Surf and Sand (resort) and Splashes (spa) in Laguna Beach
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The Surf and Sand in Laguna Beach, California has achieved legendary appeal for those fortunate enough to have stayed there during its 55 years of operation. Located at 1555 South Coast Highway, it was built in 1948 as a beach side motor lodge with 26 rooms. Artists discovered Laguna Beach and over the years made it a premier vacation destination. Art galleries, the famous Sawdust Festival, the Laguna Playhouse, and the Master of the Arts Festival attract visitors from all over the world to this small, charming community nestled between Newport Beach and San Diego.

Driving into the creamy cocoa beige stucco entrance one is greeted by valet parking attendants. They set the tone by providing a warm welcome. The architecture is Mediterranean-style with a stunning DeWain Valentine water sculpture that was donated to owner James Colachis by the City of Laguna Beach. Owing to a recent two million dollar renovation the Surf and Sand looks brand new. The reservation area is light, airy, and open.

In 1992 internationally renowned interior designer James Northcutt refurbished the rooms and suites. Chairman Kathryn Colachis, a brilliant decorator in her own right, recently refreshed the property once more. The decor evokes memories of classic New England summer homes with bleached wood, muted pastels, and charming original seascape watercolors. Even the elevators have been painted with early 20th century seaside scenes that set a whimsical, relaxing tone. The lines are clean, the views, spectacular.

My daughter Lucy and I found our room to be a small slice of heaven. The room itself was beautifully appointed with a bedroom, sitting area, and behind the white plantation shutters and the sliding glass doors, a private balcony overlooking the vast blue Pacific Ocean. Down below, on the sand, Surf and Sand beach attendants catered to guests needs; setting up umbrellas; delivering chairs, and food and beverages while lifeguards watched over swimmers of all ages. Being August, the cool salt water was the perfect compliment to the hot sun. The waves are excellent for body surfing or using a boogie board while still being gentle enough for small children.

The Surf and Sand is situated on 500 feet of beachfront. Flanked by multimillion-dollar private homes, and bordered by rock formations that form natural barriers, the property provides a sense of privacy and security. If walking the coastline is your fancy, scaling the rock abutments at low tide is still easy to do.

It is also very tempting to sit outside on your balcony and relax. There is a fully stocked Honor Bar, and room service. Ben and Jerry's old-fashioned sundaes and ice cream can be scooped at your doorstep between 7 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. Two thick white cotton Frette robes and Surf and Sand slippers were in our closet. In the bathroom, a half clamshell was filled with Aveda products, soaps and bath salts that revitalize, and lotions that soothe. Attached to the travertine marble wall was a hairdryer. The only thing that I did not find was a coffee pot. The Honor Bar has everything from a split of French champagne for $37.50 to a miniature bottle of Ketel One vodka for $6.50. There are more than a dozen tiny bottles of liquor from which to choose. The refrigerator has beer, wine, and goodies.

It is now 6:10 p.m. and from the balcony I watch three teenaged boys fishing in the surf to the left of the hotel. The waning sun casts a wide sheath of shimmer across the blue water. Stories of Pacific Ocen pollution don't seem relevant when I can look down from my sixth floor balcony and see the translucent bluish green below. In the distance, the occasional boat speeds past. In the evening the maid appears to turn the thick to 12. Drop-in care during selected times is $10 per hour, with evening sessions Tuesday, Friday and Saturday at $35 per session.

John Gates, assistant General Manager, took my daughter and me on a tour of the modernized, expanded hotel. "Each of the 165 rooms and suites," Gates explained, "has a view of the water. There are no bad rooms." He led the way to one of the thirteen suites with a starting rate of $1,100 per day. The suite was a larger version of the regular rooms. There was a balcony with a comfortable living room, a private bedroom, with the addition of a second bathroom. Blushing beige travertine marble makes the bathrooms throughout the property elegant yet comfortable. Custom woven sisal rugs, linen ecru fabrics with pale blue and green stripes, and custom fabricated matchstick lamps with a patina finish are standard features in rooms as well as suites.

Tan Fans Stop HereClimbing a few stairs we arrived at the brick courtyard, a popular setting for weddings, charity events, and private parties. "We do very little advertising," John Gates tells us, explaining that the Surf and Sand has become a yearly visit for many guests. "Some book a year in advance. They make their reservations for next year when they're leaving." He emphasized that it's best to book two to three weeks in advance during the summer months. Special rates are offered occasionally.

Citrus trees line the entryway to the new Aquaterra spa, built, according to our tour guide at the site of the original motorlodge. All four of the Surf and Sand buildings share the same Mediterranean-style architecture, and one would never know that they had been built and rebuilt over the years. Flower-lined walkways lead to the new spa reception area where a signature scent wafts through the pungent sea air. The Aquaterra Spa has specially formulated its own crèmes, oils, and candles using many locally grown ingredients. Their brochure describes, The healing, therapeutic essences of the ocean and land are blended with indigenous aromatic botanicals to be artistically expressed in the Aquaterra experience. The practitioners of the body and healing arts are longtime employees. They are referred to as artists, and after my deep tissue massage with Anjelica, I would have to agree. Prices are in line with other top-rated spas, but the caliber of service and the quality of products send it to the top of my need to repeat list. Spa hours are from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily, and are offGet Sme Ahhhs For Your Blaahsered to hotel guests as well as the public.

From the spa we walked to the 10,000 square foot freestanding conference and meeting center. John Gates pointed out the spacious ballroom areas, noting high ceilings, with some ocean views. The three ballrooms are perfect for functions that require everything from state-of-the-art audiovisual displays to elegantly decorated weddings.

Upon leaving the center we passed the gift shop, a separate entity run by another charming, longtime employee. Knowing that many staff members have been there for a decade or more is a great indicator. Their feelings for the hotel are sincere, and when they describe the owners as wonderful people, I find my experience even more refreshing. The gift shop sells signature clothing, artwork by the Rodrigo Kane, the wonderful artist credited with many of the charming watercolors throughout the hotel; and sundries, including reasonably priced sunglasses.

We walked past the Olympic-size swimming pool with luxurious chaise lounges and ocean views on our way to Splashes, the award-winning restaurant that serves contemporary California-Mediterranean cuisine inside the dining room or alfresco on the palm shaded patio. "Seventy percent of our (Splashes) business is local," Gates tells us. And, it is easy to see why. Large windows open to the pounding surf 25 feet below, and the expanse of blue creates the illusion of dining on the upper deck of a luxurious yacht. There is a separate bar and tiered outdoor dining. Executive chef Christopher Blobaum prides hi http://jetsettersmagazine.com/archive/jetezine/hotels/calif/surf/surf.html

Linda Lane, Jetsetters Magazine Correspondent – Read Jetsetters Magazine at www.jetsettersmagazine.com To book travel visit Jetstreams.com at www.jetstreams.com and for Beach Resorts visit Beach Booker at www.beachbooker.com

About the Author

Linda Lane, Jetsetters Magazine Correspondent. Join the Travel Writers Network in the logo at www.jetsettersmagazine.com