Welcome to Beyond Ordinary Guides, where we curate gorgeous imagery, locally cherished spots, and accessible stories. We hope you enjoy!
All in Coast
Why are we putting so much time and effort into trying to trick our plants and ourselves into blooming where the soil, humidity, sunshine, and precipitation doesn’t match how our cells were programmed? Why not plant ourselves in a climate that naturally fosters our being, effortlessly opening us up to inspiration and contentment?
Don Bonito Hotel is a modern minimalist’s paradise. This 9 room boutique hotel is located on quiet Avenida Palmar on the north shore of Sayulita, just a 5-minute walk to the center of town. If you’re looking for a chill, gorgeous, and safe place to call home while in Sayulita this one of a kind petite hotel coupled with the sweet service and care from all the Don Bonito staff is the place to be.
The Lost Coast Trail is not for the faint of heart. This 25 mile trail mostly follows the rugged California coastline four hours north of San Francisco, named for its inaccessibility and lack of roads, towns, or civilization. You spend most of your time hiking on wet sand or shifting pebbles, and have to time your hiking according to the tides in order to not get swept into the freezing Pacific. But the ruggedness is also the reward. Stunning coastline, black sand beaches, and wildlife barely accustomed to seeing humans makes you feel like you are truly passing through untamed and untouched territory.
This forested thirty seven square mile island northwest of Dubrovnik is home to two salted lakes, one of which charmingly contains a 12th century Benedictine Monastery. Easily accessed by a two hour ferry from Dubrovnik, the larger island, which is home to Mljet National Park, makes for a beautiful day trip or as a stop along an Adriatic sailing adventure.
Of our two weeks in Croatia, our time on Faros, our 43’ sailboat, was my favorite portion of the trip. Unlike a car journey, our sailing from place to place felt like an experience all its own, totally relaxing and yet, gave the sense of accomplishment because we had traveled from Dubrovnik to Split with many amazing stops along the way.
The tranquil town of Todos Santos on Mexico’s Baja Peninsula has long been a destination for surfers, adventurers, artists and bohemian types. Offering a complete 180 from neighboring Cabo San Lucas, it’s a place where getting off the beaten track – or in this case, the old dusty trail – is a maxim that still rings true.
It was the last full day of our 5 night sailing charter from Dubrovnik to Split and the normal itinerary would have taken us to the luxurious, party island of Hvar, but instead of spending our day on land, we wanted to take full advantage of having a boat at our disposal and go somewhere off the beaten path. We asked our skipper, Bartool, if we could go somewhere private and he brought us here, to Otok Šćedro, and for nearly 4 hours, we had this whole cove to ourselves.
A medieval island surrounded by turquoise waters and the birthplace of one of the most famous explorers in world history, the island of Korčula (pronounced core-chula) makes for a relaxed, yet fulfilling day in the Adriatic. With no real “sights” to see, a day in Korčula is best spent exploring the bougainvillea covered narrow cobblestone streets of old town, stopping into the occasional shop, enjoying a leisurely lunch seaside, and then sunbathing on the rocks below. A visit to the Marco Polo house provides a nice lookout tower to view the town from above, and just enough history about this 13th century explorer. The pace here fit our vacation vibe perfectly.
Located right in the heart of downtown Carmel, Hotel Carmel is a recently renovated hotel that offers comfortable beds, plush robes, a continental bagel bar breakfast (with local strawberry cream cheese), and Nespresso machines in room. We loved hanging out in the stylishly decorated lobby, and relaxing with a glass of local pinot noir (from the daily happy hour) in the hot tub. A fire pit surrounded by Adirondack chairs makes for the perfect post dinner hang out location, or if you prefer something more secluded, head to your private balcony. Hotel Carmel is a wonderful home base for a weekend.
Encinitas, which means “Little Oaks” in Spanish, sits in a sweet spot along Historic Highway 101 95 miles south of Los Angeles and 25 miles north of San Diego. A laid-back bohemian enclave that parallels the Pacific Ocean, Enci’ is famed for beautiful beaches, great surf, and good vibes.
Katy Nastro heads to the Halcyon House, a former surf motel turned blue-and-white-perfectly-patterned boutique hotel in New South Wales, and struggles to leave. Her full lodging review now up on the site!
The sweetness of the mojitos and tranquility of the bay today make it hard to believe this was the location of a insurgency in 1961.
