Catalina Kitchen in Rancho Palos Verdes

As we walked into at the Terranea resort, Los Angeles only cliff-top, ocean front resort, we commented on the views.  The resort offers 270-degree views of the rocky coastline, secluded coves and Catalina Island.  With four restaurants to choose from and a Discovery Trail along the bluffs, its a great daycation getaway.

We ate dinner at Catalina Kitchen near the resort's main pool.  It's very family friendly with a kid-size buffet table serving veggies and dip, fresh fruit, pizzas, mac-n-cheese, pasta with tomato sauce and fries. While our five year old filled her plate, we started with two glasses of their homemade Sangria and a mezza platter of hummus, tabbouleh (so fresh, I just kept spooning it into my mouth), ganoush, coriander and toasted pita triangles.  The three beet salad was heavenly.

All their steaks and chops are served with a homemade steak sauce, peppercorn or Bearnaise sauce.  The fresh fish, pastas and gourmet flatbreads are some of the most popular dishes served.

We discovered the resort's signature restaurant, mar'sel (Spanish for "sea" and French for "salt") for our next visit. This romantic oceanfront dining serves fresh contemporary Californian cuisine. Many of the herbs and produce are grown in tidy gardens behind the restaurant.

A staff member shared with us that the resort offers a Tide Pool Club for non-hotel guests.  For a fee, children ages 4 -12, between the hours of 6 to 10 pm, can play on computers, watch movies, go on scavenger hunts and have dinner. It's a great babysitter alternative. Parents can stroll along the bluff, enjoy a romantic dinner and sit by the fire-pits to watch the sunset.  There is a free parking in a small lot nearby, otherwise the self and valet parking are $20 and up.

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If you are too tired to drive home, the rooms are gorgeous.  Most offer ocean views and balconies. The beds are so comfortable, that you will want to come back again.  For reservations, go to http://www.terranea.com/.

Catalina Kitchen - 100 Terranea Way, Rancho Palos Verdes, (310) 265-2800.