Review: The Perfect Terranea Resort Itinerary for Families

I have three words of advice for parents traveling with their baby or toddler: Bring the grandparents.

If grandparents are not in the picture, any other willing, breathing, helpful human besides the primary caregivers will do the trick.

Before having a child 15 months ago, I didn’t realize how essential it is to have an extra pair of hands during a trip (ideally, hands that your child knows and likes). Babies, you see, require 24-hour supervision. Even — er, especially — on vacation. 

But traveling with a multigenerational group comes with its own considerations: What destination can satisfy the needs and desires of individuals in their 70s, 30s and single-digit years? And where could we go on our last-minute getaway that would avoid both flying and driving long distances.

For my family, Terranea Resort in quiet Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif., was the perfect local fit.

Here, at the sprawling Mediterranean-inspired oceanside resort, my parents and I found things to do together and apart that created memories we’ll always remember.

For the first time since our child was born, my husband and I spent a full afternoon together — not working or making decisions, but having fun in nature. And my parents got to do their favorite activity: bond with their grandchild, only this time in a gorgeous, bunny-filled setting that filled my toddler with wonder and joy.

Terranea is dynamic enough to satisfy all kinds of clients and trip purposes, but these are the best restaurants, room types and activities for a multigenerational family.

Where to Sleep: Three-Bedroom Casitas

Terranea offers a whopping 582 guestrooms and suites, and most of them have expansive ocean views. With the prized view being almost a guarantee, choosing a guestroom really becomes about picking the size and arrangement that most meets your clients’ needs.

Before having kids, I never realized how precious a baby’s sleep schedule is — and how a kid who refuses to nap and sleep can quickly wreak havoc on vacation plans. For our family, things go best when our toddler has her own private space that we can close off with a door: This means we don’t have to all go to sleep at her early bedtime, and we don't wake her throughout the night or during naps. 

Terranea's two- and three-bedroom Ocean View and Ocean Side casitas are perfect for this setup. These standalone bilevel accommodations easily house a big group, and some configurations include connecting rooms.

My family of five was incredibly comfortable in our 2,040-square-foot, three-room setup that featured one standalone guestroom for the grandparents and two connecting rooms for me, my husband and our child. The casita was complete with a living room, a kitchen, a dining area and a laundry room.

The setup ensured we all got a great night’s rest. Further contributing to our sleep comfort were the large cozy beds and blackout curtains — the latter of which had the tall task of ensuring no light peeked through our floor-to-ceiling windowed doors that looked out to the ocean. 

Pushing aside the curtains every morning and seeing a couple rabbits staring back at us was a treat, especially for my toddler, who realized her stuffed bunnies (Rosa, Conejo and Brownie) were modeled after real-life animals. She also loved to roll around the grass hill just outside our terrace, where we could watch her while sipping coffee at our outdoor table.

Having a kitchen and dining table was also helpful because, as most parents know, when young kids need to eat, they actually needed to eat five minutes ago. Being able to have a few favorite snacks on hand (along with a place to store leftovers) helped prevent meltdowns, and the dining table meant we were able to enjoy a room service meal together.

Also contributing to the ease of our stay: Terranea provides a high chair and a pack-and-play upon request.

Where to Eat: Sea Beans

I have always loved Sea Beans cafe for a quick morning latte and a delicious afternoon ice cream sandwich, but this place is a lifeline for folks with kids — especially now that the eatery is doing fun food activations.

The coffee shop has a large assortment of ready-made items, which is perfect for both kids who can’t sit still for an hour and parents who need their early morning caffeine — stat. There are breakfast items for every preference, from vegan wraps, everything bagels and veggie quiches to ham-and-cheese croissants and bacon-filled burritos.

Sea Beans is also creating outdoor food stations that add even more options to the menu. During my stay, the hotel set up a waffle station where chefs prepared oversize, pillowy waffles to order. Kids loved to load up their waffles themselves with the provided toppings, which range from healthy (strawberries and blueberries) to decadent (rainbow sprinkles and chocolate sauce).

Where to Eat: Mar’sel

Mar’sel, the fine-dining option at Terranea, allows parents who haven’t had a date night in far, far too long (cough) to put their kiddo to bed, walk along the coast and transform themselves from bedraggled zombies to human beings who do things like take time for themselves and enjoy a fine meal — without worrying about a baby dropping silverware and food from her perch.

Looking down at the white tablecloth, fine wine and our dishes — a seasonal vegetable pasta and a branzino — then across to the dolphins flashing their fins in the ocean foreground, I paused and thought, “Who are we?” Truthfully, it had been far too long since my husband and I had treated ourselves to such a transportive and aesthetically beautiful meal; our evening at Mar’sel was an excellent reminder to make time for the finer things in life.

Where to Eat: Nelson’s at Terranea

Perhaps the most popular restaurant at the resort, Nelson’s is a staple of the surrounding community and the place to go for dining alongside South Bay locals. The venue features an indoor bar — and some folks will happily park here all evening — but don’t be fooled. There is ample outdoor seating here surrounded by ocean views, as well as plenty of grass for kiddos to roam before and after their meal.

The casual vibe is paired with an equally no-frills but satisfying menu, featuring an oversize Bavarian soft pretzel with mustard and cheese, a lobster roll, a burger, carne asada tacos and must-have ice cream sandwiches. (The strawberry variety is sandwiched between two perfectly salted and soft blondies, and I think about it often.)

This summer, a daily summer concert series (called Sound Series) is running adjacent to Nelson’s, so request a table near the stage if you fancy a side of live music.

Where to Eat: Catalina Kitchen Sunday Brunch Buffet

Most parents know what it’s like to make their toddler’s favorite meal, only to have it rejected. Like the rest of us, children prefer different things depending on their mood, but little ones can’t always express these desires, so parents need numerous options to satisfy their kiddo’s cravings (and meet their nutritional needs).

That’s why Terranea's Catalina Kitchen buffet is a genius dining option for families with youngsters. Instead of ordering multiple dishes (which is something we often do when eating out), we were able to give our toddler numerous yummy samples to satisfy her budding tastes‚— and even introduce her to some new foods.

Since closing during the pandemic, Catalina Kitchen recently reopened its buffet, and returning guests will find a range of options, from classics like an omelet bar, a cheese station and a pastry and donut station to special options including loads of fresh seafood and a seafood boil.

What to Do: The Resort Pool

The heartbeat of the resort is Terranea’s resort pool, the place where kids go to forget their parents when said parents are at the spa or kayaking. Besides the massive 5,000-square-foot pool itself — complete with cabanas, a splash pad and a 140-square-foot waterslide — there’s an area covered with Astro-Turf that provides lots of space and some lawn games, which my baby loved to explore when she wasn’t taking a dip with grandpa.

The pool dining offers big portions and casual fare like burgers and quesadillas, making this a great spot for an alfresco lunch, as well.

And the best part of the resort pool? It’s one of four watering holes at Terranea — meaning that adults looking for a boozy afternoon or self-care have three other options.

Older kids have plenty of activity choices — including the drop-off Tide Pool Kids Club for ages 4 to 10 — but an afternoon of strolling Terranea’s trails and lunching at the pool was the perfect low-key afternoon for my toddler and her grandparents.

What to Do: Kayaking, Archery and More at Beach Cove

If sitting in the sand is your thing, head to Terranea’s Beach Cove, where oversize chairs face the crashing waves, and guests climb the rocks to the cove. This is also the site of many active activities, from archery (set up right in the sand) to kayaking.

My husband and I tried out The Guided Kayak Tide Pool Adventure, during which we paddled about 2 miles east on the open ocean to Sacred Cove. Our local guide, Carson, told us the destination’s local nickname, Smuggler’s Cove, is so-called for the foreign ships that have stopped here to drop off prohibited goods. (Worry not: You’re much more likely to see local fishermen and tide pool treasures, as we did.)

Carson helped us land at the beach, where we explored the tide pools and enjoyed the fruits of his eagle eyes, from beautiful polka-dotted sea urchin shells to sea crabs and green sea glass.

On the journey back, we took another look at some of the sites Carson had pointed out on the way in, including the former Montessori preschool on the ocean and the hilltop winery that once belonged to a Japanese farmer for whom Terranea’s Bashi restaurant is named.

The architectural highlight of our tour was Wayfarers Chapel, designed by Lloyd Wright (son of Frank) and built completely of glass and stone.

When gearing up at Beach Cove, we’d seen dolphins, and on our return paddle, a seal appeared directly in front of us, its tail poking out of the water as though greeting us by handstand.

What to Do: The Spa at Terranea

At 50,000 square feet and featuring 25 treatment rooms, Terranea’s spa is the largest oceanside spa in Los Angeles. And perhaps no one deserves a spa treatment — or a leisurely lunch by the adults-only spa pool — more than a parent.

After kayaking, my husband and I donned our plush robes, enjoyed a healthy poolside lunch (including a sweet potato “toast” topped with avocado and egg), then prepared for our Terranea Therapeutics Massages. 
After choosing my essential oil and plopping myself on the perfectly firm massage bed, my therapist expertly alternated between a hard-hitting deep-tissue treatment and the kind of relaxing, smooth strokes that transported me into a deep state of restful relaxation (i.e., a nap). Pro tip: For an even higher dose of relaxation, try the new CBD Massage.

Rejuvenated after our afternoon alone together, my husband and I excitedly walked the ocean trail back to our casita. We couldn’t wait to tell our daughter about our day — and hear about hers, too.