My husband’s birthday is coming up this weekend and of course I’m Gabbie Glick so I can’t help making a big deal about it. Sometimes we travel down to southern California, specifically gorgeous Laguna Beach for his special day particularly if the west coast weather gods permit. And because his birthday frequently coincides with the Super Bowl, we take a break from the beach to join the crowds at our favorite Laguna sports bar. This year, though, we’re sticking around the Bay Area because the San Francisco Forty Niners, our home team for twenty-three years, travels to New Orleans this week for Super Bowl XLVII. Obviously, we want to be part of the local fun and excitement as we cheer our team on to victory. But we’re not feeling at all deprived. It just happened that those wonderful weather gods met up with the business gods and we celebrated Nick’s birthday a little early with a surprise Laguna Beach weekend scheduled around a Los Angeles area business meeting.
I was able to book a convenient flight and even luckier, to score a room at the Surf and Sand, our first lodging in Laguna Beach and still our favorite. Though at this point, we’ve stayed at hotels up and down this charming beachfront art colony, there is something about the Surf and Sand that’s utterly irresistible in an elegant, yet low key, California kind of way. It’s set right on the beach so all the serenely designed sun-drenched rooms and suites have spectacular oceanfront views from private balconies. You can stretch out on the beach or hang out on the incredible pool deck, shielded from any Pacific chill by a sheer wall of glass. Locals and visitors alike gather at Splashes restaurant and the on-site spa offers indulgent, therapeutic and relaxing services. Plus it’s close enough to town to shed your car for the weekend and be just minutes away from scads of restaurants, art galleries and shops. But it’s far enough from downtown to avoid the traffic din when art lovers, tourists and surfers converge throughout the year.
This trip, we were particularly fortunate. Once I knew our travel dates, I called the hotel’s front desk to make some special birthday arrangements and Tiffany at the front desk happened to answer the phone. Apparently, she looked up our reservation history. When we checked in, we found that we were booked into our favorite room (eighth floor, north corner) in the hotel’s Tower Building where the views are so great that you feel as if you’re floating in the ocean. And to extend the birthday welcome, a delectable tray of goodies awaited our arrival. As always, we enjoyed the sports crowd at the House of Big Fish and gobbled up yummy fish tacos at Taco Loco. It was the beginning of a beautiful celebration heralding another year for my wonderful husband.
Since I’m the household’s resident social director, I had carte blanche to organize this pretty amazing gift. But I couldn’t just say “by the way Nick, we’re celebrating your birthday a little early with a trip to Laguna Beach”. No, in true Gabbie Glick fashion, I paired a few beach things (sunglasses and swimming trunks) with a special poem printed out on sunshine yellow paper. That birthday message really works for any weekend getaway gift. So whether you’re heading for a New England Bed and Breakfast or a seaside Florida escape, please feel free to use my Gabbie Glick poem to announce a really special birthday celebration.
An Ode To Romance
It’s time for a break for just the two of us
Away from work and the daily household fuss
So pack your bags because I’m spiriting you away
For a weekend trip to celebrate your special birthdayIf you go to Laguna Beach
www.houseofbigfish.com
www.lagunabeachinfo.com
www.surfandsandresort.com
www.tacoloco.net
