Elite Traveler November-December 2016

elite traveler NOV/DEC 2016 117

OUT OF TOWN

Right: A city landmark, the InterContinental San Francisco Below: Drink in the view from your bathtub for two at the Four Seasons

Whatever your pleasure, the San Francisco Bay Area has it all – world-class restaurants and wine estates, grand vistas over lake, sea or mountains, and lavish accommodations away from the city bustle. For food and wine... Napa Valley ranks as one of the world’s best regions for wine and cuisine. Head to Yountville, culinary fiefdom of chef Thomas Keller ( thomaskeller.com ). Book a winery tour at Far Niente ( farniente.com ) or Opus One ( opusonewinery.com ). For luxury stays, Meadowood ( meadowood.com ) has a three-Michelin-starred restaurant; or try serene boutique hotel Auberge du Soleil ( aubergedusoleil.aubergeresorts. com ); or the rustic Calistoga Ranch ( calistogaranch.aubergeresorts.com ). Napa resides up to two hours from San Francisco. Best to leave before 3pm to avoid the traffic or charter a helicopter. For nature... California’s skiing answer to Colorado’s Aspen is Lake Tahoe, about four hours’ drive from San Francisco or 56 minutes by private jet. The majestic Ritz-Carlton Lake Tahoe resort ( ritzcarlton.com ) has ski-in, ski-out access to the slopes and a first rate spa with outdoor heated pool, where you can swim surrounded by snow. For coastal grandeur... The beautiful coastline of Big Sur, four hours south of San Francisco, is studded with one-off luxury resorts like the Post Ranch Inn ( postranchinn.com ). The Henry Miller Memorial Library ( henrymiller.org ), celebrates Big Sur’s finest literary son. For easy city access ... Just behind the Golden Gate Bridge, Cavallo Point ( cavallopoint.com ) is a luxury eco resort just 15 minutes from the city. It has incredible views and a spa with a large outdoor meditation pool. Golfers can head to the Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay ( ritzcarlton.com ), which has doormen dressed as caddies and two championship golf courses set among rolling hills on a stunning ocean coast.

SHORT & SUITE

PRESIDENTIAL SUITE InterContinental San Francisco

IMPERIAL SUITE InterContinental Mark Hopkins This classic 3,890 sq ft three-bedroom suite, with private dining room, occupies the entire 18th floor and provides views from the top of Nob Hill. From $8,000 per night, +1 888 424 6835, intercontinentalmark hopkins.com

A glass-enclosed duplex on the 31st and 32nd floor in the heart of the business district with expansive views of San Francisco from your bed. From $3,500 per night, +1 888 811 4273, intercontinental sanfrancisco.com PRESIDENTIAL SUITE Four Seasons A 2,300 sq ft space equipped

with a bathtub for two, a sommelier-stocked wine fridge and floor-to-ceiling windows looking out to Yerba Buena Gardens. From $8,000 per night, Doug Housley, general manager, doug.housley@

Cavallo Point, by the Golden Gate Bridge

fourseasons.com, +1 415 633 3511, fourseasons.com

Meadowood, nestled in the Napa Valley

The Cliff House at Post Ranch Inn, Big Sur