NOV EMBER 2019

GIVE THANKS GIVE BACK

48 NOVEMBER 2019 / 805LIVING.COM

Oak Park schools use a holistic approach to learning that blends the latest technologywith more traditional experiences such as gardening, singing, painting, and

building things in a climate of care where every child is nurtured and valued.

899 N. Kanan Road, Oak Park, CA 91377 | 818.735.3253 | www.opusd.org

Oak Park Unified School District | Educating Compassionate and Creative Global Citizens

Serving grades K-12

#1 Counselor to student ratio in Ventura County

OPUSD students are the highest achieving on allstate tests, SAT, ACT, and AP in Ventura County

National Green Ribbon School District byUS Department of Education and the EPA

100% organic landscapes at all campuses

Most Coastal Canyon League Championships

60% of students participate in a sport in high school

Accepting District of Choice applicationsfor 2020-2021 through December 31, 2019

“Oak Park schools are inclusive learning environmentswhere children are loved and honored for who they are.”

– Superintendent Tony Knight

Growing Imaginations

in a climate of care

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Finds Travel

Looking to share an extravagant experiential holiday gift with someone special this year? How about one of these getaways?

The luxurious new 4,000-square-foot Ty Warner Villa at Four Seasons Resort The Biltmore Santa Barbara (fourseasons.com/santabarbara; $12,500 per night) has two outdoor entertaining areas, a fireplace, a private pool overlooking Butterfly Beach and the Channel Islands, and an outdoor rain shower. Butler service, pedicab transportation around the resort, and access to the members-only Coral Casino Beach and Cabana Club are included, along with a Christmas tree. The package is available from Thanksgiving through New Year’s Day.

For a south-of-the-border retreat, Montage Los Cabos (montagehotels.com/loscabos; from $7,475) recently completed one three-bedroom and two five-bedroom homes on the swimmable beaches of Santa Maria Bay. Amenities include butler service, spa treatments, and dedicated beach cabanas.

The Lodge at Blue Sky, Auberge Resorts Collection (aubergeresorts.com/bluesky; from $700), a luxury ranch just outside of Park City, Utah, is entering its first winter season with a helicopter skiing and snowboarding experience on 200,000 acres of terrain between the Wasatch and Uinta mountain ranges. The land is “super-remote to get to, so it’s rare that you’re going to see anyone else, even snowmobiles,” says director of adventure Henry Hudson.

The morning begins at Blue Sky’s mountaintop canvas yurt, where guests fuel up with breakfast before attending an avalanche- and helicopter-safety training session. On an average day, participants log seven to eight runs, and the experience includes lunch and concludes with snacks, charcuterie boards, and drinks back at the yurt. The lodge offers accommodations ranging from 570-square-foot rooms to 2,500-square-foot apartments and features indoor equestrian centers, sporting clays, snowshoeing, Nordic skiing, and a kids club. Book the Stay and Play package through winter and get a $100 nightly credit to use toward dining, activities, and spa treatments.

OPULENT HOLIDAY RETREATS

HELICOPTER AS SKI LIFT IN UTAH

A SAN MIGUEL CASA

Architectural details at Casa Delphine (casadelphine.com; from $265) reflect the Spanish Colonial style of

the boutique hotel’s location in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico: private inner courtyards, intricate stonework, and bóveda ceilings (domed brick structures typical in Catalonia). “You just can’t believe the incredible detail that goes into something like that,” says owner Amanda Keidan, a jewelry designer who left Los Angeles to open this five-suite hotel at a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

To accentuate the architecture, Keidan kept the elegant interior minimal. Fireplaces, area rugs, and locally sourced throw blankets create a warm ambience in each room, while hand-painted tile trims the bathrooms, and royal-blue feature walls serve as a focal point in common spaces. Three upcoming retreats focus on activities for self-nurturing: Meditation (January 23 to 28), Soulful Design (March 9 to 15), and Wellness and Fermentation (April 15 to 20).

For beachside indulgence this holiday season, splurge on a stay at the new Ty Warner Villa at Four Seasons Resort The Biltmore Santa Barbara (left) or go in with some pals on a Mexican escape at the three-suite Casa Twin Dolphin, one of three new residences at Montage Los Cabos (below).

A patio at Mexico’s Casa Delphine looks onto the boutique hotel’s columned archways and other Spanish Colonial stylings.

Near Park City, Utah, a helicopter takes guests of The Lodge at

Blue Sky, Auberge Resorts Collection from a mountaintop

yurt base to remote ski runs.