This luxury journey takes full advantage of Southern California’s warm winter sun, from the coastal waves of Malibu to the desert of Palm Springs. Filled with blue skies, salty ocean air and sweeping desert views, this nature-centric adventure packs in plenty of expert-led experiences that the whole family will enjoy.
Los Angeles
Day 1 – 3
Los Angeles is well known as the glamorous home of Hollywood– the sunny land of the rich and famous – but we’ll introduce you to the less explored facet as well: Los Angeles is a city steeped in nature. It is one of the few cities where you can be skiing in the morning and surfing in the afternoon. You’ll get a first taste during an evening viewing the starry night sky through powerful telescopes at Griffith Observatory, overlooking Los Angeles on the slope of Mount Hollywood in Griffith Park.
Just a short walk from the beach, your stay at the Santa Monica Proper Hotel provides the quintessential picture of stylish, California living on the coast. Not a detail is out of place, thanks to the creative mind of renowned designer Kelly Wearstler, and the hotel is privy to a breezy rooftop pool and restaurant.
During your first full day in Los Angeles, head to the ocean for a surf lesson with a private instructor. Winter is the best time of year to find smooth, consistent swells in Santa Monica, and nothing beats the feeling of getting out into the salt water to catch a few waves. After you dry off, take a leisurely bike ride along the boardwalk and through the canals of Venice. Be sure to stop by the Venice Skatepark and watch the pros pulling daring tricks against the backdrop of the fluttering palm trees and Pacific Ocean.
Next up, take a road trip along Pacific Coast Highway into Malibu for a day of exploring the network of trails that thread through the Santa Monica Mountains. Riding the latest e-bikes, your knowledgeable guide will lead you along routes perfectly suited to your family’s skill level, opening up thousands of acres of the mountainous preserve for your exploration. Depending on the month, an abundance of wildflowers and wildlife will keep you company, from mule deer and coyotes to red tail hawks. And of course, there’s the reward of an epic, expansive view of the Pacific at every turn.
That evening, dates permitting, enjoy one of the hottest tickets in U.S. sports, watching the LA Lakers play at the Crypto.com Arena.
Palm Springs and Joshua Tree
Day 4 – 6
Leaving the ocean behind, let the city melt away, and head inland towards SoCal’s favorite desert oasis: Palm Springs. That afternoon, take the aerial tramway to over 8,500ft in the San Jacinto Mountains or gain altitude in a more metaphorical sense at the fascinating Palm Springs Air Museum. For the culturally inclined, Palm Springs has a long history as a mecca of forward-thinking art and design. It boasts one of the most extensive enclaves of mid century modern architecture and hosts leading contemporary art exhibitions such as Desert X, which features a range of outdoor art installations throughout the Coachella Valley.
Joshua Tree National Park, although just a short drive outside of Palm Springs, transports you to an alternate universe, home to expansive plains of the park’s namesake trees and a rocky wonderland of iconic boulder formations. You’ll get a closer look at the latter with an afternoon of rock climbing with an expert climbing guide. The night reveals a whole new level of the park’s beauty as the stars begin to appear, one by one. Joshua Tree boasts some of the darkest skies in Southern California and, therefore, some of the most stunning, star-scattered night skies. We’ll arrange for you to meet an astronomer who not only will point out stars, meteor showers and planets through their telescope, but also will weave together the myths and legends behind each constellation.
San Diego
Day 7 – 10
On the way further south to San Diego, you’ll pass through Temecula, a new wine hotspot and the perfect stop for lunch. San Diego is a city known for its beautiful, sandy beaches and laid-back lifestyle, and we’ll be sure that you enjoy both with a s’mores bonfire and movie screening on the beach. Just steps from your room at Shore House at the iconic Hotel Del Coronado, you can enjoy showings of cult classics on the big screen on the hotel’s private beach. During the day, we’ll have plenty of recommendations to enjoy California cuisine. Think fresh fish tacos and fantastic, authentic Mexican food.
There’s so much to explore beyond the shore as well. Make your way to the marina where you’ll board a small six-person boat and set off into the wildlife-rich waters off the coast of San Diego. With your captain at the helm, venture out into this incredible aquatic ecosystem– home to whales, dolphins, seals, and an array of other marine life. Winter and early spring is primetime for spotting Gray Whales, as they migrate between feeding grounds in Alaska and Baja California to breed.
End your Southern California winter adventure with a different view of San Diego’s waters, up close by kayak. Together with your private guide you’ll paddle through a protected reserve and even dip in and out of sea caves. Along the way you’ll see leopard sharks in shallow waters, kelp forests, seals, sea lions and even the occasional dolphin.
