Travel
T
he laid-back lifestyle in
Laguna Beach isn’t the only
perk of visiting this quaint,
art-driven city in California;
luxury is around every corner.
From five-star restaurants to
gorgeous hotels, Laguna Beach
beckons you to live the good life.
The stunning ocean views alone can
be the catalyst that will have you
packing up your life and moving to
Laguna Beach — or at least
considering it!
The vacation that dreams are made
of began for my family and me
at Laguna’s Surf & Sand Resort.
Traveling with young children can
be, to say the least, a chore. At the
Surf & Sand, every effort is made to
accommodate your needs; mine begin
and end with my children. The
beautiful ocean front hotel has 167
rooms, all of which have an ocean
view. There are plenty of amenities;
I highly recommend the
complimentary S’mores and Snores
package (upon request). The hotel
staff set up a small tent in our room
for the little ones to sleep in, and
delivered S’mores before bedtime.
According to my children, “That’s
the right way to begin a vacation!”
The Surf & Sand also provides
complimentary earplugs, in case the
soothing sounds of the surf threaten
to disturb your slumber.
Stepping onto the balcony of our
hotel room was serene; the Pacific
Ocean creeps precariously close to
the foundation of the Surf & Sand,
giving the impression that the hotel
will be consumed by the waves at any
moment. Actually walking along the
beach or gamboling in the surf (or
doing back handsprings in it like my
teenager) supersede any optical
illusion for my family, however.
We spent hours chasing waves and
playing catch in the sand, soaking up
every ounce of sun possible. The
staff at the Surf & Sand set up beach
chairs and umbrellas along with spa
water — just in case relaxation is
calling your name instead of the hot
California sun.
life that much easier. Dining on the
palm-shaded patio of Splashes feels
like a vacation in itself (despite the
shameful crayon throwing – courtesy
of my youngest child).
During our lunch at Splashes, I was
served an interesting dish: Flatbread
of Forest Mushroom and Pork Belly,
complete with pickled baby apples,
soy caramel, Brie cheese, rosemary
and black garlic. What’s a vacation
for, if not to experience life (and
therefore food) outside of your
comfort zone? My teenage daughter,
on the other hand, opted for
her usual: the Kobe Burger with
smoked cheddar, coriander slaw
and garlicky pickles.
We swung by Sapphire Laguna for
brunch while out exploring and were
pleasantly surprised. Sapphire offers
patio or indoor seating, and displays
works from local artists throughout.
The restaurant is known for
providing comfort food inspired
by cuisines from around the world.
My husband, relishing the moment,
ordered A Study of Eggs Benedict.
Served three ways, A Study of Eggs
Benedict consists of a toasted
English muffin, Canadian bacon,
hollandaise