This year, rather than head to Italy, I met up with two of my closest and longest friends, both former NY'ers who left for the West Coast many years ago.  

Long summer holidays of dancing on tables and sunset playlists by our favorite bands, have been replaced with the search for the ultimate spa weekend.  Tallie, created our weekend with her extraordinary attention for detail and impeccable taste. We began at the bernarduslodge.com where we met up with Gina, followed by the ojaivalleyinn.com on our way back to Manhattan Beach. Both were stunning - The Bernardus Lodge in Carmel transported us to Provence in both landscape and style.  

The Ojai Valley Inn offered this incredible sense of vastness - wide open spaces, tennis courts, bike trails, spa pools, a place to truly exhale in the Ojai Valley.  If you are not getting your European fix these days - I highly recommend a trip out west!