Los Angeles - July 07, 2009

Step on It

Summer Road Trips

Dog days of summer hot on your trail? Make a quick getaway.

Post a lookout at Terranea Resort, situated atop cliffs along the Pacific in Rancho Palos Verdes. Spend the day poolside (there are three), deep in spa, or exploring nearby Abalone Cove Shoreline Park. At sunset, nab an outdoor table by the fire pit at just-opened Mar’sel for handcrafted cocktails and local, seasonal California cuisine.

Go out on a limb at The Sequoia High Sierra Camp. For the ultra adventurous (or crazy), the twelve-mile scenic hike into camp will cancel out any glampers guilt caused by giving into such comforts as cushy permanent tents, pack-your-own picnic bars, and three chef-prepared meals a day. (The alternative one-mile hike should also do the trick.)

Hide out at the madcap modernist retreat Rosa Muerta in Joshua Tree. Located at the end of a dirt road ten miles from the national park, the open-air rental’s ready to serve as the backdrop for solo spiritual quests or the scene of weekend warrior antics — just add provisions (the kitchen’s fully loaded). Reflect on it all from your spot in the seven-by ten-foot jacuzzi.

The coast is clear.

Still got your motor running? Check out Summer Trippin’.

  Golf, Hotel Bar, Ritzy, Seaside