Imagine waves crashing on the shore far below you, ancient sandstone monoliths towering above you and a rare Torrey pine forest lining your way. It is at once a humbling and overpowering close-up experience with nature and history. A visit to the Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve in SoCal’s La Jolla transports you to California’s most dramatic geological past, spanning more than a million years.
The 2,000-acre reserve may be located within San Diego city limits, but you are not going to find a wilder and more pristine stretch of land in Southern California. Thanks to the foresight of individuals such as philanthropist Ellen Browning Scripps and naturalist Guy Fleming, the reserve has been frozen in pre-development time with protected chaparral plants, the rare and graceful Torrey pine trees, miles of untouched beaches and a precious lagoon that is the habitat for migrating birds.
Wrap yourself in nature
Visitors to the reserve come in the form of hikers, bicyclers or observers of beauty and history. No matter the level of physical activity you choose, a stop at the Visitor Center, the former 1923-built Torrey Pines Lodge, at the top of the entrance road is worthwhile. Here, exhibits of plant and animal life are available as well as a short film that explains the evolution of the state reserve. Learn about the Hopi-designed lodge itself that served Sunday dinners to visitors, the remarkable preservation of the lands through the years and the hidden treasures along your excursion.
Take a self-guided easy, moderate or strenuous hike along eight miles of trails. Docent-led hikes are also available and worth the first-time visit. Guided tours leave from the Visitor Center Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 10 a.m. The Guy Fleming Trail is the most moderate of the hiking trails, affording a diversity of scenery from sandstone formations to ocean vistas. The Razor Point Trail follows the Canyons of the Swifts past dramatic views of the gorge, badlands and incredibly picturesque trees.
Extend your love affair with a stay at The Lodge at Torrey Pines
There is no need to end your love affair with nature after you leave the state nature reserve. Make it a weekend at the famed Lodge at Torrey Pines, less than a mile away along the same pristine coastline. Perched on a dramatic cliff with a backdrop of rugged cliffs, the hotel occupies six-plus acres adjacent to the equally famed Torrey Pines Golf Course and the Pacific Ocean.
Modeled after the historic Gamble and Blacker houses in Pasadena—two of the best examples of early 1900’s Craftsman-style architecture by Greene & Greene, the hotel and its 170 guest rooms evoke the look and feel of a gracious home with rich woodwork, natural stone and a natural color palette. All the while the five-star resort remains sensitive to its surrounding natural beauty.
The resort’s 9,500-square-foot spa is a tribute to the surrounding flora and fauna in its signature treatments, heavy with coastal sage inspirations. Prepare for your hike through the reserve with a yoga class, held on the grassy terrace overlooking the ocean and golf course.
Toast nature at this special fall wine tasting
Winemakers and owners from some of the most notable California wineries will assemble at The Lodge at Torrey Pines for the inaugural Beyond the Cellar: A Fall Wine Collectors Tasting on November 13, 2021 from 5:00 to 7:30 p.m.
Beyond the Cellar is for both wine aficionados and collectors, featuring winemakers and winery owners showcasing and selling some of their rare and high-end vintages that are not readily available to the general public. Curated by The Lodge’s Advanced Sommelier Paul Krikorian, Beyond the Cellar will feature highly coveted wines and experts from 18 Napa Valley wineries including Hundred Acre, Morlet Family, Chappellet Vineyards, Far Niente/Nickel & Nickel, Linked Vineyards, Ramey Cellars, Daou/Patrimony, Dana Estates/Marciano Vineyards, Pulido-Walker Winery, Malk Family Vineyards, Darioush, Abacus, Mirror Vineyards, Opus One, Spottswoode, Verite, Paul Hobbs, and Schramsberg.
Each featured wine will be poured by either the winemaker, owner or spokesperson, providing guests with an exclusive one-on-one guided tasting. Krikorian, along with other sommeliers, will be available throughout the event to provide expert insight and advice to attendees. Wine tastings will be accompanied by artisanal cheeses, charcuterie, handcrafted chocolates, passed hors d’oeuvres, live entertainment by a string trio and a caviar and champagne greeting. Along with bottles and barrels from the wineries, guests will also have the chance to purchase fine glassware from Riedel, the premier wineglass and decanter manufacturer.
Tickets are very limited and are currently guaranteed only with a Beyond the Cellar Room Package starting at $795 per night. The package includes two tickets to the event (a $400 value), a stay in a spacious Signature room, complimentary parking and a special commemorative gift. Unreserved individual tickets to Beyond the Cellar will go on sale beginning on October 1 at 9 am PST. The cost is $200 per person and will be available for purchase online.
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