The next best thing to a European vacation may be a SoCal sojourn, with our warm Mediterranean climate and diverse range of activities. We rounded up some newly revamped destination hotel stays in California perfect for a weekend road trip. These staycations are also family-friendly and offer amazing value, so you won’t break the bank to get out of town.
Zachari Dunes, Mandalay Beach, Oxnard
Beachfront Best-Kept Secret
Design lovers will appreciate the newly revamped multimillion-dollar remodel with coastal art, beachy décor, lavish chandeliers, boho basket lights, and a grand staircase retaining some of the property’s historic charm. Part of Hilton’s Curio Collection, this modern Hacienda-style resort is an easy getaway. All 250 suites feature two bathrooms, and six presidential suites offer two bedrooms. Oceanfront rooms are nestled on a rugged sandy beach with Channel Island views.
Art and artifacts show how sugar mogul Henry Oxnard once planned to use this coastal land to grow sugar beets, intending to name the settlement after the Greek word for sugar, zachari. Instead, the region was named after him, with the resort inspired by Oxnard’s vision.
This “playground” offers an expansive pool, tennis (soon pickleball) and basketball courts, daily activities like yoga, and a game room filled with foosball, TVs, and more. As part of the resort fee, guests choose from an on-site rental shop filled with activities that can be used (free) for 2 hours daily, including boogie boards, surfboards, skateboards, tennis rackets, record players, Go Pros, and beach chairs.
Chef Damien Gilberti is behind the hotel’s exceptional dining program at Ox & Ocean. Inspired by the bounty of the Oxnard Plain and coast, he marries flavors from the same area because “If it grows together, it goes together.” The Grilled Porkchop with apple bacon chutney and acorn squash puree may be the best you’ve ever had. The Red Curry Coconut Broth Mussels and Brussels Sprouts with a yellow curry dressing and garlic aioli are also amazing. The cocktail program tantalizes agave lovers with palomas and margaritas while the Espresso Martini and Foggy Old Fashion are essential vacation-mode cocktails. Weekday happy hour food and drinks don’t disappoint.
Breakfast is equally satisfying, beautifully presented and prepared, and includes favorites like strawberry smoothies, a Jalapeno Corn Fritter Benedict with bacon and chipotle hollandaise, Lemon Mascarpone Pancakes, and a Chorizo Burrito loaded with eggs, potatoes, caramelized onions, Oaxaca cheese and avocado. A new Airstream Café with colorful seating and breakfast bites is coming soon.
Hilton.com/en/hotels/sbazdqq-Zachari-dunes-on-mandalay-beach/
Vespera Resort, Pismo Beach
Down by the Boardwalk
Just a few years old, Central Coast beach resort Vespera, adjacent to the Pismo Beach Boardwalk, feels new with its upscale nautical navy and white beach house design, swanky lobby lounge and oceanside pool.
Vespera provides easy access to the famous stretch of surf and sand. Explore the casual beach town or stroll miles of pristine beaches and the iconic pier to admire the rolling surf hugged by dramatic seaside cliffs. Find trails for hiking, biking and running or hop on a beach cruiser to explore the town and local butterfly grove.
Choose from room options like a breezy ocean view or boardwalk suite with high ceilings, expansive windows and a crisp white coastal vibe. Most of the 124 guestrooms come with private balconies overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Bathrooms are donned with Carrara marble and white subway tiles.
Star gazers will appreciate the collapsible mini telescope provided with a stargazing map to peruse the night sky, a nod to how “Vespera” is derived from the evening star and the Chumash First Nations who inhabited California’s Central Coast region and used the stars to cross the Santa Barbara Channel.
At one of the many firepits, toast to your good fortune with a cocktail from their tequila-focused menu like the Kiwi Paloma, Baja Mule, Hot Lips or Mexican Coffee. Pequín, the indoor-outdoor dining concept, serves Baja coastal fare all day with local ingredients and seafood from nearby Morro Bay. Portions are huge—one quality entrée like the tender Braised Short Rib or the gigantic Grilled Lobster is enough to feed two. Dogs are treated to a Puppers menu and water bowls, complementing Pismo’s dog-friendly beach right outside.
VesperaPismoBeach.com
Courtyard by Marriott Santa Barbara
Retro Bliss in the Heart of Downtown
The stunning retro redesign is reminiscent of Palm Springs, with its white breeze blocks, clean lines, open spaces, floor to ceiling windows and entryway with ceiling cutouts. Room doors pop in shades of red while midcentury-inspired furniture and lighting adorn the hotel in fun patterns, shades and colors. Expect swanky retro couches and uber-comfy bedding in the modern rooms with activated lighting accents for those tiptoeing to the bathroom. However, the best part is the view of the Santa Ynez Mountains from the north-facing rooms’ beds.
This is the first Courtyard Marriott in Santa Barbara, developed by former star of ABC’s “The Bachelor,” Andrew Firestone, and business partner Jess Parker. They transformed the 122-room pad into a super stylish light-soaked masterpiece with ocean and mountain vistas and an outdoor pool/spa with a firepit in the interior courtyard. Two rooftops boast 360-degree sweeping views straight to the ocean and mountainscape. Here is where you’ll want to spend a lingering sunset with a bottle of rosé.
Saint Remy is the hotel’s casual retro restaurant concept featuring locally sourced coastal cuisine with a Mediterranean twist. Share dishes like Whipped Feta with pomegranates, crispy Short Rib Hummus, Mushroom Flatbread, or Lamb Meatballs. The cunning mixologist shakes up the best classic and inventive cocktails like the Fever Dream with Mezcal or Pistol Whip with bourbon. Breakfast is a worthy endeavor too, featuring wellness options or richer dishes to start your day with a mega smile such as Churros Pancake, Nutella Crunch French Toast, Citrus Salmon Toast and Shakshuka with zesty tomato sauce and sliced avocado loaded with feta in a skillet.
SantaBarbaraCA.com/businesses/courtyard-santa-barbara-downtown
The Renaissance Esmeralda Resort & Spa
Desert Paradise in Indian Wells
Dramatic mountain and palm tree views from a spacious suite may have you mesmerized by the setting at the foot of the Santa Rosa Mountains. There’s no need to leave this Marriott resort with grand pools, a full-service spa, tennis courts and two 18-hole golf courses.
A recent renovation modernized the 560 rooms and 103 suites with a pastel vibe and nods to local Hollywood icons. Poolside cabanas offer privacy, with some next to a sandy beach. Ping pong tables make a welcome sun break while a game room on the second floor is a kid’s delight. Camp Esmeralda features an expanded children’s program with fun activities.
Each evening, the hotel performs a complimentary Bar Ritual with punch bowl cocktails to welcome the evening glow. The central H20 Pool Bar offers cocktails and bites all day, while The Place Lobby Bar is where longstanding bartenders can be found crafting strong concoctions like Espresso Martinis and the Firebird Smoke Show at night. No need to leave your bar stool with bites such as crispy fried avocado slices or a skillet cookie, but the real pro move is to order fresh sushi from adjacent Glo Sushi Bar, some of the best in the desert.
Marriott.com/en-us/hotels/pspsr-renaissance-esmeralda-resort-and-spa-indian-wells/overview/
Del Mar Beach Hotel
On the Sand in North San Diego
The soothing surf sounds at the newly renovated historic Del Mar Beach Hotel help it feel like your own private beach pad. Steps from the sand, this is the only beachfront hotel in Del Mar. The location feels less touristy than La Jolla and less crowded than other San Diego beach towns.
The 46 modern guest rooms and suites are fully remodeled along with two residences that can be rented nearby. In front of the property, umbrellas and seating areas make for a relaxed afternoon aside the long rolling waves. Hit the surf, take a leisurely walk on the dog-friendly beach or hop on complimentary cruiser bikes.
An Airstream Café will open this summer at the hotel, serving juices, coffees and to-go offerings like pastries and sandwiches. Just steps from Del Mar Village and minutes from the Solana Beach Design District, a stay here feels like the ultimate SoCal beach vacation, with surfboards included!
DelMarHotel.com