Thanks to high-tech telescopes and on-site observatories at numerous hotels and resorts and beyond throughout the state, now’s your chance to get an up-close look at the moon, stars, nebulae and planets. From a wellness resort that’s Southern California’s version of Provence with a resident astronomer, to a resort in Rancho Mirage with guided stargazing sessions for guests, here are three resorts celebrating all things celestial.
Cal-A-Vie
Upon initial glance, it might seem like you’ve been magically transported to 18th-century Provence in San Diego County. The reality is you kind of have. Owners Terri and John Havens have appointed nearly every inch of the hideaway with antiques, mantels, paintings, stone fountains and troughs culled from their travels in France. The resort’s Parish House, built in 1715 in Burgundy, was shipped and recreated piece-by-piece on a hilltop overlooking rolling hills and hiking trails. Beyond the myriad of fitness and wellness offerings at the resort, guests can head to the newly opened Sky Observatory—replete with eight flat screen TVs, a retractable roof, and a massive Takahashi telescope—on Tuesday evenings for guided stargazing and a presentation by astronomy expert Tim Lewis. On Saturday mornings, take a solar walk on the grounds with Lewis and finish with a presentation and telescope-viewing.
The Ritz-Carlton, Rancho Mirage
The 244-room resort, situated just a few miles from Palm Springs, offers complimentary Saturday stargazing sessions for guests utilizing an 11-inch computerized telescope for exploring the area’s dark, desert night sky (from sundown to 10pm in the summer.) For a more in-depth experience, venture to the nearby Rancho Mirage Library & Observatory. Opened in 2018, the facility is equipped with a mega PlaneWave Instruments CDK 700 telescope, and hosts daytime tours on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays; astronomy lectures; and stargazing with volunteers and astronomers on Observatory Public Exploration Nights.
Terranea Resort & Spa
Poised on the cliffs of Rancho Palos Verdes, the wow-factor of the oceanfront site alone is worth the visit to this 102-acre coastal Mediterranean-inspired property. Now through August 13th, the resort’s Stargazing Tour of the Night Sky features astrophotographer Mirko Maher, of Dark Sky Exploring. Take home a photograph of your favorite celestial image captured through a special telescope and mingle with other guests with hot chocolate and s’mores. (Select dates through August 13th; $25 per person; 8:30-10:30pm; advanced tickets required.)
