Ready for a getaway from life’s daily grind? Looking for a place to unwind and reclaim those simple joys in your life? Well look no further, we’ve found the perfect Southern California destination for you. The town of Alpine is in San Diego County – 30 minutes east of San Diego and a 2.5 hour drive from the bright lights of Los Angeles.
Built smack in the middle of the beautiful mountain community of Alpine is the Ayres Lodge Alpine – a peaceful rustic retreat with the amenities of a Western-style hotel. Design your perfect stay with no itinerary at all, or load up on activities including…
- Heading over to the Cleveland National Forest and boating, fishing, and hiking adventures
- Visiting the quaint shops and restaurants of Alpine
- Testing your luck at the Viejas Casino and Golden Acorn Casino
- Exploring the historic gold mining town of Julian
- Bass fishing at Lake Morena
- Hiking the Pacific Crest Trail
- Taking a short drive to San Diego and Mission Bay to enjoy beautiful beaches and exciting attractions, including Old Town San Diego, San Diego Zoo, Sea World San Diego, Del Mar Racetrack and the Old Globe Theatre. Both Highway 8 and San Diego International Airport are a quick hop away.
We had a fantastic two night stay at the lodge. Nestled in the woods off the highway, the lodge is cozy and intimate with 98 rooms. Our top floor deluxe room had a nice view of the courtyard area, with seating, a Koi pond and the use of a grill. Our room was cozy and inviting with two huge posted queen beds in the bedrooms. The Beautiful Dream sleeper pillow mattresses delivered a truly wonderful night of sleep and the fluffy comforters made us want to stay in and watch TV all morning! The room was also equipped with a microwave and mini refrigerator to accommodate snacks or leftovers.
Comfortable beds!
USB hub is convenient especially when you are a blogger (top photo)! Bath/Shower, mini fridge and coffee maker in the room.
Beautiful Koi pond behind the lodge.
Relax outdoors, grill and enjoy the quiet and sunshine.
A free breakfast included muffins, cereals, gravy for biscuits, breakfast sandwiches, juices and more at the sit-in breakfast room. And at 7:00 pm we were served delicious home made cookies and milk by the lobby fireplace area! The lodge is located next to a strip mall for easy access to food and necessities.
When not in our room, our favorite place to hang out was rustic-styled reception area. The large working fireplace and cool furnishings (including a working vintage phone) provided the perfect backdrop for resting, reading, gathering in the evening or eating breakfast in the morning. My daughter loved the vintage phone and even made my husband return to the room to receive calls. Since we visited in December we also got to enjoy the festive decorations which truly put us in the holiday spirit.
Other cool extras include a heated pool and jacuzzi for a evening dips; a large room is available for family reunions, conferences and meetings; and very pet-friendly policies (pets are welcome for an additional fee) including designated areas for dogs and free poop bags.
Night swimming is the best and the pool is heated.
During the afternoon we explored Wright’s Field and hiked around the massive nature reserve. Then later on that evening we took a fun family outing to the nearby Viejas Casino and outlets. (Remember to ask for free casino shuttle vouchers at the hospitality desk.) We dined that evening at the Casino Buffet and the food was superb. You couldn’t beat the selection of sandwiches, salads, meats, seafood and international cuisine. The dessert display was out of this world! You will certainly need to loosen a notch on that belt buckle after eating here. In addition to the Casino gaming areas (where you need to be 18+), there is also a bowling alley.
Beautiful artwork by Tom Marosz located in the lobby of the Viejas Casino Hotel
Wright’s Field
We had an amazing family getaway and it was fun to also learn staying here is truly supporting a local California family!
Here is some of the family history from their web page archives!
The Ayers’ family has been developing land in California since 1905. Don Ayers Jr. developed the concept of a European boutique hotel after a trip to Europe with his daughter in the early 80’s. Homes by Ayres was now a trusted name in homebuilding and Don Jr. began to apply its time-tested, success-proven formula to satisfy the growing need for hotels. The company opened its first property in 1984. Since then, Ayres has continually adapted to the ever-changing needs of the marketplace without losing sight of the importance of friendly service, cleanliness, and value in the Ayres brand of hotels.
All of the Ayers hotels are widely recognized for their value, quality and comfortable surroundings. The unique combination of luxury and ambiance draws guests to this growing family of hotels. From European boutique elegance to home style comfort, each has a personality and charm that is uniquely Ayres. Inviting lobbies adorned with beautiful fireplaces, hand selected antiques and classic art prints are just a few of the special touches you can find at the Ayres Hotels. No expense is spared to make you feel special. Our guestrooms combine Old World charm with the new world service of an attentive staff and every modern convenience.
* Aryes Lodge Alpine hosted our one-night hotel stay. Our opinions are our own.
1 comment
Oh this looks so relaxing!