Ventana Big Sur offers luxurious landscape, lodgings

The Ventana Wilderness straddles the Santa Lucia Mountains, which plummet into the Pacific in a fashion so majestic people travel from all corners of the Earth just to witness nature’s show.

Maybe it’s the overall feeling of remoteness — cell phone service is scarce — but once you arrive in the quiet, awe-inspiring landscape that is Big Sur, you will realize why this place has been a respite for sojourners for centuries.

Five generations of Posts lived in the homestead before film financier Lawrence Spector purchased the property (with profits from “Easy Rider”) in 1972 with the goal of building a country inn.

Lodgings in weathered wooden buildings blend effortlessly into the landscape, which includes 243 acres of meadows and forests.

[...] don’t be fooled — the rustic exteriors lead to beautifully appointed rooms with all the modern amenities one expects for the price tag.

From deep soaking bathtubs and fireplaces to high-thread-count sheets and plush robes, the rooms and suites are luxurious enough to make you want to stay inside all day.

There’s a short trail through the woods that leads to the Restaurant at Ventana, where daily breakfast includes a full continental buffet — with healthy options like the resort’s famous granola with berries and yogurt.

Good to know:

Because of its location on the east side of Highway 1, ocean views are distant, and not all the rooms at Ventana face the ocean (some face the mountains).

Beachcombers love the quiet Pfeiffer Beach, a much less touristy (and less crowded) spot than Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, famous for its waterfall that drops into the ocean.

Assuming that a little civilization won’t stress you out, plan at least one trip to “town” for brunch, lunch or dinner at Big Sur Bakery, a locals’ favorite and foodies’ secret.

The bakery and restaurant, which occupies a historic 1936 ranch house once owned by Frank Post’s daughter, has throngs of devotees lining up every morning to ensure that they secure one of pastry chef Michelle Rizzolo’s famous almond croissants before they sell out.

Soak up some vitamin D on the sunny terrace at the Restaurant at Ventana, where chef Paul Corsentino’s cuisine draws on local ingredients and brings vegetables center stage.

Start with one of his signature juices — the Redwood Forest is a slightly sweet, nutrient-dense mix of red beets, red cabbage, red pepper, fennel, rainbow chard, celery, ginger and carrot.

Move on to lettuce wraps or a carrot soup sprinkled with toasted pumpkin seeds and fresh herbs.

Visit the Spa at Ventana (pictured), where signature treatments draw from natural surroundings, from seaweed re-mineralizing wraps to herbal poultice massages with eucalyptus, lavender, pine, sage and arnica.

Take a guided walk with Big Sur Guides and Hiking, where longtime resident and explorer Stephen Copeland leads journeys to places most tourists don’t ever see: a ring of ancient redwoods, just behind Ventana Big Sur, where the Esalen Indians used to hold wedding and funeral ceremonies; waterfalls hidden in secret canyons; secluded swimming holes; eucalyptus groves teeming with monarch butterflies.

There’s no more contemplative place to have a glass of wine than world-famous Nepenthe, where tables line a terrace that’s built into the cliff, and people linger for hours because they can’t pull themselves away from the restaurant’s famous vista.

Serving guests since 1949, Nepenthe always has been a mecca for artists, poets and explorers, and the laid-back vibe here never changes; thankfully, neither does the panoramic view of the Pacific. 48510 Hwy. 1, Big Sur; (831) 667-2345. w