The Golden Door

Tucked away in the hills of San Marcos, The Golden Door is truly a world of its own. A Japanese-inspired oasis of healing and simplicity, it manages to feel both serene and intimate—like a hidden wellness temple where everyone knows your name. Despite the luxury price tag, there’s nothing flashy or performative about it. The service is five stars and beyond, yet everything is offered with warmth and genuine care. It’s rare to find a place that offers this kind of deep hospitality while also fostering introspection, healing, and total nervous system reset.

Before I even get to the movement classes and spa offerings, I have to start with the food. It’s unreal. Most of the produce is harvested daily from their on-site organic farm. The garden is lush and magical, and guests are invited to tour it—learning about the seasonality of food, tasting herbs, and even feeding the chickens. Chef Greg, in addition to working his kitchen magic, also gives the most incredible bee tour which is a must if you want to understand the vital role of pollinators (and probably walk away with a whole new reverence for nature).

I’ve been lucky enough to go to The Golden Door each year for the past three years with my bestie, and it’s been a total game changer in my life. I’m naturally an early riser and I look forward to my 5am coffee and gluten-free muffins waiting in the Wisteria Lounge before our morning hike (usually starting at 6am). The property includes 600 acres of trails, and my favorite hike—called Roadrunner—winds through citrus, avocado, and pomegranate groves. After the hike, breakfast is delivered to your room (yes, it’s as dreamy as it sounds), and you get to select your meals for the rest of the day using a personalized tray card. It’s one of my favorite rituals—choosing what nourishing food will carry me through the next 24 hours.  And The Golden Door is so fabulous at honoring any dietary restrictions as well as special requests (whether it’s extra avocado with meals, afternoon trail mix or an extra homemade ginger cookie for dessert)!

The mornings flow into Tai Chi, yoga, or strength classes. One of the most memorable experiences was wall yoga—it pushed me out of my comfort zone and helped me connect more deeply to both my body and my breath. All of the instructors are deeply skilled and bring such presence. Even after years of practice, I always leave with new tips and posture corrections that help me embody alignment a little better.

The week is filled with beautiful offerings. Daily in-room massages, facials, personal training sessions, herbal wraps, manicures and pedicures. There are also mind-body classes like forest bathing, labyrinth walks (there’s a stunning Chartres-style labyrinth on property), Tarot, and astrology. As someone who’s detail-oriented and sensitive to energy, I can honestly say The Golden Door gets everything right. You’re not just a guest—you’re cared for, held, and invited to grow. They even have oncology-trained massage therapists, which was a key consideration for me. Be sure to request one if you’re navigating treatment or recovery.

Each visit has left me feeling more grounded, grateful, open-hearted, and inspired. The experience has deepened my friendship with my bestie, and it’s also brought me back to myself in powerful ways. Whether you’re seeking restoration, spiritual alignment, or just a deep breath away from everyday life, I can’t recommend The Golden Door enough.

I’ll share more in a future post—there’s too much magic to fit into one. But for now, I hope this gives you a little window into a place that has become a truly healing part of my journey.