Last year I visited Rancho Bernardo Inn to attend a conference and knew I wanted to come back for a different type of trip. One where I wasn’t heading from place to place and could just soak in the charm of this hidden escape tucked away in a residential area of San Diego.
Who better to explore it with than Craig? Coming off of our high from a nice weekend away last month and heading into my busiest season of work travel it was nice to visit a place that felt removed from the everyday yet was really only about 20 minutes from our home.
Rancho Bernardo Inn has a more rustic feeling than most of the resorts we visit. Which I love. It’s distinctly different and so comfortable and inviting. The check in area is reminiscent of a trip home to visit relatives and there’s almost always a fire going. If you arrive at the resort before your room is ready you’ll be greeted with citrus water and comped drink tickets to buy yourself a cocktail nearly anywhere on the property. Smart.
Craig and I arrived well in advance of check in time to spend the day at the spa and for me to drag him around and show him all of the beautiful fountains that dot the property.
This one was my favorite discovery on my last trip. You could pass it by from the opposite facade while making your way to the coffee shop or the adult pool 20 times and not realize how beautiful this side is.
Because I was having a spa treatment, we had access to the spa pool and facilities. I had heard a few friends talk about taking a spa day here and quite frankly I’ve never been a spa day kind of girl. Now I understand.
The spa pool is spacious, has some nice cabanas and sports a bar offering both cocktails and a great menu. The cobb salad is to die for. Craig was all too happy to hang out by the pool while I indulged in a very rare treat, a massage.
I’m not sure why I’m such a scrooge when it comes to spa services, but admittedly I am. The good and bad news is this trip totally changed my perspective on that. Sorry husband! After just a few minutes in the relaxation room I met my massage therapist Patricia who led me out to one of the outdoor treatment rooms.
It was as though I had left San Diego entirely. I’m not the type to be taken aback by how beautiful an outdoor space is but I was.
Of course another fountain to obsess over.
And despite my black thumb, I felt the sudden need to have a wall covered in some kind of shaggy green vine loveliness. Things men just don’t understand.
The spa staff had asked if I had any problem areas and I had jokingly pointed to my entire body before explaining that I have a toddler with koala like tendencies. They seemed to know exactly what I needed. I had a Balinese Warm Stone Massage and it was the perfect mix of relaxing and feeling like something was being done to undo 19 months in the cuddly clingy trenches of motherhood.
I didn’t realized just how tense and knotted my shoulders were until she went to work on them. Surely insurance should cover hot stone massages as preventive care, right? I’m almost tempted to call and ask them what my copay is just to hear the reaction on the other end of the line or maybe for the .2% chance that I stumble upon some medical loophole which lands me back at this spa frequently. A girl can dream, right?
And when we arrived at our room the plush robes waiting for us with lavender springs made it feel like we were right back at the spa. Seriously, Rancho Bernardo Inn people you’ve made a spa girl out of me and I’m not complaining! Not even a little bit. We’ll be back…
Thanks to Rancho Bernardo Inn for hosting us for a little getaway!
