Summer Spa Fun at Terranea Resort

Set on the sea cliffs of Palos Verdes, this idyllic resort hosts one of Southern California’s most beautiful spas.

Perched on the bluffs above the Pacific, Terranea Resort is the perfect  getaway from the crowds of Los Angeles and Orange County.  You’ll feel a million miles away and yet it’s an easy drive from both places as the resort sits 20-minutes from LAX.  Navigating the road that snakes along the edge of  Palos Verdes, it’s as though you have stepped back in time as the natural beauty of California coastal setting is revealed with each turn.  En route to Terranea, it is absolutely worth stopping at the Wayfarers Chapel designed by Lloyd Wright (as in Frank’s son), a serene sanctuary and “Tree Chapel” tucked off the road, a stunning example of organic architecture that celebrates the natural beauty at hand.

Terranea’s 102 sprawling acres and welcomed remoteness calls for tossing the keys to the valet and settling into the luxury bubble with destination choices like the beach cove for kayaking and stand up paddling, Nelson’s surf shack for casual fare and sunset cocktails by the fire pit, mar’sel for farm-to-table fine dining, or the family pool with its epic 140-foot slide for big splash amusement.  The rooms, suites, bungalows and villas are well-designed and appointed with subtle color schemes  reflecting the coastal cachet  and sun-kissed setting.

The crown jewel of the resort can be found at The Spa at Terranea with its thoughtful array of treatments, modern natural design, and endless ocean views.  An adult pool area calls for lounging and espying playful dolphin pods, breaching migratory gray whales, and curious sea lions frolicking in the kelp beds. A jacuzzi soak  above the water pre or post treatment truly relaxes the brain waves as staring into the melding blues of the sky and sea has a hypnotic effect.

You’ll find a delicious variety of wraps, scrubs, massages and facials on the menu complemented by an abundance of organic products.  Many treatment rooms have ocean views and open-air settings for salty fresh breezes while in repose.  Their newest offerings, MoroccanOil therapies, come poolside no less.

Between the sun, pool chlorine and sea salt, the hair takes a beating each summer.  Dehydrated tresses and wayward split ends can put a damper on a fresh summer look.  This oil blends the famous Moroccan Argan oil, deemed “liquid gold” by the New York Times for its intensive hydrating and healing elements.  Hair treatments vary from a quick spritz of the oil, a Glimmer Shine spray for sun protection and color enhancement, to a 15-minute Intense Hydrating Mask to restore moisture to dry hair. Then there’s the epic Balancing Scalp Treatment, a glorious head massage with the conditioning oil and herbal extracts, all while gazing out at the cerulean sea where majestic Catalina floats on the horizon.

Now, perhaps a fresh lime margarita is in order, and that certainly can be arranged.

Book a room and spa treatment: 310-265-2800