Folded carefully into the sprawling coast of La Jolla, Estancia Hotel and Spa is San Diego's personal health hideaway.
A La Jolla Haven
Discreet and unobtrusive, the Estancia Spa's use of native coastal foliage and its keen eye for architectural design has truly hidden this gem from all worldly disturbances. Once inside the grounds, the sensory stimulation and soothing calm creates a bubble of inspirational ambiance that even nearby traffic noise can't penetrate.
Formerly the historic Black Family Horse Farm, Estancia Hotel and Spa has retained the integrity of its equestrian foundation in the design and layout of this ranch estate since its opening in 2004. Centered on the Caretaker Home where hotel guests are welcomed upon arrival, the property spins outward, stretching both up and down the coastal cliff to include more than nine-and-a-half acres of courtyards, gardens, restaurants, hotel accommodations, and spa facilities.
Each piece of the estate merges seamlessly into the next: gardens spill into courtyards, lining adobe meeting rooms and rustic casual restaurants with dark wood and rod-iron outdoor dining. Hanging lanterns are accompanied by heat lamps, which give way to large scented candles placed throughout the property and lit after dusk. Wood and slate benches sit near fragrant sage and rosemary bushes, open for lounging by one of many soothing fountains.
The sensory experience of simply walking from rose garden to courtyard and on to the spa will leave you clear-sighted and refreshed.
Spa Serendipity
Located on the northern end of the Estancia Hotel property, the Estancia Spa includes a gift shop, pool, full fitness center, lounging area and restaurant, and indoor and outdoor treatment rooms. Any treatment includes access to all Estancia Spa facilities for the day.
Aside from calming candles and boutique apparel, the gift shop boasts a complete line of difficult-to-find luxury products including the Arcona, Sundari, and Spa Ritual product lines. The pool area, fenced for safety and bordered by a rose garden, includes lounging chairs and a jacuzzi. During summer months, the staff holds Flick & Float once a week, showing a movie poolside for family time.
The Estancia Spa offers a vast array of services, each with competitive prices. Because each treatment comes with the added bonus of access to the pool, fitness center, and Estancia grounds for the day, there really isn't a better deal out there. If it's a simply mani-pedi you're after, or a full-body wrap, massage, and facial, Estancia can tend to your every need.
Upon Arrival
After making your appointment, be sure to arrive early to enjoy the quiet of indoor and outdoor Resting Rooms while you wait for your treatment to begin. Sit by the outdoor fireplace, lounge on a settee with a magazine, soak in the salt-water jacuzzi, or ignite your senses in the moisturizing eucalyptus steam room before changing into a fluffy bath robe and readying yourself for relaxation.
If you'd like to be closer to the elements during your massage, choose an outdoor treatment room to find yourself surrounded by jasmine, gardenia, a fresh-flowing fountain, and open skies. If al fresco is not your style, opt for your treatment indoors, comforted by the warm colors and low light.
Follow up your visit with a dip in the pool or a revitalizing walk through the estate grounds.
For the Fellas
"As people learn to put themselves and their well-being first, our male clientele is steadily growing," says Holly Cohen, director of Estancia Spa and Recreation.
Swedish and other deep tissue massages are popular among men at Estancia, along with a growing number of eye creams and facials. The Gentleman's Cleanse Package is a particular hit with business men straight off the plane after a long flight. Estancia's Spa is equipped with a gentlemen's locker room and includes the same amenities as the ladies side, with a touch of handsome.
Going Green
As tribute to the beautiful coastal property, Estancia Hotel and Spa is shifting toward a more environmental outlook. With more than 8,000 square feet of spa space alone, the property has made big steps to conserve water, reduce non-recyclable waste, and replace all cleaning fluids with ones that aren't as harsh for the environment.
As one of the "World's Best Places to Stay," selected by Conde Nast Traveler, Estancia La Jolla is hoping other resorts will follow their lead.
Step deeper inside the Estancia La Jolla Spa to discover some sample Estancia Spa treatments.
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