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Comfort & Character
The inn at rancho santa fe
W By Ron & Mary James of Del Mar, Solana Beach, and La Jolla.
e love a hotel with char-
acter. When we travel, we
fascinating, from its architect, Lilian
avoid the ubiquitous chain, whether it’s Everything about this fabled hotel was
Rice, to the rich and famous who walked
five-star or not. So we were very excited its grounds and resided there over the
as we drove the winding, eucalyptus- course of 90-plus years. This was the
lined, two-lane road into Rancho Santa temporary home for hundreds of stars
Fe to check into The Inn at Rancho Santa and celebrities such as Bing Crosby,
Fe, a Southern California icon with char- America's Sweetheart Mary Pickford,
acter to spare. Our destination was just Hollywood hero Douglas Fairbanks Jr.,
30 minutes north of San Diego Inter- and even Bill Gates and architect Frank
national Airport and minutes from the Lloyd Wright. The stories the walls could
beaches and the upscale seaside towns
56 Wine Dine & Travel Spring 2014
