledgeable PGA professionals is also available to help improve your game.
We played the Ocean North that was a par 70 and offers tees for all levels of golfers. Linda found the ladies tees to be very friendly and fair. The ocean views on every hole made you not care about hitting a bad shot or missing a putt.
The sad part about enjoying this great Tuscan like refuge is...... having to leave. The service staff prides themselves in making you want to extend your stay or to come back soon. We definitely plan on returning soon and highly recommend that you put The Resort At Pelican Hill on your bucket list to experience this pinnacle of excellence.
There are also 2 World Class Golf Courses designed by legendary architect Tom Fazio that offer panoramic views from each of the 36 holes. A modern and high tech Golf Academy led by Glenn Deck and a team of knowledgeable PGA professionals is also available to help improve your game.
We played the Ocean North that was a par 70 and offers tees for all levels of golfers. Linda found the ladies tees to be very friendly and fair. The ocean views on every hole made you not care about hitting a bad shot or missing a putt.
The sad part about enjoying this great Tuscan like refuge is...... having to leave. The service staff prides themselves in making you want to extend your stay or to come back soon. We definitely plan on returning soon and highly recommend that you put The Resort At Pelican Hill on your bucket list to experience this pinnacle of excellence.
