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Wellness Spa:
Rancho La Puerta

Rancho La Puerta, located an hour from San Diego on the Baja Peninsula in Tecate, Mexico is North America's legendary wellness and fitness retreat founded all the way back in 1940 by visionaries Deborah and Edmond Szekely. I had the good fortune of spending the last week there, and I want to tell you about this special place...

With 4,000 acres of mountains, meadows, landscaped gardens, and hiking trails, Rancho La Puerta offers a wide range of fitness classes, lectures, musical programming, and art workshops in an idyllic setting in the shadow of Mount Kuchumaa, a mountain long considered a place of healing and sacred to the Kumeyaay people, the original inhabitants of this part of the Baja Peninsula.

Rancho La Puerta seeks to "guide those who come towards a sane, well-balanced program of living. It is a place where one can step outside of one's normal life, pause and focus on one's health, spiritual well-being and physical fitness. Their myriad of offerings include healthy, delicious meals, evening concerts and lectures, and everything from pickleball to pilates, aerial yoga to aquafit, and sound healing to meditation and cooking classes--but one is just as welcome sitting at one of their many pools and listening to the birds or reading a book.

Last but not least is the feeling of community one gets at the Ranch. I am going home with a warm sense of connectedness and I know I have formed long lasting friendships as a result.

Rancho La Puerta is ranked #1 on the Travel + Leisure World's Best Awards 2024 list of International Spas. As you can imagine, this is not the cheapest vacation you will ever take. But watch for specials which they do run from time to time, and one can also go for part of a week rather than the full week...If you have a big birthday coming up and you decide to splurge, this just might be the ticket--I guarantee it will be memorable.

Amazing musicians Juan Pablo Andrade and Linda Chavez

Marc Scibilia

I really like the music of singer songwriter Marc Scibilia. From a long line of musicians (both his father and grandfather played music), Marc began playing the drums and writing songs at the age of six, trained in classical piano in high school and then also picked up the guitar around that same time.

After high school, his guidance counselor called him into the office, concerned that he had no plans for college. She said sarcastically "what are you doing to do for a living--move to Nashville and write songs for a living?! Well, here he is, Marc Scibilia, a number of years later. He dared follow his passion, and it took some time and a lot of practice and hard work but check him out now: manifesting the life he imagined for himself...

Here is a playlist of some of my favorites, original and covers:

"More Than This"

Here's To

She's Always a Woman" (Billy Joel)

This Land is Your Land (Woody Guthrie)

Clocks" (Cold Play)

Turmeric Shot Recipe

Click for the benefits of turmeric *photo courtesy Rancho La Puerta*

Photo courtesy Krisanapong *Detraphiphat/Getty Images*

This is the way I start my day at Rancho La Puerta--a shot (or two) of this immune boosting elixir. Not only does it taste delicious but I feel envigorated and like I am doing my body a huge favor by drinking it. It is what I miss most when I leave here but this year I am going to try and make it a ritual at home too...

TURMERIC IMMUNE BOOSTING SHOT
Kickstart your day with vitality and wellness. Here’s to a brighter, stronger you!
(makes four portions)

INGREDIENTS:
2 inches fresh ginger
1-inch unpeeled fresh turmeric or 1 tablespoon ground turmeric
1 large lemon, peeled
1 green apple, cut in quarters and seeded

DIRECTIONS:
*Place the ingredients in a cold press juicer or regular juicer and process. If you don’t have a juicer, you can use a blender, and strain with a cheese cloth.

1. If using ground turmeric*, be sure to add it after juicing the other ingredients.
2. Serve in a shot glass and enjoy with a pinch of pepper or cayenne.
3. During winter, you can drink it with ½ cup warm water and a teaspoon of honey.
* Turmeric stains surfaces and clothing so be careful!

Photo of the Week

I used the virtual tool of superimposing this painting on this bedroom wall…a perfect fit for the room, creating a serene, monochromatic vibe in this modern setting.

Charity of the Week:

About The Author

New York City based contemporary artist, Pam Smilow, began writing the creative lifestyle blog “things we love” in an effort to foster a sense of community during times of isolation and reflection. To read more about her and her art, visit her website and check out the essay written by Frank Matheis entitled The Sophisticated Innocence of Pam Smilow.