The long-planned and longer-awaited California road trip came and went much too quickly. As often happens with vacations, it seems that one plans for months and the trip comes and goes in an instant. The California road trip was no exception. My wife and I started planning the trip in December, when we were invited to a wedding at the Resort at Pelican Hill in Newport Beach, California. Not wanting to let a good thing pass us by, we decided to make a vacation of it by driving up the PCH from Newport Beach to Napa, with stops in Los Angeles, Santa Barbara and San Francisco. It was an amazing trip and made me seriously consider a move back out west. If you've never driven up the PCH, it is one of those must-drives -- a mix of coastal and mountain scenery, driving through farmland and vineyards, and up, down and around mountains. Some parts are slow-going, but they allow even the driver to take in the breath-taking views.
Resort at Pelican Hill -- Newport Beach, California
After a surprisingly traffic-free drive from LAX down the coast to Orange County, we arrived at the Resort at Pelican Hill, which is comprised of individual and attached bungalows, a beautiful golf course with mountain and ocean views, an immense circular swimming pool that has to be seen in person to understand just how immense it is and delicious and bountiful food choices.
Our bungalow, set at the end of a windy lane up a long hill, offered a mountain view from the glass walled back patio, a fireplace (that thankfully was not needed) and a spacious bathroom. Although it was attached in a set of 4 bungalows, the walls were thick enough that we heard nothing from the neighboring bungalows.
Since I don't golf, the pool was the absolute star of the resort. The pool is a perfect circle bigger than any pool I have ever seen. The immense size offered more than enough room for chaise lounges for every guest in the resort, live music, a balcony for restaurant/bar dining and daily rental cabanas. The service at the pool area was the best I've experienced in the U.S., with personable and responsive servers as well as attendants offering to clean your sunglasses or spray you with scented evian mist.
Pelican Hill does not have direct access to a beach; however, the resort runs shuttles every half hour should you decide to break from the pool and hit the sand. Or, if you're a runner, you can jog from the resort to a nearby state park and beach.
The bungalow and shared facilities were absolutely top notch. I can't say that I would rush back to Newport Beach for a vacation spot, but, if I am back in Orange County for any reason, I would not hesitate to return to Pelican Hill.
After a surprisingly traffic-free drive from LAX down the coast to Orange County, we arrived at the Resort at Pelican Hill, which is comprised of individual and attached bungalows, a beautiful golf course with mountain and ocean views, an immense circular swimming pool that has to be seen in person to understand just how immense it is and delicious and bountiful food choices.
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