Here’s something I never realized that I needed when I grew up: a home spa.

It’s like the “home bar” of my twenties and thirties, except in this case it’s for an adult woman who has two young children and various responsibilities and aching muscles, perhaps because of the time spent at her home bar in her twenties and thirties. Wherever I have lived, I’ve had a preferred spot to hang out with friends. Back in Northridge, for a time, it was the College Inn, which I do not recommend these days because of its newly storied past (cough it was the location of a recent homicide cough), and previous to that when I lived in Santa Monica it was a bar called Big John’s. No homicides there, that I know of, but it’s not called Big John’s anymore. It’s across the street from the Jack in the Box at Lincoln and Grant Street, if you’re curious, and it is now called Trip, and the exterior is covered with a rainbow of paint colors dripping down the walls.

But that’s not why we’re here, ladies. (And spa-curious gents, this is for you, too.)

No, I’m here today to tell you about the Spa at the Four Seasons Hotel Westlake Village. Otherwise known as “Heaven in Your Backyard.” Since moving to Agoura Hills I’ve driven by the back of the Four Seasons countless times along Lindero Canyon, and I’ve visited the restaurant twice. But I had no idea that behind that tall brick wall was a completely different world.

I recently had the great pleasure of spending the day at the Spa at the Four Seasons Hotel Westlake Village, followed by drinks at the Lookout, then a Pacific Market dinner in the hotel’s Lobby Lounge Restaurant, an overnight stay, and a Farmer’s Market breakfast.

And it was all of two minutes from my front door. Three if I got stuck at the light at Lindero and T.O. Every time I do a staycation-like getaway of this nature, I wonder why I ever travel at all. I mean, Southern California is a destination to most people. And we live here! And there are places like this place right here! That’s all I’m saying.

But I will also say that the spa and everything else I experienced during that 24 hours were luxurious, indulgent, and presented with the world-class customer service for which the Four Seasons brand is famous.

At the spa itself my four girlfriends and I spent the day in the Luxury Suite, which is a mini-spa of its own. There is a lounge, an enormous multi-jet shower, a space for massage tables, a giant jacuzzi tub, a wet bar, and an outdoor seating area with its own private hot tub. Two attendants saw to our needs all day, bringing us snacks and lunch, refilling the ice buckets for our Champagne, and even moving the umbrellas to shade the sun-shy ladies in our group. There was a secret back door from the hot tub area out to the grounds so we could go the back way to the main hotel pool. Attendants work there, too, to score you a sweet lounge chair, get you a fresh towel and some ice water, and see to your every need.

Sigh. Lindero Country Club, are you listening?

Massages can be done in the luxury suite itself, or guests are lovingly walked to special rooms for treatments like the California Dream Signature Body Treatment or the nearby Yamaguchi salon for services like the green tea pedicure. But the luxury suite is your tranquil home base, where you are free to hang out with your loving group of people or wander through the spa features like indoor stream, the steam room, the larger hot tub with adjoining outdoor sitting area, and the beautiful poolside lounge.

Candice, Andrea, Romy, and Beth

After a long hard day of relaxing, my group lounged about at the Lookout, the hotel’s outdoor bar, sampling their cocktails made with fresh local ingredients. In fact one signature cocktail called True Dat is nicknamed the 100-mile cocktail because all of its ingredients are sourced from within 100 miles of the hotel. It’s made with rosemary simple syrup, Meyer lemon infused vodka, and something called “strawberry froth.” Served straight up and chilled, it’s fun to make froth mustaches with it.

After relocating the overnight luggage and spa-wear of five women to our 6th floor rooms, which reminded me of guest rooms at a country estate – all pillowy mattresses, Queen Anne furniture, and stately drapery – we reconvened at the Lobby Lounge for the Pacific Market buffet dinner. The last time I visited here, the space had been transformed into an Italian market. On this night, though, it was a seaside fish and seafood extravaganza. My friends lingered and moaned over the freshly made ceviche and the enormous shrimp that arrived, cocktail style, in the middle of our table. I became fixated, curiously, on the succotash, a random side dish made with corn, crispy kale, and pancetta over grits. It was so good I had thirds. There were salads galore, a candy bar, and a delectable table of little desserts – small enough to tempt you to taste each one.

But the restaurant had more in store for us. This season at the hotel the desserts are fun and summery. There is a design-your-own ice cream cookie! We’re told that the best combo is the bacon cookie with salted caramel ice cream, but we tasted good old chocolate chip and vanilla. The warm cookie and the delicious housemade ice cream are served with your choice of dipping sauce, too, which makes for a great after dinner treat if you have saved room, which was very hard for us on this night. The hotel also has a fancy s’more concoction of brownie topped with flamed marshmallow with a chocolate sauce drizzle. And there is apricot crumble for the fruit crumble fans.

One of the best things about our day at Four Seasons Westlake was that it didn’t have to end. We snuggled up in the plush king beds on the 6th floor, where we stayed up until the wee hours of the morning, savoring the last moments of togetherness before our friend Andrea Fellman of Savvy Sassy Moms moves to Costa Rica for a family adventure.

In the morning, she and I strolled the beautiful grounds while we drank our complimentary coffee, watched the early birds doing yoga by the waterfall, and met the rest of our party for breakfast at the again-transformed Lobby Lounge restaurant. This time it was a Farmers Market, stocked with fresh produce, meats, and eggs from farms all around our area. The freshly-squeezed orange juice and made-to-order omelette were my favorites, as well as the house-made strawberry jam.

At the end of it all, after our tearful goodbyes and hugs, the journey home for me lasted all of five minutes because I got stuck at the light at Costco. Of course.

And so instead of a home bar, I now have a home spa. If you want to get together, meet me at the Four Seasons. It’s a lot more luxurious than a casual pitcher of beer at a local watering hole, and with it comes a much higher price tag (see the use of the word “indulgent” above), but there’s no hangover, necessarily, and you can leave feeling better than you did before.

Disclosure: The Four Seasons Westlake provided us with rooms and the luxury spa suite and food during our stay. Opinions are my own. 

See also Staycation All I Ever Wanted