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Ace in the Hole
The Ranch Hand and Easy Rider aren’t titles of flicks or card games. At the Ace Hotel & Swim Club, they are names of packages offering amenities such as foot rubs, an hour of horseback riding, do-it-yourself barbecue on your private patio, or a discount at the Amigo Bar. If it all sounds a bit quirky for a Palm Springs hotel, that’s because it is. At this former dilapidated Howard Johnson’s complex, the camper-meets-upscale-vintage-meets-hipster hangout vibe is deliberate.
The Ace opened earlier this year and is already commanding a strong following. Bikes are standard issue for guests, so expect to have neighbors of the environmentally responsible kind. And you’ll have many chances to get to know them too, as communal living is encouraged via two big saltwater pools, a dog park and seven outdoor rooms with fireplaces. There is a spa, so expect enlightened guests as well. And the do-it-yourself barbecue option is sure to throw camping fanatics into the mix.
The best surprise, however, is that all this panache doesn’t come with a hefty price tag. Rooms start at only $89, making it an easy, sweetly simple refuge for couples finally able to escape their wedding. One step onto the complex and you’ll feel immediately removed from the monotony of daily life. The lobby—strung with fishermen’s net, sailor’s knots, pulleys and hooks—is an unexpected place to cozy up and read a vintage magazine. If that doesn’t hold your attention, you could always grab one of the free bikes, pedal along the desert, then hit the mini-bar for an unbaked granola bar. Ace Hotel & Swim Club, Palm Springs, 760.325.9900; acehotel.com
Wine Country Escape
The one thing both a bride and groom could use after the wedding is a massage. Luckily for those honeymooning in the Santa Barbara Wine Country, you can get a massage and more at Fess Parker’s Wine Country Inn & Spa in Los Olivos. Already a popular spot for weddings, the winery is situated on a 714-acre ranch and offers 20 guest rooms and suites. Among the new additions to the property is Petros Kafe, the Inn’s signature restaurant, and Champagne Spa & Boutique, featuring body treatments, facials, nail treatments and rejuvenating packages. Brides can also have their makeup and hair done in the spa or in one of the Fess Parker suites. Of course, men are just as welcome at the spa, where the Hot Stone Therapy provides the ultimate rejuvenation. Involving the placement and movement of heated basalt stones, the treatment reduces inflammation and restores balance to the body. Now what new husband wouldn’t benefit from that? Fess Parker’s Wine Country Inn & Spa, Los Olivos, 805.688.7788; fessparker.com.
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