I’m not very good at relaxing when I’m on vacation. When I travel, our family itinerary generally leaves little room for, well, the room. But every once in a while, we need to get away someplace where the whole point is to hunker down and kick back.
We recently trekked up to the Lake Arrowhead Resort and Spa, located 90 miles east of Los Angeles in the San Bernardino Mountains. In the wintertime, Lake Arrowhead’s close proximity to Big Bear makes it a natural spot to escape to the slopes. But in the spring and summer, the area is also a good place to chill out and focus on doing nothing in particular. I cozied up to the 173-room resort’s Spa of the Pines, where I had a workout and lingered in the steam room (the room rate includes access to the workout center and day spa amenities). Despite the cooler mountain temperatures, my husband Steve and the kids spent several hours bouncing between the hot tub and the pool while I lingered over a magazine – something I never have time to do on vacation.
Jack and Kate hit the pool at the Lake Arrowhead Resort and Spa.
With its Swiss Alps exterior and high-end cabin culture, the Lake Arrowhead area is a bit of an anomoly. The lake is private, so there’s not really any beach access (although the Arrowhead Queen offers tours on the lake). But the Lake Arrowhead Village is walkable and friendly, and the shopping at the outlets, cute coffee houses and quaint shops make it a great place to stroll. We fortified ourselves at the amazing Belgian Waffle Works before venturing out for a morning hike, and we all had a great time serving pellets to the ducks who eagerly hopped off the lake for the handout.
But even if you scarcely desire to have your pampered self leave the resort, you can be perfectly content by staying put. One of the highlights of our visit was dinner at Bin 189, the signature gourmet room at the resort. Its woodsy, upscale interior is very welcoming to families while giving parents the chance to have a grownup meal. Steve spent a good deal of time studying the restaurant’s extensive martini menu, I stuffed myself with fried goat cheese, and the kids got their own special “mocktails.” Executive Chef Jim Lindfors will also create a customized menu in advance for children dealing with food allergies.
There’s even a special menu for the family pooch, who is welcome at the pet-friendly resort, where room rates start at $179 (suites at $309). Doggies receive gift bags with soap as well as luxurious beds – and they can have a scoop of their own ice cream at the mini-bar (for more tips, consult the resort’s “pet concierge”). Then everyone can run off some energy with a guided naturalist hike or check out the evening shows to scope out the constellations, which in addition to relaxing, is tough to do in Los Angeles.
What's Happening 