Pelican Hill Resort050

To say that the folks at Pelican Hill Resort have thought of everything would be a vast understatement.

The smallest rooms are bungalows the size of small apartments, most with large ocean view terraces (even ocean view bathtubs!), gas fireplaces, high-tech entertainment centers, and every amenity a traveling family could need. Kids are even greeted with a big stuffed pelican on the pillow.

Families wanting more space can rent a villa with two, three, or four bedrooms, private garage, and 24-hour butler service - also with spacious terraces and ocean views. At holiday time, villas can be booked pre-decorated, with a tree awaiting extended family bearing gifts.

"Spacious" and "ocean view" are the two terms that come to mind the most while enjoying Pelican Hill. The resort occupies 500 acres of ocean view hilltop, with a world class golf course and easy beach access. Travel between bungalows, villas, the lobby and pool areas, the restaurants, and the beach is done by shuttle, and shuttles arrive by request on a moment's notice.

Speaking of the pool, the Coliseum Pool is the largest round pool in the world (did we mention spacious?), heated to 82 degrees year round, and bedecked with 1.1 million hand-cut glass mosaic tiles. And yes, the pool and the nearby jacuzzi both have ocean views.

A little added luxury is available at the pool in the form of the Cabana Experience; pool staff can set up one of 18 spacious cabanas for full or half-day use. Each private cabana includes a mini fridge stocked with complimentary drinks; a Bose stereo system; a flat screen HD TV; a ceiling fan and recessed lighting; small dining table; towels and sunscreen; and two lounge chairs. Oh, and a spectacular sunset view. Servers are at one's beck and call, without being intrusive in the least.

Families heading for the beach are given more than a lift to Crystal Cove State Beach below; kids are equipped with a bag of beach toys, and parents are handed a bag with towels, sunscreen, and other necessities one needn't pack from home. Shuttles leave on the hour, and Crystal Cove is a fabulous spot to catch the sunset - particularly from the Beachcomber Restaurant. This place may look like a shack, but the food is fantastic, and in high season reservations are a must. The concierge can take care of this, of course, helping to avoid an up-to-three-hour wait.

The concierge can also provide recommendations regarding Crystal Cove's many hiking trails. Every morning, the hotel hosts its own guided nature walk called the Spa's Daily Beach Hike, which is great for families with kids ages nine and up who like to hike. We recommend the trail that goes right by the Shake Shack, which serves up 24 varieties of yummy milkshakes.

If the weather doesn't inspire outdoor treks, never fear - umbrellas appear at every door the moment rain threatens, and luscious robes abound. Luscious also describes the spa - a piece of heaven at the property's center. Parents can indulge in a full array of spa treatments amidst relaxing jacuzzis, steam baths, saunas, etc.

While adults have their every whim catered to in the spa, teens can step out on excursions to the beach or Fashion Island with the Adventure Program, and younger kids can indulge in a terrific romp with the upbeat and creative staff at Camp Pelican. This camp earns its name, in no way resembling "child care" and in every way exemplifying a fun day at a terrific camp. The clubhouse is bright and inspiring with crafts, games, and an educational area as well as access to a private play area and splash fountain, and trips to the pool. Included in a half or whole day at Camp Pelican is lunch and even a trip for a decadent, home-made gelato at the Cafe.

Not to focus on dessert before the meal, but that Gelato Cafe is worth the trip all on its own, with mouth-watering flavors and an in-house recipe that puts other ice cream to shame. As far as the meals between trips to the gelato counter, the resort has three main restaurants. Coliseum Grill is the one that best caters to families with young children, offering a "young person's" $10 menu of all-you-can eat pizza, pasta, and gelato, as well as other kid classics like burgers, chicken strips, etc... Young diners are greeted not just with crayons and wikistix, but also with a wagon full of toys to chase away the "where's my food?" blues. Adult selections don't disappoint, with a daily selection of wonderful flavors. The restaurant overlooks the enormous Coliseum Pool and - of course - the ocean.

The other restaurants are a little more adult in focus - the sports bar style Pelican Grill and the signature gourmet Italian, Andrea's. The latter, while it doesn't have a children's menu, can accommodate young diners with a fine pallet; we enjoyed an astonishingly memorable Caesar salad there, and the vast open wine list is heaven for a parent wanting "just a glass." Also worthy of note are the chef's handmade pastas, created in the restaurant's unique Pasta Kitchen

What makes this resort truly stand out, however, is the staff, whose "Yes we can!" attitude is unflappable. Momentary glitches are treated as an opportunity to excel, leaving guests even happier than they were before, and every employee appears to take a genuine interest in every visitor's experience.

Almost all of Pelican Hill's features can be enjoyed without staying overnight (with the exception of the pool); the option of spending an afternoon indulging in massage and a gourmet lunch while kids have fun at Camp Pelican is definitely worth the hour's drive from LA. For OC locals, just stopping in for tea by the fire in the Great Room is a real treat; often live music is featured, and on December weekends Santa Claus is a regular visitor. Other features that can be experienced without an overnight stay include wellness programs, culinary events, and a fall Italian Fiesta to celebrate the olive harvest.