Golden Door

Renowned health/beauty spa (primarily for women) with an elegant Zen ambience, set in North San Diego County foothills in Escondido. Forty guest rooms are tucked amid 377 acres of serene gardens, citrus groves, koi ponds, waterfalls and woodland walkways. The rooms are inspired by those of traditional honjin inns, and all come with tokonoma meditation shrines on raised platforms. Chef Curtis Cooke’s “Healthy Cuisine” includes produce grown in the organic garden and locally raised free-range meat. The emphasis is on stress reduction and relaxation, with exercise and stretching classes, Pilates, vigorous walks, yoga/tai chi and aqua aerobics. The spa offers a full menu of beauty treatments, plus Japanese hot baths. Two swimming pools; tennis courts.