Southern California's No. 1 Source for Golf
STROKE OF THE DAY |
"Although golf was originally restricted to wealthy, overweight Protestants, today it's open to anybody who owns hideous clothing" |
-Dave Barry |
SITE
SEARCH
GOLF
CALENDAR
TRAVEL
|
||||
 Finding the single destination that lets everyone in the family enjoy their favorite pastimes seems an impossible task. Rest assured. We found one for you. Vacation Village in Laguna Beach, with its prime spot directly on the sand, offers the amenities and ambience that will delight every member of the family. This unassuming and tidy 130-room complex boasts a walking-distance location two blocks from the heart of downtown Laguna and only a few hundred yards from the city's popular Main Beach. Make no mistake. Vacation Village is no Four Seasons. In fact, it's safe to say the 1973-built hotel is shy of a four-star rating. But a beachfront location at one of the most picturesque communities in Southern California offers its own luxuries. And having the family together to enjoy some R&R at an affordable rate? Priceless. Vacation Village is the little gem that glints like beach glass revealed at low tide. The under-renovation property offers a laid-back atmosphere and family friendly amenities such as kitchenettes, front and back sleeping areas in extra-large rooms, decks with patio tables, heated swimming pools and a children's rec room. Upgrades taking place under the watchful eyes of a new general manager include new mattresses, new carpets and new luxury bedding, along with modern, streamlined furnishings and retro-cool, Euro-style room décor. A stay in a Deck Room gives the family a large deck facing the water (with amazing views to Catalina Island) and direct access to the public beach. Hotel guests also can avail themselves of 300 feet of private beach with attendants on hand to provide lounges, umbrellas and towels. If the kids can be coaxed out of the pool or off the sand, they'll enjoy the well-equipped children's playground and lawn areas at Main Beach next door. A day in town for mom involves a short walk to the numerous boutiques, art galleries, gift shops and home-and-garden stores. And a mom in the mood to be pampered has her choice of a few day spas in the area, including one of the finest, the Montage Resort and Spa just a couple of miles south. Several casual dining restaurants and attractions will appeal to the entire family, including the quaint South Coast Cinema and its first-run movies, the Wyland Gallery and its gorgeous depictions of sea life, B.J.'s Restaurant & Brewhouse, the Beach House (within steps of the hotel) and the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory. And let's not forget that Laguna Beach was founded as an artists' colony. July and August bring out the best art around at the Festival of the Arts, Pageant of the Masters and the Sawdust Festival. The art shows can be easily gotten to thanks to the free shuttles and trolleys provided by the city during the summer. With the family happily preoccupied, what's a dad to do but seize the day by playing a round at one of several premier coastal courses located within a few minutes to an hour's drive of Vacation Village. A short ride on Pacific Coast Highway gets dad to Aliso Creek Golf Course, a nine-hole track considered one of Orange County's hidden gems. Further south is Monarch Beach Golf Links in Dana Point, where he can enjoy play on a links-style course and take in spectacular ocean views. Similar views abound at Trump National Golf Club, Los Angeles in Rancho Palos Verdes, about an hour's drive north and Torrey Pines Golf Course, about an hour's drive south. Other coastal courses include Shorecliffs and Talega golf clubs in San Clemente. Vacation Village is at 647 S. Coast Highway in Laguna Beach. Call (949) 494-8566 or visit vacationvillage.com._ |
||||
RSS Subscribe
Digg This Article
