ould you like a glass of wine?" is the first question while checking in to Ventana. Any place that puts spirits before credit card transactions has its priorities straight. Perched 1,200 feet above the Pacific and dwarfed by redwoods, Ventana is a discreet celebrity retreat. Accommodations range from cedar and slate lodges to double-decker suites with fireplace and private hot tub.
Cultivate a lineless tan at the clothing optional sundeck, with its 82-degree pool fringed by lemon trees, Japanese baths and three-room sauna (there are separate facilities for guests with something to hide). If your muscles are still knotted, walk to Allegria Spa for Ventana's signature massage. Massage can also be booked for in-room service.
Try a salmon dinner on the terrace overlooking the Pacific, return to your room (where staff has already dimmed the lights and inserted a jazz CD), light a fire and watch The Big Chill, courtesy of Ventana's video library. The inn prides itself on being a sanctuary, so guests are encouraged to leave the kids at home. Staff is outgoing but not intrusive; no one blinks when guests float through the lobby wearing white robes and an ethereal, post-massage glow.
Check them out online at www.VentanaInn.com
Global Spa Treatments
