Make this the summer of the fitness vacation: Here are 3 great getaways
You’ve had it. Enough of traffic on the 405, the wait list for a seat at SoulCycle, the lines at Trader Joe’s. Grab a group of friends and haul out: It’s time to start thinking about summer vacation, so why not make it a fitness reboot?
These three fitness destinations are easy drives, all about 100 miles from DTLA (although, sorry, you might still have to get on the 405 for a bit). They offer healthful options galore that will get you out of your house and your head.
OJAI
Ojai enjoys a year-round Mediterranean climate and lots of ways to stay active. Watch for the mystical “pink moment” when the sun starts to go down and the mountains radiate with various hues of pink and red.
Where to stay
The Ojai Valley Inn & Spa is famous for its award-winning Spa Ojai. The cozy Su Nido Inn is in the heart of the village -- and also hosts small yoga classes. The Lavender Inn is a historic bed and breakfast, also in downtown.
Where to get your burn on
Ojai is surrounded by mountains, so hiking, mountain biking, rock climbing, even horseback riding are all options close to downtown. The Ojai Valley Land Conservancy manages more than 2,000 acres of public access lands crisscrossed with beautiful trails of all levels, easily accessible by foot and bike. Nearby Los Padres National Forest presents opportunities for hiking, climbing, camping, fishing and swimming. Local outfitter Trails by Potter offers guided hikes and outdoor adventures. Or, scale some rocks with certified operator Alex Bury of Ojai Rock Climbing. For guided horseback rides contact Ojai Valley Trail Riding Company.
The Oaks at Ojai offers day passes for all kinds of classes, including Zumba, aqua aerobics, belly dancing and more. Sacred Space Yoga Studio specializes in Iyengar and restorative yoga, also classes in intuitive movement and the Feldenkrais movement method.
LA JOLLA
Visitors have been drawn for decades to the Spanish-style seaside village, and there are plenty of active options in, on and around the ocean.
Where to stay
The La Valencia is a Mediterranean-inspired classic pink hotel right on the La Jolla Cove. The 1926 hotel has long hosted film stars, writers and social icons – and recently underwent a gorgeous renovation.
Where to get your burn on
La Jolla Cove is protected, so no surfing or boogie boarding is allowed, which means it’s a great place for kayaking, snorkeling and diving. La Jolla Kayak has kayak and bike rentals and tours. Surf Diva Surf School offers surf and stand-up paddleboard private and group lessons, as well as rentals.
Trilogy Sanctuary, a new yoga/juicing retreat just blocks from La Valencia, offers Sky Yoga classes -- aerial yoga classes of all levels – on its rooftop. There’s also a FitWall studio in nearby Solana Beach (the FitWall apparatus is sort of like a static rock climbing machine that uses your body weight for a challenging workout).
BIG BEAR
Once the snow season is over, Big Bear Lake abounds with fitness fun. And it’s quite amazing how clear and star-studded the skies are up there.
Where to stay
Your best lodging option is to rent a charming cabin: vrbo.com and bigbearcabins.com are good places to start. Bear Creek Resort has private cabins with hot tubs and spa packages. And Lagonita Lodge offers a $99 room if you call the resort directly at (909) 866-6531 and mention Wolf Total Fitness (see below).
Where to get your burn on
Whether you’re an experienced mountain biker or just a beginner, Snow Summit is your spot. Its lift-served bike park features advanced trails and upper-level features such as bridges, step-ups and berms. If you don’t know what those are, you should start on the Small Wonder beginner trail and new Skill Builder Park. Details: teambigbear.com.
Wolf Total Fitness has a slew of classes and offers a day pass for $15 and a weekly pass for $28. Big Bear Yoga offers plenty of indoor classes, but for a real treat, teachers take groups of six or more up the mountain and lead a class on a cliff, in the trees or lakeside.
Peg Moline is author of “The Doctor’s Book of Natural Health Remedies.”
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