When my friend Charmaine wrote that she had relocated to Paradise, I smiled indulgently. When my goddaughter Daisy said she had found the perfect place to study and live, I nodded. When my buddy Judy said she was living in the happiest place on earth, I figured that three is a charm, and packed my bags for the Central Coast of California. After three weeks of exploration, I can understand my friends’ love affair with the area. After two days of being home, I am ready to go back again.
In case you don’t have three weeks to drive the Central Coast, here are my top picks for things that will win your heart, arouse your senses, and soothe your soul.
The Oaks At Ojai:
Owner Sheila Cluff is the Queen of Fitness and a pioneer in the world of exercise and well-being. Instead of a Type A-feel-the-pain-spend-a-fortune kind of spa, she has fashioned an affordable resort where classes cater to stretching, expanding, connecting the mind and body and having fun while you raise your heart rate. I loved the lectures and take-home tips about cooking, meditating, fashioning ad hoc weights by filling bottles with small stones, exercising in an office chair or plane seat and updating an old makeup routine. I could not believe that the gourmet fare was less than 1200 calories a day. (www.OaksSpa.com)
Sunday brunch at Bacara Resort in Santa Barbara:
In front of you on the patio is an endless expanse of ocean. Behind you is a Spanish guitar player. A nattily-attired waiter pours champagne. Walk inside, and there are multiple stages to choose from: a full breakfast; an array of vegetables from the Farmer’s Market and a chef standing by to custom craft a salad for you; a generous choice of local seafood; and a long table full of desserts. At $60, it is the perfect way to celebrate a birthday, anniversary, or life. If you’re feeling flush, follow it up with a 50-minute arnica massage in the spa and then sweat away your troubles in a complimentary eucalyptus steam bath and Jacuzzi before you cool down. (www.bacararesort.com)
