Fairmont Hotels: From city to country

Sometimes, in the journey of life, you need to look back, realize  how you got to where you are and know where you are headed. When we  experience unexpected discoveries in places much farther from home, we create new homes with memories that warm our hearts.  I usually rise before dawn most days when I am in San Francisco, known as the  “City by the Bay,” and sleep a few hours after the sun sets. Like the  backdrop of the “Mona Lisa” painting, the fog-drenched mornings simply beckon as I enjoy the cosmopolitan outdoors juxtaposed with the picturesque dramatic scenery of the coastal mountains and the watery channels of the San Francisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean.

 One begins to understand why Tony Bennett in 1961 crooned the famous song I Left My Heart in San Francisco. A hub of culture where luxurious and bohemian styles coexist together with attractions like no other, San Francisco is a destination where dreams are made. What is it about this fascinating city that makes it a favorite haven? Is it the cool, crisp weather that is conducive to romance or the synergy of the soul and the images in the mind that simply spell a geography of bliss?

I have spent several vacations in this sanctuary of creative energy and eclecticism but never have I fallen in love with San Francisco more than my most recent trip. Experiencing the city and the country through my host, the luxurious and historical Fairmont Hotels, has bestowed an invigorating kind of joy spent with significant friends who made the trip even more worthwhile. As my late dad Ting Dayrit often intimated, “It’s not just where you travel but, more importantly, with whom.”

In the 19th century, railroad barons and gold rush tycoons began to  gravitate towards this dynamic and prosperous city. Here, one address stands out with an elan and elegance that is the envy of many. Today, Nob Hill, popularly known as “Snob Hill,” maintains an illustrious aura with luxury hotels, stunning homes and well-manicured gardens. Among these extravagant edifices, one stands out as the fairest among the rest with its rich and distinctive heritage that allures many guests and visitors: The Fairmont San Francisco Hotel.

James Graham Fair, popularly referred to as Bonanza Jim, stumbled on one of the world’s largest silver mines in Nevada in 1870 and  purchased real estate at the crest of Nob Hill. The cable car was invented in 1871, which enticed wealthy residents to embark on a 350-foot journey uphill to create lavish palaces atop Nob Hill. Fair aspired to build a spectacular family home in this exclusive neighborhood but passed away before his dream was realized.

Tessie and Virginia Fair, daughters of James, fulfilled their father’s dream with the construction of this very first hotel atop the hill and, until today, despite the many challenges it faced in the past like the great earthquake of 1906, The Fairmont SFO has maintained its opulence and elegance. Celebrated architect Julia Morgan designed the Beaux-Arts style hotel, which celebrated the rebirth of the city. It was here in 1945 that delegates met to draft the charter of the United Nations. With its storied past, it has become even more beautiful than ever, timeless and priceless as well.

In 1941, Orson Welles directed the movie Citizen Kane, based on the life of publishing tycoon William Randolph Hearst. In 1958, Alfred Hitchcock filmed scenes here for his classic thriller Vertigo starring Jimmy Stewart and Kim Novak.

Many changes have taken place as the hotel continues its brand promise to cater to its guests’ passion and preferences. The Fairmont San Francisco and its five-star design team were responsible for this landmark restoration project, which bagged the much-coveted Interior Design Award from the International Property Awards. The Tonga Room & Hurricane Bar that has regaled guests with its tropical flare of Asian cuisine since 1945 underwent a $1 million restoration and its monumental Penthouse valued at $20 million has been revitalized as well. 

Worthy to note is the introduction of honey beehives in partnership with Marshall’s Farm, which installed the hives in the hotel’s 1,000-square-feet culinary garden that contains rosemary, thyme, oregano, basil, chives and cilantro. We sampled their honey during the time-honored high tea. While watching the sunset from our suite in the Fairmont, we sipped orange spritzer with champagne and admired the impressive monolithic Grace Cathedral, reportedly a replica of Notre Dame in Paris. 

My traveling companions Reesa Tesoro Guerrero and aunt Elizabeth Paterno and I decided to explore the city and, in the fashion of girls-just-wanna-have fun, went shopping at Macy’s, sampled the world’s spiciest burger at the Burger Bar, and tried the best dimsum and the most delicious pork buns in nearby Chinatown.

One of the highlights of this trip was our sumptuous dinner at Osso Steakhouse, located next to the Masonic Auditorium just a few blocks from the Fairmont. Over hearty conversations on life, love and laughter, we celebrated as the sommelier incessantly poured the finest Chateau Ausone red wine, which went perfectly well with caviar with all the condiments and the pièce-de-résistance,  the three-inch Bone-in New York Empire Steak Building cut, which was the juiciest, most perfectly marbled beef that has ever been set before you. Under the stunning glow of the full moon that seemed to cast an enchanted spell over the Nob Hill landscape, we walked around the square within the vicinity of our hotel.  It was simply magical, an evening one can never forget. A moment you wish could be frozen in time.

From the Fairmont in the city of San Francisco, our gregarious trio drove away from the hustle and bustle of the dynamic city en route to the rustic ambience of the country — The Fairmont Sonoma and Mission Inn & Spa.

Known as the Valley of the Moon, Sonoma is a valley of escape and wonder. It offers unrivaled experiences for sightseeing, wine tasting and soaking in its revered hot springs. The true treasure of Sonoma’s wine country is the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa, recently rated among Travel & Leisure’s top 25 spas. The elegant Spanish Mission–style inn  boasts an enviable location atop an ancient thermal mineral spring, flowing from 1,100 feet below and historically revered by Native American tribes for its healing power.

 With a million dollar expansion, guests can now enjoy 60 luxurious new suites, a new 40,000-square-foot spa, redesigned restaurant and new outdoor living spaces, gardens and fountains.

I also had the pleasure of wading in heated salt water pools and sampling the bathing ritual that starts with the grape seed exfoliation shower; then relaxing in the heated pools, steam and sauna baths; and finally, the cool shower using its signature apricot-cream shower gel, shampoo and conditioner that is truly refreshing. Try its luxurious fango volcanic ash bath to a pressure-point massage performed on our flotation table. It also offers a tension-relieving hot and cold therapeutic massage, a soothing salicylic mud footbath and more.

 Today, the resort places guests in the heart of Sonoma’s wine country with modern features including the Willow Stream Spa, 18-hole Sonoma Golf Course and a Michelin-awarded restaurant. 

The Fairmont Hotels & Resorts promise luxurious accommodations, unparalleled properties that provide you with an authentic reflection of each location’s energy, culture and history. The hotel chain recently introduced its stunning properties in Ukraine, India and our very own Makati in the Philippines.

Realizing the rich history of the Fairmont hotels in SFO and Sonoma makes one appreciate these properties much more as we look forward to dynamic innovations for the future where moments will turn into precious memories.

On our way back home on the Cathay Pacific plane, I chose from a variety of films shot in San Francisco like Mrs. Doubtfire, Vertigo, Sister Act, Basic Instinct and Citizen Kane. I looked down on this fascinating city and my heart beat faster than usual. Tony Bennett’s famous song kept reverberating in my senses. From my very comfortable window seat, I watched the setting sun and smiled with a certainty that it would not take long to return, for more reasons than one.

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Cathay Pacific flies to San Francisco via Hong Kong twice a day. For reservations, call 757-0888 or log on to www.cathaypacific.com. For more information on Fairmont Hotels, please log on to www.fairmont.com.

Email the author at miladay.star@gmail.com.