San Diego has so much to offer for a family vacation — Legoland, SeaWorld, San Diego Zoo, Birch Aquarium and more. But, let’s be honest, it can also have a lot of traffic and driving and general busyness that might be overwhelming after a long day exploring one of the city’s many attractions. So, I want to introduce you to the Lakehouse Hotel and Resort — a serene, lakeside getaway that is close to all that San Diego has to offer without the hustle-and-bustle of the big city.
The Lakehouse Hotel and Resort is located on beautiful Lake San Marcos, a 30-minute drive in-land from Encinitas, and was named one of TripAdvisor’s 25 Top Hotels in the United States in 2014. The recently remodeled hotel offers 142 gorgeous rooms, half of which are right on the lake (most of the rest have a view of it). The rooms were large with plenty of room for our family of five. They boast features like Serenity memory foam beds, complimentary wireless internet, a soothing spa-like color scheme, and balconies that are just begging you to take a load off and watch the sun set.
They also have a collection of larger one and two-bedroom waterfront cottages that provide more space and amenities like a living area, personal fire pits and refrigerators.
I’m sure this was lost on my children, but I really liked their bathrooms. A mix of modern and rustic, I admit that once during our stay, I did leave my kids and husband at the pool to go take a “nap” —AKA a luxurious shower alone complete with Pandora, herbal body wash and a robe. Shhhh…
The grounds are small, but lovely and include two pools and hot tubs, hammocks, fire pits and a waterfront promenade. The kids had a blast at the pools and had fun checking out all the watercraft docked on the lake. It wasn’t quite warm enough during out visit to want to venture out on Lake San Marcos, but the Lakehouse offers kayak, water bikes and stand-up paddleboard rentals just steps from your room.
The hotel also has a great lobby area with a fireplace, library, and board games you can check out. (Even LEGOS!)
There is no on-site restaurant which is a bit strange, but guests of the resort can visit the St. Mark Golf Country Club (a one-minute complimentary golf cart ride away) which offers a fitness center, driving range, two golf courses and the Grill restaurant open for breakfast, Sunday brunch, lunch and dinner. It’s typical country club fare, so while it might be worth a dinner or brunch, families are likely better off seeking out some of the great restaurants in Encinitas (we LOVE this breakfast spot!) or closer to your San Diego attractions.
All in all, the Lakehouse provides relaxing, family-friendly accommodations for your Southern California adventures. And amazing morning coffee views.
Visit lakehousehotelandresort.com to learn more and book your stay!
