Welk Resort San Diego

Built by bandleader Lawrence Welk in the 1960s, the resort is a sprawling 570-room property with clusters of villas set among a scenic tree-lined landscape surrounded by rocky hills. The massive grounds cover 450 acres, requiring the staff to drive around on golf carts, constantly ferrying guests from one place to another. Terra-cotta tiles, rock walls, and exposed wood feature prominently in the buildings, befitting the mountainous California setting, with walls of picture windows to enjoy the view. The earth-tone heavy interiors have leaf-patterned carpets (fading badly in some areas) and exposed wood-beamed ceilings with furniture as immovable as the hills outside.

North of downtown Escondido, The Welk Resort San Diego is within a short driving distance of many attractions in Southern California, but not within walking distance of anything. Escondido, a 12-minute drive away, is notable for its wineries, casinos, and mountain views. Just outside of town, and 25 minutes from the hotel, is the San Diego Zoo Safari Park -- a popular tourist destination and endangered species research facility rolled into one. Palomar Mountain State Park, which houses the Palomar Observatory and its 200-inch Hale telescope, is an hour's drive. It's a 30 to 40-minute drive west to the Pacific coast, pretty beaches, and Legoland in Carlsbad. Expect a 40 to 55-minute drive to San Diego.

The condo-style villas are divided into three distinct areas -- Resort Villas (286 units), Villas on the Greens (146 units), and Mountain Villas (80 Units). All of them are large (up to 1,400 square feet) and include either one or two bedrooms as well as full kitchens, dining areas, living rooms, and private balconies or patios. The contemporary decor has touches that echo the mountain villa setting, such as stone floors and exposed beams -- and some have sections of rock walls/shelves -- but the patterned carpets and earth-toned color scheme could be found in any hotel of this caliber. The bathrooms are highly varied in decor, from wallpaper to tile, but all are clean and modern. Kitchens have ample cabinet space, dishwashers, microwaves, stoves, refrigerators, and washer/dryers.

The fun features at the Welk Resort are centered around five recreation centers, each of which has at least one pool (there are eight pools in all), a hot tub, and numerous games such as billiards and ping-pong. Some of the rec centers resemble small water parks with multiple pools and waterslides. Others are geared towards adults with spas, saunas, adult-only pools, and fitness centers. Huge fire pits provide ambiance and places to gather for drinks outside. There's even a catch-and-release fishing pond.

The Welk theater is open to the public, and hosts regular Broadway musicals, comedians, illusionists, and other live entertainment. It has an attached museum devoted to displaying memorabilia from none other than Lawrence Welk. For dining, the Canyon Grille restaurant serves standard American fare with some California influence (meatloaf, surf and turf, breakfast burritos), and there's also a Pizza Hut Express as well as a snack shop farther out on the resort grounds. For guests who would like to prepare their own meals, a convenience store carries groceries, and there are barbecue grills and picnic areas. The two 18-hole golf courses, originally built in 1964, offer ponds and fairways lined with oak trees, which contrast with the rugged mountain landscape.