Oh, Orange County. It's lived large in popular culture thanks to some TV hit shows like “The O.C.”, MTV's “Laguna Beach” teen reality drama, and everyone's fave, “Real Housewives of Orange County.” (It's also home to a little place called Disneyland.)
But if you're making a trip to the West Coast with kids, Orange County should 100 percent be on your list of places to stay. We recommend doing a few days in Los Angeles to see the museums, beaches and Hollywood, and then skedaddle on down to Newport Beach, one of the most beautiful settings in Southern California.
About an hour and a half south of Los Angeles, Newport Beach has a few must-visit spots such as The Balboa Peninsula with its Balboa Fun Zone (a mini sort of seaside amusement park), Fashion Island shopping center, and the Crystal Cove State Park, a 3.2-mile section of beach, wilderness, and offshore snorkel and dive spots.
One seriously luxe lodging option to consider that will put you close to all these spots is The Resort at Pelican Hill in Newport Coast.* Allow us to walk you through some of the highlights of this excellent, Mediterranean-inspired and most importantly, family-friendly property.
BUNGALOWS
The starting room category at The Resort at Pelican Hill is a nearly 900-sq.ft. bungalow with fireplaces, private terraces and either a garden or ocean view. (Ocean view is a little more expensive.) These can easily sleep parents and two small children (on the pull-out sofa.) And since they are bungalows, there are no elevators to take. Simply pull up your car to your private parking space. If you need more room, opt for a Bungalow Suite which has nearly double the amount of space, an extra fireplace and a separate living room and dining area. The decor is oversized but comfortable and blanketed in neutral and cream colors. Fun family amenity: kids receive little stuffed pelicans on their beds!
VILLAS
But if you've got a larger family or if you plan on staying more than three days, a villa gives you the conveniences of a house like a kitchen, laundry and multiple bedrooms and bathrooms, along with the luxuries of a resort, such as a private pool, lounge and restaurant, only for villa guests. Here's a look-see inside a three-bedroom villa:
ACTIVITIES
There's so much to do in Newport Beach (you must visit Crystal Cove State Park, shown above!) but there's also a ton to do at this sprawling Italianate resort. You can play golf at one of the two championship courses at Pelican Hill Golf Club, spend the day at the enormous spa, or just kick it at the Coliseum circular pool, something that the kids will especially love. Speaking of kids…
CAMP PELICAN
The resort has its own kids clubhouse called Camp Pelican just off the Coliseum pool. Created for kids ages 4-12, Camp Pelican puts together daily, themed activities and offers the option of doing a full day or a half-day. The full-day option is $90 and includes lunch and snacks. The half-day program is $60 and can be done from 9am to 1pm or 12pm to 4pm. There are also some select weekend nights where the club puts on a Kids Night with a dinner and a movie and popcorn, allowing parents to have a night to themselves. Woot!
DINING
Pelican Hill is meant to be a luxury retreat where you never have to leave the property. So the dining options are plentiful. Families will spend most of their time at the Coliseum Grill overlooking the pool (the poke salad is delish!) and which also serves a poolside menu. Plus, kids will definitely want to stop into the Caffe & Market just off the lobby's Great Room for gelato and snacks.
Pelican Hill Grill is a steakhouse near the golf courses but still with views of the ocean and a great bar scene, while Andrea is the resort's fine Italian restaurant. And even though the villas come with full kitchens where you can prepare your own dinner, villa guests also have access to the Piccolo restaurant, serving small shared plates, and the accompanying library lounge.
Best of all, you don't even need to drive yourself around the property. Pelican Hill has Mercedes Benz GLs to chauffeur guests from spot to spot. (You can also text the concierge for anything you need. #technologywin.)
BOTTOM LINE
The Resort at Pelican Hill is nothing but luxury, so expect room rates to top $1,000 a night in the peak summer season. But if you go in the off-season such as winter or spring, you can find rates for bungalows around $500 a night or less. And just to compare, we've seen similar rates at other hotels nearby, but without the space, facilities and amenities that Pelican Hill has to offer. Which is certainly something to keep in mind, especially when traveling with kids.
*Disclosure: Trips + Giggles stayed at The Resort at Pelican Hill as a guest of the property. All opinions are our own and we would never recommend something we didn't actually love ourselves.
If you're interested in booking a stay at Pelican Hill, let us know! As a Virtuoso travel agent, we can get you special perks and benefits with your stay including $50 breakfast credit ($100 for those in villas), a $100 golf or spa credit, and an upgrade if available. Let us know your dates and we'll check the rates right away!
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