Soon enough the summer heat will have you dreaming of the cool Pacific just across the other side of our mountains. What you might be looking for is a tranquil beach for walking and taking in ocean vistas stretching to the nearby islands.

How about throwing in a round at Sandpiper with its breathtaking bluff top location? Guests at The Bacara Resort have all this and the feel of a small Mediterranean village.

 

The resort

The Bacara sits on a 78-acre parcel fronting the ocean with the Santa Ynez Mountains in the backdrop. Two miles of beach allow for an array of ocean activities including: kayaking, surfing, horseback riding, whale watching, bike riding, as well as sailboat and catamaran excursions.

The Bacara also has its own 1,000-acre ranch growing avocado and citrus trees.

The Ranch affords excellent hiking opportunities to the Bacara’s guests. Make sure you do take some time to just sit and gawk at the sheer beauty of this location. This can also be done in the comfort of your room, all of which have private patios or balconies.

The rooms are large here, ranging from 450 square feet all the way up to 3,700 square feet for the two-story Residence.

More than half the rooms have fireplaces, and all are elegantly appointed. The property features numerous fountains never far from an ocean view. The entire property has an Old World feel including elegant Spanish Tile throughout.

Three zero-edged pools allow for all-day lounging including 26 full-service cabanas and two outdoor whirlpools.

The Spa at Bacara is unmatched on the Central Coast. It encompasses 42,000 square feet including 36 treatment rooms. There is so much to take in here that one could easily enjoy these comforts and never leave the property.

 

The dining

There are three great restaurant choices: Miro, The Bistro and The Spa Café.

For dinner we chose Miro, named after famed Spanish artist Joan Miro. This venue offers great Pacific views and an exceptional wine cellar to go along with its Spanish-Catalonian cuisine.

Chef David Garwicki uses organic produce grown on Bacara’s own 1,000-acre ranch to enhance his menu choices.

The dramatic interior includes two original sculptures by Miro and includes a 40-person private wine cellar perfect for elite functions. Winemaker dinners are held here on a regular basis featuring only the best of the best vintners. The wine list at Miro includes 12,000 bottles of the best wines from throughout the world.

The next morning we took in a late breakfast at the Spa Café overlooking the Spa Pool. Here Chef Andrew Gibson has designed a menu focusing on seafood with an Asian flavor. Again Bacara’s own gardens supply the organic herbs and vegetables for a very healthy meal. The food and service at both restaurants was first class all the way. For more information visit www.bacararesort.com.

 

The golf

Sandpiper is always a great experience, and just a par 4 from the resort. Many wait for the oceanfront holes with their expansive Pacific views.

Over the years, I have come to relish the mountain views with equal delight. The course is in great shape and a lot of fun to play. It is a tough course to shoot low on, but not one where you are sure to lose a lot of balls.

There is a fair amount of elevation change here making this a good workout for those looking to walk. Number 11 is a dramatic par 3 playing up to 200 yards downhill to the beachfront green. This is adjacent to a historic landmark commemorating the only place in the continental U.S. attacked in World War II. A small, two-man Japanese submarine launched its only torpedoes at an oil refinery at this very spot.

The par 5, hole 13 may look very familiar as it is used in countless TV and print golf ball ads. A long bold tee shot to a blind fairway makes this a reachable par 5.

The 18th hole is a very unusual finish in that it is a par 3. It’s a great spot to watch players wind up the day and can provide much excitement. The green is very treacherous, making a two-putt par difficult to come by.

Sandpiper also has a nice indoor-outdoor café overlooking the course with the ocean framing the background. The practice range is also excellent. For more information visit www.sandpipergolf.com.