Wake up in the heart of Big Sur, where the towering redwood forests meet the mountains and sea. Having checked in to Ventana Big Sur, An Alila Resort the night before, you'll enjoy coffee on your private balcony before making your way to breakfast at the resort's elegant restaurant, Sur House, compliments of our agency.
Every morning at 10:00, Ventana offers a guided walk of the stunning property. Put away your cell phone and inhale the fresh mountain air as you learn about the local flora and fauna. Set on 160 acres of 100-yearold redwoods, every vantage offers breathtaking views of land and sea. Keep an eye out for California condors, gray whales and red-tailed hawks.
Big Sur's spectacular beauty is so well-known in no small part thanks to the American writer Henry Miller. His stories about living here not only brought Big Sur national attention, but attracted fellow Beat writers such as Jack Kerouac to the area. Visit the Henry Miller Memorial Library to learn more about Miller, his work and the counterculture community for which Big Sur is so famous.
By booking your stay through our agency, you'll receive a 100 USD resort credit at Ventana. Although there are many wonderful ways to use the credit, we like the idea of enjoying a picnic lunch at the beautiful Garrapata Beach. This hidden treasure is so isolated, chances are you'll have the entire beach to yourself. Enjoy the solitude and scenery as you savor your lunch, including a bottle of wine, packed by the resort upon request.
Check yourself into Spa Alila for a rejuvenating afternoon that will leave you relaxed and refreshed. Although the spa offers a variety of treatments, including traditional Thai massage and cranialsacral therapy, the 80-minute Essence of Big Sur Herbal Massage with its warm herbal compresses made from eucalyptus, lavender, pine, sage and arnica, is all but guaranteed to soothe away your worries.
Relax with a glass of Central Coast wine on the patio of Social House, the building at the heart of Ventana's community activities. Or, sink into an oversized leather chair in the Library & Music Room and listen to a record from the resort's impressive collection of vintage vinyl.
Watch the sun set over the Pacific from the terrace of Sierra Mar, one of Big Sur's most celebrated restaurants. A short walk from Ventana, the restaurant 's excellent four-course, prix-fixe menu changes daily depending on what's in season and is paired with an award-winning wine list that includes more than 3,200 selections.
Ensure a good night's sleep with a relaxing soak in Ventana's clothing-optional Japanese hot baths. Heated to a balmy 104 degrees, this outdoor bathing ritual has long been believed to foster emotional intimacy and is particularly serene under a moonlit sky.
