Big Sur, California
A 98-acre property on the cliffs of Big Sur (a community of less than 1,400 residents situated among the Ventana Mountains at the Pacific Ocean's edge), this small luxury hotel designed by architect Mickey Muennig provides trails, outdoor basking and lap pools, gardens, a pond, spa, fitness room and yoga yurt. Located 360 miles north of Los Angeles and 150 miles south of San Francisco, Post Ranch Inn has received raves from Andrew Harper's Hideaway Report, Conde Nast Traveler and Travel + Leisure.
Rates range from $485 for a room in the Butterfly House to $2,000 for the Terra Mar property.
Each of the inn's 30 guest rooms has a king-size bed, wood-burning fireplace, indoor spa tub, private deck, stereo, digital music system with 45 channels, coffee and tea setup, and complimentary wet bar and minibar. While guests will not find a television or alarm clock in their room, they can make use of terry cloth robes, slippers and walking sticks.
Rustic yet elegant accommodations are provided in seven Tree Houses, which sit 9 feet above the ground on stilts and offer views of the forest and mountains; five Ocean Houses, with two-sided fireplaces and full ocean views; five Coast Houses, two-story circular duplexes with partial or full ocean views; one Butterfly House, a six-room building with views of the forest and mountains; and one Mountain House, a circular duplex with forest and mountain views. Packages include the three-night Sweetheart Getaway in a Tree House and the two-night Mid-Week Spa in a Butterfly, Mountain or Tree House.
There are also three more spacious houses for rent: the Post House, for up to six guests and featuring a private ocean view, three bedrooms, two and 1/2 baths, a kitchen, dining room, living room, fireplace, patio and outdoor hot tub; the South Coast House, a two-story house that sleeps four guests and has two bedrooms, two baths, a private terrace with hot tub, and floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the mountains; and Terra Mar, a luxury home with guest house that accommodates six guests and offers a master bedroom with hot tub, guest bedroom with bath, gourmet kitchen, entertainment center, and outdoor barbecue and wood-fired oven.
A breakfast buffet is served in the award-winning Sierra Mar Restaurant, which overlooks the Pacific Ocean, or can be delivered to the guest room. Recipient of the Grand Award from Wine Spectator, Sierra Mar offers an extensive wine selection as well as a four-course, prix fixe dinner menu and luncheon picnic baskets.
Among the on-site activities available are classes in yoga, tai chi and qigong, guided sculpture and nature tours, astronomy and herb garden talks, and private classes and hikes. Also, guests can choose from a variety of spa services, which are provided in their quarters or at the spa studios.
