Whole Life Magazine

October / November 2017

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S targazing is one of those activities that people have indulged in and loved since the beginning of time. e thrill of gazing up at an ink-black sky studded with the diamonds of stars makes one sparkling way to spend an evening. Des- erts, mountains, and coastal areas are all prime spots for viewing nighttime wonders where there is little light pollution. What could be better? Well, perhaps some delightful culinary experiences along with your sky watching. Casa Del Zorro Let's start in the Southern California Anza-Borrego desert, where Casa Del Zorro, an elegant resort with a surfeit of swim- ming pools – 26 – creates a blissful spot to stargaze. Spacious rooms and terri c landscaping across 42 desert acres make for a spectacular and tranquil retreat. One of the room packages in- cludes a telescope for stargazing. Along a quiet pebbled path by the main pool, a simple wooden sign points "Look Up." It's good advice: the 600,000-acre Anza-Borrego Desert State Park which surrounds the resort, and the small town of Borrego Springs it- self, is a designated Dark Sky Community. is means no bright lights to mar the clear desert skies. e resort's elegant classic dining room, the Butter eld Room, includes their wonderful sig- nature Kit Fox Salad: Boston Bibb lettuce with avocado, grape- fruit, strawberries, raspberries, dates, scallions, and pecans in a lovely citrus dressing. As a main course, the vegetarian Portobello Wellington is rich and earthy; the vegetarian lasagna is another delicious choice. Town of Julian Not far away in the small town of Julian, known for its apple orchards, there's a very special bed and breakfast, the cozy Ob- server's Inn. Here, the innkeepers provide a private observatory with research grade telescopes and a retractable roof. In winter months, knowledgeable co-owner and "star tours" guide Mike Leigh provides blankets for guests. Any time of year, there's some- thing wonderful to be viewed during the hour-plus gazing adven- ture, which changes nightly. It's an awe-inspiring evening for a limited number of guests and area visitors. Naturally, one dining experience not-to-be-missed here is the apple pie – we like the sugar-free, apple cider sweetened slices from Julian Pie Company. e locavore cuisine at the lovely Jeremy's on the Hill includes quinoa salad bowls, and their vegan/gluten-free tempeh 'Meat- loaf ' with sweet potato purée, braised red cabbage, house quinoa, and apple slaw. St rs in Your Your Your Eyes Where to Go for Premium Stargazing — with Some Out of is World Eats By Genie Davis Your Your Eyes St rs in in in October/November 2017 19

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