Romantic GETAWAYS  

By David Ferrigno & Lisa Frank

Burned out and need break a break? Can¹t remember the last time you ate at
the dinner table? Spring in Southern California is an opportune time for a
romantic respite. The kaleidoscopic patchwork of colorful towns forming
Los Angeles is designed for adventures. We¹ve picked two that offer
something for every schedule and budget.

Ever wondered where those picturesque images of glorious blue skies,
majestic mountaintops and colorful hot air balloons drifting through the
cumulous clouds were taken? We¹ve found at least one of the secret
locations: Temecula! Head east on the 91, pick up the 15 south and you¹ll
be in the midst of one of the best kept secrets in southern California.
Stay at the Pechanga Resort Casino and enjoy the spacious rooms,
extraordinary service, grand spa services and ridiculously
delicious food.

Upon arriving, we were in a slight state of shock to see a Vegas like
edifice in the middle of Temecula. Awed by the size, beauty and
magnificence of the structure, in addition to the organization of the staff;
it seemed too good to be true. It was exactly what we craved and needed: a
bit of tranquility, fine food and entertainment co-mingled with just the
right amount of people to keep it energetic!

Saddling up to a blackjack table was the first task at hand. Nothing like a
little 21 to work up an appetite! After getting a little ahead at a spunky
table, we decided to head to The Great Oak for dinner. Named after the
oldest living oak tree in the United States, with a 1,500 year history, our
expectations were high. Thankfully they
were met!
The ZD Chardonnay was an ideal accompaniment for the sea bass with white
truffle risotto. White truffle risotto is officially one of our new
favorite foods! By the way, white truffle risotto goes with everything,
we¹re pretty sure it even can join dessert! There was only one problem with
the wine list ‹ it was enormous! Needless to say, The Great Oak was a first
class dining experience across the board. We were full but saved a little
room for dessert, comedy and then to bed.

Early the next morning a Grape Escape Hot Air Balloon Adventures met us at
Wilson Creek Winery promptly at 6AM and we were off. Fair concerns are,
³How high are we going to go up?² ³Will I get air sickness?² ³Do they have
insurance?² Well, here¹s the good news and the bad news: The good news is
that they have insurance, but you still have to sign a waiver saying that if
you die, it¹s not their fault. Primarily they don¹t have dilemmas because
they don¹t fly the balloons if the weather is poor. However, upon meeting
Rusty and his crew and observing the crew skillfully get the balloon up and
soaring, we left all doubt and fear on the ground.

You can¹t go through life and miss the opportunity to defy gravity in a hot
air balloon. It¹s as close to being an eagle gliding across the
troposphere, as you¹ll ever get, so do it! What a peaceful and gorgeous
experience. Trying to describe the sensation leaves us a bit short of
words. Spectacular and otherworldly are words that come to mind.

How do you follow up a balloon ride? With a facial and full body massage?
Correct! We headed back to the Pechanga Resort & Casino for their full spa
treatment. The Hot Stone Couples massage was just what the doctor ordered.
Does a romantically lit room, with a full shower, spa tub, Champagne and
strawberries sound good? Add a hot stone massage and you¹re in heaven. The
newly updated spa at Pechanga was luxurious, romantic and immaculate. No
spa robe has ever been softer.

There were a multitude of activities we didn¹t have time to enjoy at
Pechanga. The new championship golf course was inviting to say the least.
Winding back up route 15 toward our home; we were sated. Still floating
3,000 feet above the earth treasuring the view of the ancient Pechanga land.
Driving past the mountains we had just drifted past, as birds we had
transcended the regular drivel of daily life and were at peace. A bonus
revelation: This transformative sojourn was in our own back yard.

MALIBU
Saturday morning. Only 20 minutes out of town, but a world away from your
work week! Malibu¹s natural beauty, 27 miles of coastline and rugged Santa
Monica Mountains will breath fire back into your life! Malibu is king of
Saturday and Sunday mornings. Get into town early when the fog is still
around. Twist up the coast and dig the misty atmosphere. Snuggle up with
your hot coffee in your fuzzy fleece. When the coast is clear, your
sunglasses are in place and you¹ve resumed your journey, make your first
stop brunch or lunch. You¹ll need to fill up for the hike and wine tastings
ahead.

Malibu has some of the best breakfast ³joints² in the country. Don¹t miss
the Country Kitchen located on PCH in a tiny brick shopping center across
from Duke¹s. It¹s small on size ‹ only about 10 feet of store front, but
huge on taste. Morey has been serving up the best breakfast sandwiches in
North America for decades. Sit outside and sip the sea filled oxygen and
fresh coffee. Too early for lunch? We think not. Their PCH burger has
been voted ³The Best Burger in L.A.² numerous times and is a notorious
favorite of Hollywood¹s young
super-stars.

A mile up on PCH in the center of town is the Malibu Country Mart shopping
center which holds the must see Malibu Kitchen (I know it¹s a little
confusing, but the Country Kitchen in Malibu is NOT in the Malibu Country
Mart!). To call it a deli is like calling the Louvre an art gallery. It is
a gourmet sandwich shop, deli and bakery rolled into one. Gourmet coffees
and a long list of delectable ingredients for made to order omelets. Well,
made to order, as long as you order exactly what¹s on the menu. Part of the
charm is the rudeness of the cook, his impatience with your indecisiveness,
and blunt inflexibility when you try to customize your order. The wait can
be 20 minutes, so get there early to get on with your hike in the local
mountains and wine tasting.

The Rosenthal Tasting Room (wwwrosenthalestatewines.com). It¹s small and
strangely situated in the middle of a slab of blacktop. Don¹t be alarmed by
it¹s size. It¹s tiny, but delicious! Fine wine in Malibu? Huh? The
Surfrider Blend 2004 was our favorite and wins gold medals around the
country. Rosenthal donates a portion of the proceeds from each bottle sold
to the Surfrider Foundation to protect the delicate seaside environment of
Malibu.

There is an expansive stretch of south-facing surf awaiting your long walk
just west of Rosenthal. Stop along the way and breathe in the relaxation.
If you¹re a local Angeleno, this is your backyard! Visit any time, and
please tread lightly. It¹s one of the most spectacular places on the earth.
For visitors, we know you¹ll understand why we love living here.

Oh wait ‹ the hike! That¹s why we were heading out to Malibu in the first
place. It has some of the most picturesque day hikes in the country! We
always get suckered in by the wine and food. If you¹re still up for the
hike, um, check online. If it¹s getting late, grab one of your newly
acquired wines and hit the beach to watch the sunset.