Produced by Virtuoso with Hilton Luxury Brands

August 15, 2025

Elevated experiences at LXR Hotels & Resorts properties across the globe include coastal cooking classes, hot-air balloon rides, and more.

We love a hotel with an incredible view, a lounge-all-day pool area, and a marquee restaurant worth coming back to every night, but these days, what elevates a luxury property from good to great is an authentic connection to its surroundings. To cater to the growing number of travelers craving genuine, rooted-in-a-destination experiences, LXR Hotels & Resorts launched its new Pursuit of Adventure program, a collection of experiences designed to showcase an area’s local culture, cuisine, and natural landscapes.

The program debuted earlier this year across many of its 16 properties around the globe. In the U.S., Sonoran hikes and San Diego surf sessions highlight just a few of the live-like-a-local offerings – here’s where to check in to pair poolside bliss with a little adventure.

Taking advantage of Beach Village’s oceanfront views. Hilton Luxury Brands

Shore House and Beach Village at The Del 

Coronado Island’s beaches, laid-back pace, and year-round pleasant weather have made it a beloved San Diego retreat for well over a century. Its grande dame is the 938-room Hotel del Coronado – affectionately known as “The Del” by locals – which has attracted presidents, royalty, and celebrities since it opened in 1888. Newer additions to The Del’s beachfront stretch include the 75-room Shore House and 78-room Beach Village, a pair of LXR Hotels & Resorts properties tucked into their own intimate oceanfront enclaves.    

Start the day with adventure: Guests can join a sunrise yoga class on the beach, hop on a cruiser for a pedal on the 24-mile Bayshore Bikeway, or head to the waves for a lesson at the on-site Jamie O’Brien Surf School. Instructors offer solo or group sessions on Coronado Beach’s gentle waves – it’s a popular break for beginners and kids.  

Other experiences include San Diego Bay sailing excursions, historical tours of The Del, and culinary classes taught by a rotating lineup of resort chefs, covering everything from ceviche to handmade tortillas. Guests can even make their own souvenir during a local-instructor-led art or photography lesson on the beach. Virtuoso travelers receive a $100 dining credit.

Grab a cocktail and watch the sunset from Oceana Santa Monica’s rooftop lounge.Hilton Luxury Brands

Oceana Santa Monica 

The 70-room Oceana Santa Monica embodies Southern California’s easygoing, wellness-centered ethos: Bright guest rooms overlook the beach across the street, guests sporting athleisure sip cold-pressed juices after yoga class, and loaner bikes rest near the entrance for spontaneous rides down to the Santa Monica Pier, five minutes away.  

During their stay, guests can lean heavily into wellness with beachfront yoga classes and curated wellness consultations, while exploring culinary and cultural experiences too. And soon, guests can sample fresh ingredients at the hotel’s upcoming restaurant, La Monique. Start off your evening with golden-hour cocktails on the rooftop at Sunset Terrace, or mingle over drinks at Veranda, the lively poolside spot known for its inviting firepits and live music. Virtuoso travelers receive a $100 dining credit.

A post-adventure respite at the Arizona Biltmore. Hilton Luxury Brands

Arizona Biltmore 

Beyond its abundant sunshine and cacti-studded landscapes, Phoenix draws travelers to desert trails, lush wineries, and local cultural experiences. The 701-room Arizona Biltmore serves as a storied launchpad for it all, with new Pursuit of Adventure activities showcasing some of the state’s most alluring features, from the Sonoran Desert (best seen from a hot-air balloon) to the Four Peaks Wilderness (one of the Southwest’s top spots for stargazing and a popular off-roading destination).  

Back at the expansive 39-acre resort, guests can learn about the Biltmore’s nearly 100-year history during a guided architectural tour. Designed by Albert Chase McArthur, who was deeply influenced by Frank Lloyd Wright, the Phoenix landmark opened in 1929 and quickly became a magnet for Hollywood’s elite, who came for a dose of glamour in the middle of the desert. The hotel underwent a major refresh in 2023, but its classic details remain, from its geometric concrete-block facade to its massive gold-leaf ceiling in the Aztec Room event space – only the one at the Taj Mahal is larger.   

Desert diversions complete, the Pursuit of Adventure programming shifts to the Biltmore’s new 28,000-square-foot Tierra Luna Spa and Sol Garden, where custom, locally inspired wellness experiences include astrology readings and massages infused with endemic herbs and botanicals. The only logical next step is to decide which of the resort’s seven pools to post up by, from family-friendly Paradise with its 65-foot water slide to the adults-only Saguaro or the iconic Catalina (a favorite of past guest Marilyn Monroe), named for its blue-and-yellow tiles crafted on California’s Catalina Island. Virtuoso travelers receive a $100 resort credit.