WINTER 2011
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lyingover the snow-tippedSierraNevadamountainswas refreshing inandof itself. ItwasAu-
gust, and Iwasescapingheatwaves,wildfires, and temperatures topping 110degreesFahrenheit
... in the shade. The thought of packinga sweaterwasabsolutelydecadent, and Iwas thrilled to
touchdown inSanJose, California, onanearlyflightwithanentire fresh, cool dayyet tounfold.
Anearlyflight is theway togowhenheading intoBigSur. Itgivesone time to linger, toenjoy the
drive, and topause inMonterey for lunchorarequisitevisit to theever-changing, always-amazing
MontereyBayAquarium.Fartherdown idyllicHighway1 isCarmel.Beware:Thequaintshopsand
restaurantswill cast theirspelland lureyou intohoursof joyousdistraction.Trustmeon this— I
speak fromexperience.
But I eventually forgeahead, asBigSur isnextandmagicalPostRanch Innquietlyandpolitelyawaitsmyarriv-
al. I’monedgeduringmyfirst eveningatPostRanch Inn— literally, on theveryedge, seatedatasmall table in the
SierraMar restaurant, juttingoutoveramountaincliffwithnothingbut low fogand thevastPacificOceanbeneath
me. Floor-to-ceilingwindowssurroundmeand it’sas if I’mfloatingabove theclouds.Theevening’ssunset isanab-
stractwatercolorof orangeand redagainst thesilhouetteof statelyevergreens. It’snowonderpeoplecome fromall
over theworld todwell in thisplace.
ExecutivechefCraigvonFoersterdelightsdinerswithdelicacies likea foiegras tasting, yellow-tomatogazpacho
withmintoil, andgrilledWagyubeef strip loinsteakwithbonemarrowandblack truffleflan, Frenchfiletbeans,
andchanterellemushrooms.
The39guest roomsand twoprivatehousesatPostRanch Innencompass incrediblearchitecture, supremepriva-
cy, andanatural peace that’sasheerprivilege toexperience.Room types likeCliffHouse, PeakHouse, andPacific
Suitesshowcase themeldingandbendingof slate,wood, stone, andglass inartisticanduniqueways.Orstay inone
of theTreeHouses,whimsical singlestructuresbuiltonstiltsnine feetoff the forestfloor. Someof the roomshave
romanticstainlesssteel hot tubson theoutdoordecks.Even thespaand libraryexist inharmonywith the lushgreen
backdrop.
It’seasy to takecareofyourselfhere,withgenerousopportunities to resetyourbarometerofwell-being.Yoga,
movementmeditations, guidednaturehikes, andstargazingareall complimentaryguestactivities. I opt foryoga in
ayurt, thensomegreathikingonmyownaround thesplendid trails.
Tobe still andquiet atPostRanch Inn, to just absorb themomentsas theydanceby, is theepitomeof luxury
unplugged.
Tobehere is tobe trulyandcompletelynurturedbynature.
Ratesstartat$595andgoup to$2,285 foraCliffHouseroom. (800)527-2200, postranchinn.com —
JanetThomas
This page clockwise from
top right: Sierra Mar execu-
tive chef Craig von Foerster;
the Infinity Jade Pool;
Sierra Mar at dusk; and the
deck of the Tree House
suite are unique touches.
Opposite page: Surrounded
by serenity, be sure to take
in a sunset at Sierra Mar
restaurant.
Post Ranch Inn
Big Sur, California
CLOCKWISE FROM TOPRIGHT:
© THOMAS LOOF;
© KODIAKGREENWOOD (3) FOR POSTRANCH INN
RESORTS
Luxury Unplugged
