Opulent, Eco-Conscious Coastal Resort with Old-World Charm

When night falls, a constellation of twinkling outdoor fireplaces lights up Terranea Resort’s 100-acre expanse of Pacific Ocean coastline. The fires are a kind of modern-day analog to the encampments of early Spanish explorers who discovered the Palos Verdes Peninsula several hundred years ago. Terranea pays tribute to these first European settlers with a Mediterranean design incorporating red adobe roofs and archways inlaid with colorful mosaic tiles.

The resort also maintains an eco-friendly focus. Its grounds are comprised of roughly 75% green space, including a 2-mile Discovery Trail affording occasional views of gray whales performing graceful offshore line dances from December to April. The resort's emphasis on nature extends to lushly appointed ocean-view rooms and casita suites, which are accented with golden-hued woods and seashells of all sizes. Floor-to-ceiling glass doors open onto private balconies overlooking the water.

A 50,000-square-foot glass-walled fitness center and spa offers state-of-the-art cardio equipment as well as daily classes, including yoga and seaside spin sessions, during which participants pedal stationary bikes on an outdoor terrace facing Catalina Island. Golfers tee off on The Links at Terranea, a nine-hole, par 3 course dotted with indigenous California plants. Water lovers loll by one of three ocean-view pools or shoot down the 140-foot water slide.

Among the resort's many dining options, mar'sel—an upscale, oceanfront eatery—serves flavorful dishes crafted by chef Michael Fiorelli using sustainable methods and local ingredients, including fresh herbs plucked from a garden guests pass on their way in.

Rancho Palos Verdes, California: Secluded Coastal Town Abounding with Aquatic Adventure

Nestled in the hills of the Palos Verdes Peninsula, secluded Rancho Palos Verdes is home to expansive estates set on jagged bluffs looming over the coastline. Terranea's Pointe Discovery adventure shop equips visitors for exploring all that the peninsula has to offer, including standup paddleboarding, kayaking, snorkeling, and mermaid speed dating. Fewer than 2 miles from the resort, the Abalone Cove Shoreline Park, a state ecological preserve, boasts pristine tide pools home to sea stars, pointy urchins, and brightly colored anemones.

Within walking distance of the cove lies Wayfarers Chapel, a structure built from glass and redwoods by Lloyd Wright, son of pioneering architect Frank Lloyd Wright. The Point Vicente Lighthouse also stands nearby. First lit in 1926 as a beacon to mariners aiming to steer clear of rocky shoals, the lighthouse now makes an ideal spot for whale watching.