Spa Days are the Best Days

Is there anything more relaxing than spending a whole day lounging around in a cabana

in between heavenly rub downs and lavender showers?

Probably not. 

I'm a firm believer in spalidays,

and the spa at The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe is one of my new favorite spots in San Diego. 

The luxury hotel recently underwent a $12 million renovation,

and I was asked to come check out the spa,

since you know... I'm an expert.

It truly made for a perfect day though. 

The sun was shining, the birds were chirping,

and as soon as I slipped into that robe I felt like I was in paradise. 

The menu of services is impressive,

making the decision nearly impossible.

But alas, I came to my senses and settled for the hot stone massage. 

Holy moly.. can I just tell you,

I feel like I couldn't even walk afterwards?

Why? Because I was THAT relaxed. 

I practically floated out of that room, and on to the patio,

where I had a nice little salad waiting for me in a cabana. 

So shi shi shi, you know what I mean?!

I'm one of those people that can't lay around for too long without getting restless,

so after a little while I decided to go explore around the hotel grounds.

Beautiful.

Reminds me of the Spanish countryside, with a modern twist. 

I already have plans to go back and check out Morada,

the newest restaurant on the property that offers a locally sourced California inspired menu that is constantly evolving. 

You guys need to follow suit.

Bliss!

The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe

5951 Linea Del Cielo

Rancho Santa Fe, CA 

Spa Day at the Grand Del Mar

The Grand Del Mar,

is also known as PARADISE. 

This place is ridiculously gorgeous, 

which is the main reason why my bestie and I chose it as the setting for our random Tuesday spa day. 

Best. Decision. Ever. 

I meaaaan, I'm pretty sure the pictures speak for themselves,

although I hardly remembered my camera was in my purse as we stumbled around the beautiful grounds. 

The Grand Del Mar shines as California’s triple Five-Star resort with a sparkling roster of recognition from the most prestigious organizations in the world, 

including the incredible distinction as TripAdvisor’s #1 Luxury Hotel in California.

Nbd, right? 

So in other words, it's fancy. 

Here's the deal though,

you don't have to stay here to enjoy all the perks.

You can, of course,

but if you're an SD native like myself and don't need a place to stay,

you can just make a day trip out of it. 

Which is exactly what we did. 

Just book a treatment at the spa,

and indulge in all the complimentary amenities. 

You guys, I can't even describe to you how relaxing this felt!

Shortly upon arrival, we checked in at the spa, changed into our robes, and walked over to Amaya for a light lunch (make your reservations here, it's worth it, I promise). 

After some salmon tartare and a chilled bottle of rosé,

we pranced over to the pool to take in some sunshine before heading in for our spa appointments, 

This was pretty much where we stayed for the rest of the day,

in between body scrubs and more wine. 

Bliss!

The Grand Del Mar 

5300 Grand Del Mar Court 

San Diego, CA 92130

A Day in Encinitas

A couple of weeks ago, 

I had a random day off of work,

and decided to do something different. 

The weather was perfect, (reads 85 degrees in January),

so I knew I wanted to head towards the beach. 

The cute, surf town of Encinitas came to mind,

and I realized that I haven't been there in years. 

I packed up a beach blanket, with few little plans, and headed out for the day. 

And guess what?

I had a really lovely time. 

It's amazing how rejuvenating vitamin D could be for soul. 

Encinitas is only 25 miles away from San Diego,

and is totally worth a visit. 

We drove up right around lunch time,

so naturally, finding a place to dine was the first order of business. 

Not too hard of a task - Blue Ribbon Pizzeria has been on my list of "must visit" restaurants for a while now,

so I was excited to finally check it out. 

Oh my gosh, I'm so glad I tried it because it was stupid good. 

Leave it to me to stuff my belly full of pizza and beer right before heading to the beach,

but who cares! 

It was totally worth it. 

I spent the next few hours soaking in the sun,

and finished it off with a nightcap at the Bier Garden of Encinitas. 

Does it get much better?

Hardly. 

Day at the Museum

I love being a tourist in my own city.

Any excuse to get lost in beautiful Balboa Park is good enough for me, 

so when I saw that there is a new exhibit going on at the San Diego Natural History Museum,

I made it a point to make my way over to the historical landmark.

The Discovery of King Tut recreates the awe and marvel of the moment of discovery.
Using state-of-the-art technology, the exhibition recreates a piece of the fascinating, bygone exotic empire on the Nile.
It's a great visit back in time, and overall, provides a good overview of the excavation itself, its story, and its invaluable legacy.

This was my first time visiting the SD Natural History Museum since....
I don't even know, fifth grade?!
Oh what I would give to go back to those days.. a whole week of field trips around Balboa Park?
Sounds amazing.
Kind of made me feel like a kid again,
and who doesn't love that?

The tickets for the King Tut exhibit includes admission to the whole museum, 

so make sure you schedule in a few hours to check out the rest of the NAT.

A little nature outside the Natural History Museum. 

How perfect. 

San Diego Natural History Museum
1788 El Prado, Balboa Park
San Diego, CA 92101