Category: Honeymoons and Travel

If you’re on the lookout for a San Diego wedding location that has a history as special as the one you and your fiancé share, you’re in luck: Many of the San Diego venues we feature have historical significance that is only surpassed by their impressive architecture. Here are a few of my faves:

To celebrate my friend Nicole’s 30th birthday in style, we went to Calistoga and spent a night at Indian Springs Resort and Spa. I had been super stressed from all the event planning I had been doing over the summer, so I was really looking forward to a day of relaxation and sun. This was just what the doctor ordered! They have these adorable cottages that were built in the 1940s, and their geyser-fed mineral pool made me feel like I was a part of Old Hollywood.

Recently, KC and I had the pleasure of visiting Carmel Valley Ranch. It’s a fantastic weekend getaway with a wonderful restaurant that offers many creative menu choices. The lobby’s rust-brown and burnt orange hues are warm and inviting. The golf clubhouse has shades of lime green, deep chocolate and white, giving it a crisp, modern feel. The pool area is charming without being too fussy, and the staff is so attentive. I can’t remember how many of them remembered my name, “Mrs. Chin!”. The in-room spa service was terrific, and they even honored my request to have my spa services near the pool. I believe I had Carmel Valley Ranch’s very first by-the-pool massage!

In my humble opinion, some of the best holiday presents don’t require wrapping paper. Experiences—especially those that fall under the category of sinful and relaxing—make thoughtful gifts that never gather dust. Here are a few holiday gift ideas, for you or someone you love:

We recently held our annual off-site 3-day planning meeting at Woods Hole—a private home right on Pebble Beach Golf Course—and it’s a wonder we got anything done. Lounging around on comfy couches and chairs, we had the perfect seats from which to ogle the mesmerizing view through a wall of glass: verdant blufftop fairways giving way to a sapphire-blue sea and cloudless sky. You try focusing on a 10-page to-do list with that gorgeous panorama constantly tugging at your peripheral vision!

Most of the time, we love living and traveling in California and wouldn’t have it any other way. But every once in a while, an event comes along that makes us wish we owned a private jet.

I don’t know about you, but when I pack for traveling, I can never decide which jewelry to take along…and am equally stumped when it comes to how to pack my little treasures. Inevitably, I end up grabbing a handful of mismatched odds and ends, and tossing them into a plastic baggie. Not very cool, I’m afraid.

On the way to Lake County for my latest family vacation, I took a leisurely detour to Cornerstone Gardens where I visited their wine tasting room. What a welcome way to cool down on an otherwise painfully hot day! I could instantly see why this place is such a draw for weddings: The outside sculpture garden, which is encircled by lush flowers and art, is simply stunning.