Escaping to sunny LA this winter? Check out our top picks on where to post up. From golf to gastronomy, shopping to spas, and palm trees to pools, you can’t go wrong at these luxurious, laid-back coastal oases.
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Endless Summer
Westdrift
Located in Manhattan Beach, westdrift delivers boutique hotel sophistication and amenities with laid-back, Californian relaxation. Located walking distance to the waterfront, the hotel is proximal to top destinations like Manhattan Beach pier, El Segundo Museum of Art, the LA Coliseum, LAX, The Point, and other world-class shopping and dining.
But you don’t even have to leave the property to experience all the joys of southern California. Spend long hours lounging under a private cabana by the pool, enjoy breakfast, lunch, or dinner at westdrift’s signature indoor-outdoor restaurant Jute, or play a round of golf on their nine-hole, par three course, littered with natural hills and palm trees. You can take a spin at their Crossfit-inspired fitness facility, or wind down at their 360-degree bar. Whether you’re soaking up the California sun or enjoying the region’s many happenings, there’s something for everyone at westdrift.
1400 Parkview Ave., Manhattan Beach, CA
The Great Escape
Hotel Atwater
Originally opened in 1920 and named after building director William Wrigley Jr.’s daughter-in-law, Helen Atwater Wrigley, the newly renovated Hotel Atwater features vintage elements like vases of carnations and two splits of sparkling wine in each room on arrival day. The hotel, located in the heart of Avalon on Santa Catalina Island, spotlights colorful, ocean-inspired art deco style, while the rooms are equipped with conveniences like smart TVs and digital concierge tablets.
For a requisite $40 fee per room, per night, guests enjoy access to Descanso Beach Club and use of beach towels, as well as a $20 restaurant each day. Use your restaurant credit at Bistro at the Atwater, Descanso Beach Club (Avalon’s largest outdoor venue), Harbor Reef Restaurant, or Harbor Sands in Two Harbors. There’s even more to explore on Catalina Island, between zip lines, helicopter rides, scenic hikes, and glass-bottom boat tours, and guests receive 15% off all Catalina Island Company activities and tours. Escape the mainland and discover all that this little island off the coast of LA has to offer.
125 Sumner Ave., Avalon, CA. 887-778-8322, visitcatalinaisland.com
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Mediterranean Luxury
Casa del Mar
Looking for maximum indulgence? Look no further than Santa Monica’s Casa Del Mar, located in the heart of Silicon Beach. The stunning Italian Renaissance exterior gives way to an equally striking interior of lobby cabanas, exquisitely furnished rooms and suites (read: marble bathrooms and hydrothermal tubs), and 180-degree ocean views.
Take a private surf lesson or a yoga session on the beach, explore the buzzing restaurant and nightlife scene in the neighborhood, or unwind at Casa del Mar’s Sea Wellness Spa or seaside Palm Terrace Pool. Enjoy regional flavor at their locally-sourced sushi and seafood restaurant, Catch. And enjoy almost every activity at Casa del Mar while taking in stunning ocean vistas that’ll leave you as relaxed as the Pacific is blue.
1910 Ocean Way, Santa Monica, CA. 310-581-5533, hotelcasadelmar.com
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New England Dreaming
Shutters on the Beach
Try out something a bit more East Coast-inspired at Shutters on the Beach, named after Cape Cod’s iconic shuttered beach cottages. Situated next door to Casa del Mar, Shutters offers luxuries like private balconies and cabanas, a sea-view outdoor pool, and a full day spa all with a breezy, coastal vibe.
Get moving with some of the area’s activities like beach volleyball or the Malibu to Manhattan Beach bike path. Visit the famed Santa Monica pier, just a stone’s throw away. Or, enjoy a relaxing lunch at casual Coast or savor market-fresh fare at sophisticated 1 Pico. Keep an eye out for the hotel’s subtle East Coast touches, like dark wood accents, fireplaces, and hydrangeas.
1 Pico Blvd., Santa Monica, CA. 310-458-0030, shuttersonthebeach.com