L.A. Getaway: A Pasadena Staycation
Everyone who’s ready for a three day weekend say “aye.”
I!
My first two weeks of school have already flown by and while I am stoked to learn about all of the fascinating research going on in nutrition right now, I must say, I’m also a little overwhelmed. Grad school is no joke.
I knew my program was going to be challenging, so right before school started, my little family and I took a short trip to Pasadena for a weekend staycation at the beautiful Langham Huntington, Pasadena Resort.
The Langham recently introduced some new wellness offerings and naturally I jumped at the opportunity to try them out. All this time, I’d been living in Los Angeles and I had no idea this little piece of paradise was sitting right outside the city.
I started off my Pasadena staycation on a Friday afternoon with a hot stone massage at the Langham’s Chuan Spa.
The experience began with a questionnaire to determine which life element I was channeling that day, and revealed that “Earth” was most fitting.
Apparently, the Earth element corresponds with people who enjoy late summer, early mornings, and the color yellow. Check, check, check.
Using this criteria, the therapist chose oils and herbs that would help enhance my mood.
The massage was absolutely fabulous and I left feeling energized and focused — ready for a great weekend with my boys.
Meanwhile, back in the hotel room…
Mr. Chow was having a spa day of sorts as well.
Saturday morning, we kicked off the day with a high-energy cardio tennis class with the resident trainer, Chris of Ojakian Tennis.
I play tennis occasionally, very casually — in other words, not well — but had never taken a professional lesson before.
I figured the session would mostly include instruction, with a minor emphasis on exercise. I was wrong.
From the second the hour long class started, we were on our feet, bouncing around, running from side to side, and darting for balls. My heart rate was through the roof and I was sweating like crazy in the first ten minutes.
While Chris did provide a few pointers, the goal of the class was to get a great aerobic workout and have fun doing it. Ending up with a slightly better swing was an added bonus.
When I checked my Fitbit at the end, I’d torched over 600 calories — about 200 to 300 more than you’d burn during an average hour long match of singles or doubles.
If you get the chance, you should definitely try a cardio tennis class — it’s one of the best workouts I’ve had in a while.
Suffice to say, we spent the rest of the day lounging and refueling.
There are several great restaurants at the Langham, but we spent most of our time enjoying the spread in their Club Lounge. For a small fee, you get access to this room that overlooks the gorgeous property and provides delicious meals and drinks all day — hooray for 24/7 Rosé!
For lunch, we ventured into town to try out the popular Italian sandwich shop, Porta Via.
Their massive sandwich made with organic roasted turkey breast and whole grain bread definitely lived up to the hype of being both healthy and scrumptious.
On Sunday, we decided to try out another alternative exercise class, a Downtown Bike Tour.
Again, I totally underestimated the exertion this activity would require.
While part of the tour took us through the peaceful, tree-lined streets of Pasadena’s upscale neighborhoods, the other part included intense up-hill climbs through busy city streets.
Helmets are a must and athletic shoes and gear would have been a better choice than ripped denim, my Rebecca Minkoff crossbody bag, and gladiator sandals. I guess I should have known when I was presented with a mountain bike instead of a beach cruiser!
We made it out alive, albeit sweaty, and I was glad once again to have gotten a good workout instead of a gimmicky tour.
The weekend was exactly what I needed to recharge my batteries before the long semester ahead. All three of us had a blast, and I really appreciated the dog-friendly environment the hotel provided.
Mr. Chow was sad for the staycation to end, and so was I.
If you’re an L.A. local looking to try something new, and have already done the whole Santa Barbara/Palm Springs thing, I highly recommend you make Pasadena (and specifically the Langham) your next LA getaway destination.
Wishing everyone a happy, safe Labor Day!
P.S. Since it’s your last weekend to wear white, you’d better get your white romper fix in stat…
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Anh says:
Whitney, this was a seriously amusing post – I loved it! Thanks for sharing. It was fun and uplifting reading the story and viewing the photos from your Pasadena staycation. Mr. Chow looks extremely adorable in the included shots! Of course, you and your man are no less charming. Well, you’ve convinced me. I’m going to try out the Langham soon! :) Glad you enjoyed your stay at this heavenly spot.
Whitney English says:
Thank you Ahn!! You’ll have to let me know if you do go and what you think! xo
Patti Cakes says:
What a great getaway! Love the duck pond and activities, especially burning calories on a bike while touring pretty neighborhoods! Thanks for sharing!
Jennifer King says:
Love this post! Totally LOVE your purse!! I stay away from white outfits due to I am always spilling something on my clothes or I lean against something!
Whitney English says:
Haha I have that problem too. These photos were BEFORE I ate anything that I could spill on myself :)
Jennifer @ mindbodybride.com says:
So glad you had a good time! Such a fun post xo
Whitney English says:
Thanks girl! xo
Chanel | Cultural Xplorer says:
I love staycations (and it seems like Mr. Chow did too!) You gave me some great ideas for things to do when I visit LA again in the spring, such as eat at Porta Via! Yum :D
Chanel | Cultural Xplorer says:
* Pasadena
Whitney English says:
Spring is a great time to come! You’ll have to let me know of any cool new spots you find!