mountain getaways
The Lodge at Torrey Pines is a luxury
resort that offers unpretentious
elegance in a breathtakingly beautiful
natural setting.
botanical and marine-based extracts.
These include a variety of sage scrubs
that evoke the Spa’s idyllic location
close to the wind-swept Torrey Pines
State Reserve—home to 17 varieties of
aromatic sage.
If you enjoy hiking, there is no better place to begin a trekking adventure
than at The Lodge. The magnificent
hiking trails of the Torrey Pines State Reserve, one of San Diego’s most beloved
natural attractions, are literally steps
away from your guest room. Miles of
trails pass through forests of rare Torrey pine trees, an endangered species
indigenous to this area. The reserve
is also home to the last salt marches
and waterfowl regions in Southern
California. An expansive sandy beach,
shadowed by golden sandstone formations and deep ravines etched into the
headlands, is a perfect spot to watch
dolphins frolicking in the surf and
majestic gray whales on their migratory path south.
Golf enthusiasts can play 18 or 36
holes right outside their door at the
spectacular Torrey Pines Golf Course, a
municipal course operated by the City
of San Diego. Host to national championships such as the 2008 U.S. Open,
the course is famous for its magnificent
coastline views, rugged seaside cliffs,
and classic championship golf holes.
For a true adrenaline rush, soar
above the birds and high above La Jolla’s spectacular coastline. The Torrey
Pines Glider Port offers tandem paragliding and hang gliding experiences
throughout the winter months. For the
fainter of heart, a gentle hot air balloon
ride gives you the same magnificent
coastline view at a more leisurely pace.
If all this activity, or lack of it, makes
you hungry, you don’t have to look further than The Lodge’s award-winning
restaurant, A.R. Valentien, to enter a
world of culinary excellence. Named
one of the most dedicated locavore
eateries in the nation and the recipient of numerous awards for taking the
farm-to-table concept to the highest
level, the restaurant’s menu reflects
the happy fact that farm-fresh produce, seafood and meats are available
year-round in this temperate climate.
No matter what time of year, diners
will feast on menu items prepared with
the freshest of ingredients available in
that particular season.
The Old World ambiance of this fine
restaurant makes it a perfect venue
for your romantic winter dining experience. Massive wooden beams,
a crackling fireplace, plush velour
booths, elegant white-draped tables
adorned with fresh flowers, and magnificent views over the green expanse
of the golf course to the Pacific Ocean
beyond set the perfect dining scene—
cozy, yet elegant. The restaurant is
named for the famed early 20th century California Impressionist landscape
painter A.R. Valentien, whose distinctive work can be admired throughout
the resort.
WINTER 2013 | FOOD TRAVELER 17