Courtesy Surf and Sand Resort
Surf and Sand Resort
Laguna Beach, Calif.
The Surf and Sand Resort in Laguna Beach first put its roots into the sand in the 1940s. It is one of only four hotels located on the beach in California, according to Vivian Eng, who coordinates meetings there. “That’s no longer permitted,” she said.
The boutique hotel’s 167 guest rooms and 13 suites were renovated in 2010. All front the beach, which is used for everything from yoga, power walking and volleyball to Frisbee golf and sand-castle-building competitions.
Half of the resort’s 20,000 square feet of meeting space is inside its two-story conference center; the other half is outdoors. Even indoor spaces, including three ballrooms, emphasize the resort’s location with natural light and plantation shutters.
After hours, groups can travel a mile to Laguna Beach, known for its artists and galleries. During July and August, they can see people pose and re-create classic and contemporary works of art during the Pageant of the Masters Festival.
Art also adorns the walls of the resort’s rooms; summertime events encourage artists and resort guests to “mix and mingle.”
949-497-4477
www.surfandsandresort.com
Inn at Spanish Head
Lincoln City, Ore.
The Inn at Spanish Head, at the southern end of Lincoln City, is Oregon’s only resort hotel built on the beach.
The condominium resort hotel’s 120 oceanfront rooms, with floor-to-ceiling windows, are privately owned and decorated. Most have balconies; many have kitchens.
Three meeting rooms, for up to 150 people, also have floor-to-ceiling windows. One faces the ocean; another overlooks the heated pool. Ocean views are wide from a 10th-floor restaurant.
The beach is used for bonfires, volleyball and scavenger hunts. “There are many other activities nearby, like kayaking, hiking, whale-watching and golfing,” said Tonya Weaver, director of sales.
In Lincoln City, glassblowers at the Jennifer Sears Glass Art Studio make 2,000 glass floats, each with a number. Every day, the city places some along the beach, including in front of the inn. Those who find the floats get a certificate to verify its authenticity. Groups can also blow glass at the center.
The city’s Culinary Center will do cooking demonstrations or hands-on team building. And Lincoln City is big on kites, Weaver said. There are two kite shows a year, and local entrepreneur David Gomburg claims to own the biggest kite in the world. His MegaFlag is 130 feet wide and 80 feet deep, and it flies.
541-996-2161
www.spanishhead.com
