Press Room

Big Sur offers a variety of wedding venues for luxury events and tiny elopements.

Highway 1 is regarded as not only one of the best road trips in the United States, but also the world. The coastal cruise promises dramatic bluffs, panoramic ocean vistas, and many designated viewpoints to capture it all.

It's a big state—but you've got options, no matter where you're starting out.

When it comes to vacations, sometimes it’s just better to pay one large bill. The best way to do that? An all-inclusive resort, of course. Take it one step further and make sure it’s an adult-only property — you’re golden.

Alila Ventana Big Sur embodies the notion that space is luxury.

This is a place where everyone can find what they seek, from romance and emotional connection to perspective and solitary reflection. And with so much change in the air, so much in Big Sur remains as it has always been—the towering redwood forests, the crashing sea down below.

Here's the situation: You're a California resident who has had a month and needs to escape to somewhere beautiful, and fast. If that sounds familiar, and you're feeling the need to get out of town without crossing state lines, you're in luck. 

Whether you’re in a long-term relationship or just getting to know one another, spending time together as a couple away from the hassles of daily life can deepen emotional connections and rekindle the romance.

Big Sur is all about the ocean, framed by redwood forests and sweeping majestic cliffs. One of the most elegant and elevated ways to feast on the landscape is Alila Ventana Big Sur, a resort that will make you forget time exists.

Sunset proudly presents our 2021 Travel Awards to honor the folks in hospitality who have continued to provide unparalleled service during such a challenging period in travel.

Outdoor activities like camping are considered low-risk. But roughing it in a sleeping bag with no hot water isn't for everyone. Enter glamping: luxury camping with accommodations.

Business Insider teamed up with Glamping.com to find some of the best glamping sites across the US you can road trip to this summer. To determine this list, Glamping.com found the property in each state it has listings for that received the most views in the past year.

Those who yearn for an authentic experience in nature but who also value things such as thread count, culinary options, full-bathrooms, and, of course, Wi-Fi, have some new options for this summer. Sure, there are numerous “glamping” resorts across the U.S. that tout elevated tent accommodations, but only a handful truly go above and beyond, offering everything from camp butlers to tented luxury spas—all the while being located adjacent to traditional five-star resorts, should the call of the wild end up falling on deaf ears.

Woodworker Aleksandra Zee’s Instagram is the stuff creative dreams are made of, but she is so much more than just a social media personality.

Can a lifelong tent pitcher with a penchant for roughing it learn to appreciate high-thread-count sheets and teak-floored showers in the midst of nature? Christopher Keyes agreed to suffer in the name of research to find out.

"Big Sur is one of the most enchanting places we’ve ever been," says Laura. "We absolutely love the dramatic scenery and rustic environment. The smell of the redwoods on the way down gets us every time." They decided on Ventana Big Sur, an outdoor venue nestled above the coast with the "most spectacular views," for both their ceremony and reception. But the priceless seascape wasn't the only aspect of Ventana that made the venue an easy choice for the couple: It also happened to be right across the street from where Evan proposed!

Within a three-hour drive of San Francisco, you can find world-class wineries, forested lakeside escapes, and beautiful coastal getaways.

If you’re ready to embrace a domestic getaway but aren’t sure what your options are for hotel and resort stays, we’re here to help.

As coronavirus lockdown measures ease across the United States, a domestic trip is likely to be one of your first travel experiences. If it’s a hotel or resort stay you are truly yearning for, you may have more options than you realize.

Ventana is already well-known as one of the most luxurious places to stay in the region, however, its glamping experience truly takes comfort and style to an entirely new level. At Ventana, guests can book a stay at one of its bespoke glamping sites, which includes a safari-style tent complete plush bed covered in premium linens. Each site also comes with its own fire pit and s’mores kit (yes, it’s filled with Hershey’s) as well as full bathrooms available at the campsite’s bathhouse.

From Big Sur glamping to Hearst Castle to the Santa Barbara wineries, driving down the Pacific Coast Highway is one of the best ways to see California.

If you've ever wondered whether anybody actually goes "galmping", a new report offer a resounding answer: yes, lots of anybodies.

Come to Ventana Big Sur to recharge and unwind before baby arrives. This picturesque resort is spread out among 160 acres of forested land located along the Pacific Ocean. Guests can choose between luxurious accommodations at the resort or secluded Redwood and Canyon Glampsites reachable only by foot.

There are few indulgences more liberating than a classic road trip. And there are few road trips more classic than a journey up the Pacific Coast Highway—a road with a view so spectacular it’s actually part of the name. Somewhere between Santa Monica and Northern California, your blood pressure drops, your hair gets ocean-air tangly, and you get greedy for beautiful views.

From beaches and glamping to fine dining, we’ve rounded up a few of our favorite fall escapes that will stretch you summer and your joy. You know we wouldn’t steer you wrong, so grab your passport, gather your frequent flyer miles and let’s keep this party going!

A drive down California’s famous, and famously scenic, Highway 1 deserves a spot on any guy’s bucket listOpens a New Window.. But while the wine country and laidback hills of NorCalOpens a New Window. and the beautiful beaches of SoCal get all the glory, the oft-forgotten Central Coast has tons of treasures to explore.

Having spoken at one of Laurie Arons Special Events Masterclasses, I can say first hand that I've never learned more (about creating a memorable experience) than I did in those few days.

Instagram tourism has fueled frustation in Big Sur. But you can be respectful traveler and get your selfies, too.

Whether it’s heading off the beaten track in the desert in Namibia, hiking in Big Sur or staying in the lap of luxury on Lake Como, these are the best places to visit in July. By PAVIA ROSATI

Glamping — glamorous camping — allows you to enjoy the outdoors with some of the same amenities you would find in a hotel room. Instead of pitching a tent and hopping into a sleeping bag, you can rest on a comfy mattress and even take a hot shower, all while being close to nature. Here are six places to think about.

Stunning hotels that'll ensure you get the very best from one of the world's finest road trips.

A land of sweeping views known for its mind-body-soul getaways and retreats, Big Sur has towering redwoods, whimsical meadows, and the Pacific coastline. To indulge in the quintessential (and romantic) Big Sur experience, head to the Ventana Big Sur, for its infinity-edge hot tub, clothing-optional Mountain pool and adjacent Japanese hot baths.

The editor Samantha Garbarini drove 350 miles in search of the perfect Pacific Coast view.

Set on a hilltop with the jaw-dropping Big Sur coastline in view, Ventana Big Sur is where reality feels and is far, far away. The atmosphere is quintessentially mellow; indulgent touches are found in the 54 rooms outfitted with soaking tubs, fireplaces and the plushest of king-size beds.

You know if you want an outdoorsy, beach, or city honeymoon. 

Nature-lovers can’t help but fall for Big Sur, a wild and storied stretch of California’s central coast. Its bewitching blend of towering redwood forest, muscular green mountains and crashing ocean views has drawn everyone from bohemian writers (Henry Miller) to Hollywood heavyweights (Steve McQueen), seeking isolation in its eucalyptus-scented heart. 

These romantic retreats have everything you need—except children.

Be sure to leave enough daylight to catch Big Sur’s dramatic cliffs, soaring bridges, and rocky outcrops in all of their majesty before you check in for the night.

Magazine pays tribute to wine lists that excel, with honorees representing all 50 states and more than 75 countries

Get away from it all at a new crop of upscale camping retreats.

The Alila resort has reopened after last year's storms better than ever, with 15 safari-style glamping tents with canyon views and 54 renovated modern-rustic rooms.

INTO THE WOODS

If you had to distill the essence of California down to one place, Big Sur might be it. Located between Carmel and San Simeon, where the mountains meet the sea, the ruggedly beautiful destination has been attracting serenity seekers for decades.

Paul Corsentino Brings His Skills to Ventana

For this 22nd edition of the Hot List—our picks of the year’s top hotel openings—editors and reporters crisscrossed six continents to review hundreds of new properties firsthand. We came back with 102 outstanding winners that represent not just the vanguard of the hotel world but where travelers are headed next—and why.

Eat your heart out Henry David Thoreau.

Ever since the Ventana Inn opened in 1975, it has been a quintessential stop on any road trip through Big Sur. But when landslides damaged the only bridge into the coastal California town from the north in early 2017, Ventana’s new owners decided to use that time to give the iconic property a refresh. While the essence of this peaceful retreat—now called Ventana Big Sur, an Alila Resort—hasn’t changed, the multimillion-dollar renovation introduced several elements that are worth stopping by to see the next time you drive down Highway 1 now that the new Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge is officially open again.

INTO THE WOODS If you had to distill the essence of California down to one place, Big Sur might be it.

On motherhood, mortality, and a family trip to one of the world's most beautiful places.

Valentine’s Day is a great excuse for a romantic getaway, but you don’t need a Hallmark holiday to run away with your loved one.

Big Sur is back on the scene in a big way after last year's massive landsliders closed a good portion of the coastline to the public for several months. The Ventana Inn took the downtime to revamp and rebrand, reopening its doors to visitors as Ventana Big Sur (the first North American property for Alila Hotels & Resorts), just as the new Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge was unveiled in October.

Winter storms severely damaged Big Sur's gorgeous Highway 1, but happily, with the October 2017 reopening of the Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge, Big Sur is back - and with it, fully redone Ventana Big Sur.

Bañeras con vistas, duchas transparentes... los baños de hotel para ver y ser visto están de moda. ¡No aptos para todos los públicos!

The recently introduced Redwood Canyon Glampsites put you among the trees.

Look: Valentine’s Day is gonna burn a hole in your wallet no matter which way you spin it.

Might as well burn that hole doing something epic.

Something like the uber-swanky Ventana Big Sur’s new Redwood Canyon Glampsite, where you can trade in 9-to-5 drudgery for an otherworldly convergence of ocean, canyons and Redwoods.

Trust us: Choosing the venue is one of the most important decisions you’ll
make right about now. Seriously, the location affects almost everything
else, from how many people you can invite to what kind of flowers go on
the table. Chances are, it’s also the biggest chunk of change you’ve put
down, like, ever. So whether you’re a city girl who wants a rooftop soirée
or the complete opposite of that, here are 28 places in the U.S. where you
can gather all your people and get down to celebrating.

Wild hearts will love the revamped Ventana Big Sur.

After an eight-month closure, legendary Monterey County resort Ventana Big Sur has emerged from an extensive renovation by Brayton Hughes Design Studios.

California's Big Sur is back on the field after mudslides choked off access to the coastal redwood region last winter.

The Carmel, California, poet Robert Jeffers once stated, "The noblest thing I have ever seen is Big Sur," and we have to agree: Windswept cliffs and towering redwoods hover above the mighty Pacific Ocean. 

Last winter’s heavy rains may have been a boon for the drought, but the downpour also wreaked havoc across the state, including the collapse of Big Sur’s Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge along Highway 1. After an eight-month closure for repairs, the iconic thoroughfare reopened in October, at the same time VENTANA BIG SUR debuted its multimillion-dollar makeover.

Ventana Big Sur celebrated its grand reopening and re-imagination after being closed as a result of the Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge closure. This Alila Resort property—including 12,000 sq. ft. of indoor and outdoor meeting space—is more luxurious than ever.

Following devastaing damage, Ventana Big Sur reopens bigger and better than ever.

Why we’re excited: After a rocky start to 2017, the otherworldly stretch of land on California’s central coast and one of its most iconic hotels are back in action. A revamp by Alila Hotels and Resorts includes a glamping program with fifteen safari-style canvas tents, Japanese hot baths, and the addition of private balconies or patios to guest rooms.

The Ventana Inn at Big Sur, California, has been taken over by Alila Hotels & Resorts and will reopen on October 12 after a multi-million dollar renovation. The property is located on 243 acres of land set back from the coastal Highway 1 route, and has 54 guest rooms, a "Social House lifestyle space", a spa and restaurant.

Big Sur is once again open for business following last spring's debilitating mud slides, and autumn is an especially luminous time to explore this legendary stretch of central California coast, some 20 miles south of Carmel. Big Sur's magic lies in its untamed wilderness.

Did you know that although carrots can be grown practically year-round in the Monterey Bay area, they are the tastiest when harvested and eaten in winter? is is because carrots, like parsnips, convert their starches to sugars when it turns cold, an adaptation that protects their cells from freezing when the temperature drops—and makes them an especially flavorful as well as beautiful seasonal vegetable for your winter menus.

The Ventana Big Sur in California has reopened along the Pacific coastline as the maiden North American property from Alila Hotels and Resorts, part of Two Roads Hospitality. Following its closure in February 2017 in response to heavy rainfall and mudslides, the resort has returned with updates to each of its 54 guestrooms and suites along with new amenities following a refresh from San Francisco-based BraytonHughes Design Studios.

The restaurant Sur House recently opened at Ventana Big Sur (along with the renovated hotel), offering indoor and outdoor dining in the former site of Restaurant at Ventana. There are new culinary menus from executive chef Paul Corsentino, a new craft cocktail menu including a signature drink served in a copper owl mug, a 10,000-bottle cellar of small production Central Coast wines, an elevated and expanded ocean-view terrace with fire pit, lounge seating and a new 12-seat outdoor bar and a hillside organic garden.

Perched in the hills overlooking the Central California coastline, this 54-room resort was scheduled to reopen on Oct. 20 following a multimillion-dollar renovation - and after a new bridge restored roadway access following mudslides earlier this year through Big Sur.

Earlier this year, a series of landslides in Big Sur forced the closure of Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge and made that famously scenic section of California’s Central Coast nearly inaccessible. But John Pritzker, founding partner and director of Geolo Capital and cochairman of the board of Two Roads Hospitality, didn’t despair—despite having good reason to.

After a series of landslides and storms, Big Sur found itself blocked off from the rest of the world. And those who call it home suddenly had one of California's most scenic destinations all to themselves. 

Where there blessings - disguised or otherwise - following the wrath that nature unleashed on Big Bur last Winter? Could someone really find silver linings in those dark clouds that dumped torents of rain and misery on a close-knit community?

Big Sur’s majestic coastline, with its con- fluence of sea, sky and mountainous redwood forest, has long lured the curious and creative, beckoning travelers from around the world. But that all came to a standstill last winter when mudslides transformed the rugged paradise into an inaccessible island of sorts.

And the beloved Ventana Big Sur reopened last month as America's first reosrt by Alila, the high-end brand known for its dreamy retreats in Bali. 

"There is still, in the streets." So wrote Jack Kerouac in Big Sur, his oft-cited though perhaps least famous tome...

Where should you be traveling in 2018? We consulted travel experts, got the inside scoop on the hottest new cultural institutions and hotels opening, and scoured the globe for the most exciting emerging destinations. From idyllic islands and remote mountainous regions to bustling metropolises, these 20 destinations are at the top of our list for 2018.

When Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge collapsed earlier this year, Big Sur came to a bit of a halt, California's crown jewel was now divided into what the locals referred to as the north and south, indicating which side fo the overpass you were on.

Now's the time to head due west for your honeymoon. The perfect mix of laid-back and luxe, big Sur...

Craving relaxation and freedom? Some hotels take these needs to the next level, offering opportunities for a completely unrestricted stay.

Architecture are collectable and vintage design pieces, with each room boasting a clutch of unique details, from bespoke tile work to original art...

Even as 35 miles of the Pacific Coast Highway reopened in California's Monterey County following a landslide that has cut off some of the state's most scenic and popular stretches of coastline for more than two months, the.....

When a million tons of rocks tumbled down the coast of Big Sur, Calif., on May 20, the landslide added 13 acres of land to the region and buried scenic Highway 1 in 40 feet of dirt and gravel—the equivalent of 800 Olympic-sized.....

A log cabin is sort of the architectural equivalent of a grilled cheese—warming, comforting, nostalgic, simple, and if done well, perfect. Fortunately for the travel lovers among us, cabin-style lodges have seriously upped their.....