four seasons of Ritz-Carlton resorts in California

There are four Ritz-Carlton resorts in California — one for each season — and I've now had the opportunity to visit all four of them. Here are some of the vacation possibilities awaiting you.

spring — Rancho Mirage, Palm Springs
 

A resort in the desert, guests are surrounded by the austere beauty of the surrounding mountains. What to do? Play golf. Take a desert tour in a 4x4. Visit Joshua Tree National Monument. Swim in the resort's pools (one for families and one just for adults). Indulge in the spa. Enjoy the great cuisine. Or watch the mountains turn gold at sunrise.


summer — Laguna Niguel


A southern California beach resort, Laguna Niguel is a wonderful destination for a summer beach holiday. Laguna Niguel is actually the very first Ritz-Carlton resort in the world. A renovation has replaced the lobby's "Buckhead" dark wood paneling and heavy curtains with light wood paneling, and the windows now look out on the beautiful ocean view. Other activities include golf, cruising Newport Beach Harbor in a Duffy Boat, or visiting Disneyland (40 minutes away without traffic).


fall — Half Moon Bay
 

We just got back from Half Moon Bay, and fall is the perfect time to visit — pumpkin season. The resort is adjacent to two 18-hole golf courses, including the challenging seaside course in the picture above. You can visit the cute town of Half Moon Bay, and the scenic Signature Drive will fill one day with a picturesque trip: seeing pumpkin farms, hiking redwood forests, visiting wineries, and driving up the California coast.


winter — Lake Tahoe
 

Located at Northstar, a family-friendly ski mountain overlooking Lake Tahoe, this Ritz-Carlton is both a summer and winter destination. In the winter, you'll enjoy staying in this true ski-in ski-out resort. Located mid-mountain, adjacent to the lifts to the top. The Ski Concierge will set out your skis and heated boots for you each morning ... and store them at night while you enjoy après ski activities (a spa treatment, perhaps?). But summer is also a fabulous time to visit — with opportunities for mountain biking, hiking to a secluded lake, or sailing on Lake Tahoe.

You can receive added-value Virtuoso or STARS amenities at all four of these resorts, including free daily breakfasts and more. Just ask!

copyright (c) 2016 by Ourisman Travel LLC. All rights reserved. We provide Virtuoso and other Preferred Partner amenities as an affiliate of Brownell Travel. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.

beach or mountain this winter?

one of the pools at Four Seasons Nevis

The winter months are upon us in the northern hemisphere, although temperatures aren't what we've come to expect. I spent three days this week in Palm Beach, Florida where I thoroughly enjoyed warm, sunny days with highs in the 80's (quite a bit higher than normal). Now I'm back in Berkeley, California where I woke up to temperatures in the low 30's (quite a bit lower than normal).

Where is your next vacation taking you?

Snowbirds will travel to the mountains for skiing, snowboarding, and other winter sports. Here are our five most popular winter ski destinations:

   Lake Tahoe, California
   Vail and Beaver Creek, Colorado
   Deer Valley, Utah
   Jackson Hole, Wyoming
   Whistler, British Colombia

Sun worshippers will travel to a warm beach destination to swim, play tennis or golf, or just relax on the beach. Our four most popular winter beach destinations are:

   Hawaii
   Mexico
   The Caribbean
   Bora Bora
   Thailand

Whether you want snow or a warm beach, we can recommend dozens of luxury resorts where you will stay in comfort, enjoy great food, and warm hospitality ... with value added amenities that provide you with free breakfast for two, room upgrades, and other amenities that are unique to each hotel. We can save you literally hundreds of dollars for your winter vacation.

copyright (c) 2015 by David Ourisman LLC. All rights reserved. We provide Virtuoso and other Preferred Partner amenities as an affiliate of Brownell Travel. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.

it's starting to get cold | winter vacation plans

sunset at Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve

It's starting to get cold, with colder than usual temperatures cropping up across the country. Where will your winter vacation plans take you?

The tropics offer a respite from the cold of winter. Imagine walking the beach, riding the waves, relaxing with a good book on a new iPad Mini with retina screen (I'm hoping to grab one on Black Friday), or just sitting by the pool. Depending on where you live, you might choose Hawaii, Mexico, Costa Rica, or the Caribbean as your vacation destination.

The mountains take advantage of the cold, offering days filled with downhill skiing, followed by a treatments in the spa, and apres ski socializing. Some of North America's best ski destinations are Whistler, Vail, Jackson Hole, and Lake Tahoe.

You'll find luxury resorts both at the beach ... and on the slopes. Email your Virtuoso luxury travel consultant for ideas, recommendations, and advice, not to mention the added value of free daily breakfasts, room upgrades when available, and even food or spa credits (extra amenities are different at each resort).

copyright (c) 2013 by David Ourisman LLC. All rights reserved. We provide Virtuoso and other Preferred Partner amenities as an affiliate of Brownell Travel. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.