San Francisco Chronicle - (Sunday)
Resort pool, spa offers relaxing space surrounded by redwoods
A day at the beach in Santa Cruz is great, but it’s also fun to soak in the sun or go for a swim in the Santa Cruz Mountains. You can do both at Chaminade Resort & Spa’s recently expanded outdoor pool complex, surrounded by redwood forest but just 3 miles from Twin Lakes State Beach.
Chaminade’s new day pass for non-guests ($55 for ages 13 and older, $15 for ages 2 to 12) offers access to the two large heated pools and two hot tubs, plus men’s and women’s locker rooms, a sauna, a steam room and a fitness center (for ages 16 and older) in the nearby spa. Towel service is included, along with use of the sunny tennis court and 3 miles of wooded hiking trails.
Lounge chairs by the two pools, open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. To relax in style and shade, book one of two private cabana packages, both of which include all the amenities of the day passes for up to six people (i.e. a $330 value for six adults). The Redwood Cabana package ($400) entails sofa seating and lounge chairs, while the deluxe Chaminade Cabana ($550) provides a larger L-shaped sofa and chaise lounges under the shade, two lounge chairs and a side table in front of the cabana, power outlets, coffee table, 43-inch outdoor TV and overhead fan.
Cabana bookers can add food and beverage options, such as a bottle of prosecco ($45) or a Hawaiian-themed package ($250) serving four to six people that includes mai tais, Hawaiian pineapple, ahi poke, candied macadamia nuts and cinnamon creme fraiche.
The pool bar and adjacent
Sandbox Food Truck are open to all guests. The food truck, operating 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, serves a gourmet California-Mexican menu with dishes such as chilled fresh pepper gazpacho ($18), a locally foraged mushroom burger ($23) and tempura fresh catch street tacos ($25). Bar hours are 4 to 7 p.m. Friday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.