Summer is my favorite season. I love being awoken by rays of natural light cascading across my bed. I love the low hum of the fan. I love winding away lazy days at the beach ... and spur-of-the-moment ice cream runs with my girlfriends. I love feeling of the warmth on my shoulders ... I love everything about it. If ever there is a time when I try to squeeze substance into every moment that I have, it's summer.
xMVL
It’s not out of the ordinary to hear someone describe an individual as one “who never meets a stranger.” I’ve not heard a place pronounced as such. But, I’ll be saying it about Cabo’s Hacienda Encantada Resort & Residences from here on. A dramatic destination that ensures seclusion, while still close to the best of the Baja – Hacienda Encantada sprawls above the sea along a rugged coastline. Perched in the Baja cliff with 360-degree views, the all-suite resort blends Mexican culture and architecture with opulent details. This is substance from start to finish. Cozy, cool studio and private suites with bursts of color, handcrafted textiles and furnishings from Guadalajara evoking traditional Mexican style have sensational vistas of Cabo and the Sea of Cortez for remarkable sunset views. First impressions are well-established as warm tones are the backdrop to vibrant paintings, colorful and hand-crafted accents from the gathering spaces to private quarters – everything coalescing within this inviting retreat, hand-selected by the matriarch of the Macias family, its owners. The family’s philosophy is quality service with a personal touch, and no place is that more evident than in the attention to detail given to each element of the luxury resort.
Luxe suites include whirlpools, sitting areas, and kitchenettes, while the ultimate escape – a four-bedroom penthouse suite – offers a choice of two king or four queen beds, expansive living room, full kitchen and dining area, and a decadent balcony complete with a plunge pool, BBQ grill and – of course – incredible views. At no level, are accommodations a concern to be had here. And neither is the food portion of this dream-like retreat. Dining is elevated to art at three hacienda-inspired restaurants, casual eateries, and chill pool and tequila bars. The resort’s internationally trained chefs craft traditional foods of Mexico with the freshest ingredients and bold flavors. La Pergola has Baja style fish tacos or shrimp and scallop ceviche; all of it, a must. Skip the gym and power walk up a sun-bathed corridor from the reception area to the property’s gates, where nature as well as a view of the beautiful Residences at Hacienda Encantada maximizes this getaway. If privacy is the aim, the Villas offer that with a picturesque view of the world-famous Land's End in the distance alongside the ultimate outdoor oasis to showcase the stunning surroundings of Los Cabos' coast. Inside, lavish interiors are infused with Mexican culture including hand-carved furnishings and exotic decorative accents. Prepare for the itch to upgrade.
Arguably one of the most innovative holistic spa approaches in Cabo, the resort’s more than 20 unique body and facial treatments are each designed to reveal and re-enliven the best version of yourself. The Full Moon Temazcal – an unparalleled experience – is an indigenous steam bath that uses aromatic herbs traditional to Mexican and Central American cultures and available only on evenings when there is a full moon, as the moon is considered to provide more healing energy in this phase. The treatment brings together the four cardinal elements – earth, fire, wind and water to cleanse the body and soul, and aid in relaxation, hydrating and moisturizing hair and skin, fighting insomnia and arthritis, releasing negative energy and reducing muscle tension and stress. Stretch that euphoria aboard a chartered boat ride to take in views of the sparkling Baja Peninsula and the Arch of Cabo San Lucas. Everything you need and more than you expected, a few days at Hacienda Encantada and, just like that, your ideal of a getting away will never be the same.
Next week I'll be conducting my first writer's workshop - Writing Space - hosted by Minniways Productions and Intimately Opulent Events on July 7, 2018. This is an exciting endeavor for me because it has been a long time coming. I've hosted many events and had one-on-ones with people who read my blog or that I've met via social media over the past nine years, and it has been extremely rewarding. This event, however, is even more special to me because though I'll be talking about honing one's writing skills to enhance creative ventures, I'll also be talking about this work that was the portal to my dreams. Whenever anyone has asked me what I believed to be my gifts, writing is always the first thing out of my mouth because I truly believe that it is what God gave me to bless others and what he has used, in so many many ways, to bless me.
If you're a budding writer, a self-conscious writer or a writer who needs to break through a block, you don't want to miss this workshop. I'll talk a bit about my career as a journalist and my passion for writing but I'll also be answering your questions about what it takes to go to your next level. See you there.
xMVL
Tee, Target
Jacket, Target
Jeans, Abercrombie
Heels, Justfab
