GETAWAYS • Santa Cruz
High above the hustle of downtown Santa Cruz, Chaminade Resort & Spa shows off a more peaceful side of the city. A mountaintop sanctuary for locals and in-the-know travelers, the recently refreshed 156-room retreat boasts restored Spanish Revival architecture and an expanded outdoor recreation area with fire pits, bocce, and pickleball courts.
Spread across 11 villas, Chaminade offers immediate access to nature at every turn, from wide-open spaces with lush green landscaping to 300 acres of woodlands and sweeping views of the Santa Cruz Mountains. Three miles of hiking trails meander through grassy fields, flowering meadows, and fragrant eucalyptus groves. For those seeking to tap into their spiritual side, the resort recently launched guided forest therapy sessions (based on the Japanese ritual of forest bathing) for quiet contemplation under redwood tree canopies.
The resort’s spa offers a signature therapeutic massage that uses warm, polished lava shells combined with traditional Swedish techniques. A new, adults-only pool sports refreshed cabanas, and onsite restaurant The View lives up to its name, with a sweeping look at the mountains. –Allison McCarthy
→ Chaminade Resort & Spa (Santa Cruz) • One Chaminade Ln • Rooms from $289/night/August weekend.