Catamaran Resort Hotel & Spa

Groups arriving at Catamaran Resort Hotel & Spa enter a 14-acre paradise of beach and bay, tropical birds, koi-filled ponds, 100 types of palm trees, 30 varieties of hibiscus, and a museum’s worth of Pacific island art. The atrium lobby holds a 15-foot waterfall and dugout canoe, and tiki torches light the pathways after dark. While the setting may conjure far-off Hawaii, Tahiti, and even Bali, the property rests on the supremely accessible shores of Mission Bay, San Diego’s legendary aquatic playground.

A 14-story tower and eight bilevel buildings harbor the 313 accommodations. All feature balconies or patios with garden or bay views, many with a backdrop of ocean beyond. Views from the tower stretch from La Jolla’s coastline to the islands off Mexico’s coast. Similarly, the 14 rooms for meetings provide balconies and views of the bay—plus 20,000 square feet of contiguous space for gatherings of up to 450 attendees.

Meanwhile, the signature restaurant, The Atoll, presents California cuisine indoors and out by the water, a champagne brunch with Hawaiian dancers on Sunday, and a seasonal luau on Friday nights. Moray’s, the adjoining lounge, entertains with more casual fare, live music, and libations every night of the week. Further incentives start with healing and relaxation treatments at the spa, the full gamut of water sports, and cruises aboard the stern-wheelers William D. Evans and Bahia Belle.