I am not only one who has this idea. As I turn to walk back into lobby, I am greeted by an entire team of professional basketball players. Purple and gold Los Angeles Lakers jerseys file by me as they gather for bus for their practice session at new sports pavilion at University of San Diego. Wow, are they tall!

Estancia has 210 ranch-style rooms . . .

I can’t wait to see what guest rooms are like. There are 210 ranch-style rooms with every amenity of luxury. My room has a braided rug with egg shell painted walls. The golden chiffon curtains drape full length windows overlooking a Spanish courtyard and fountain. An autumn colored chair in corner with a leather caramel ottoman awaits relaxation with a good book. The black cabinet that houses television looks like a period piece from rancher’s living room. The bed is warm and inviting with a white hounds tooth duvet and a horse blanket of grey and gold draped over side. The gold borders around room are painted with rich gold fleur de lis designs. The bed pillows are green, gold, and cream plaid; small throw pillows were a matching green and red striped. The linens are a 316 count Turkish cotton. I love sheets that are so soft and comforting that they tease you into cuddling and taking a nap.

The wicker waste paper basket accents simple oak desk; dresser in entry way is made of a rich cherry. A dark wrought iron floor lamp lights corner of room casting a spell of yesteryear. The door to my room is a dark chocolate wood with slats resembling a stable door. Every detail of design dares me to enjoy an adventure from golden era of California, with today’s aura.

The bathroom is simple and refreshing. The shower curtain is a soft, luxurious, white terry cloth, indulging my need to be pampered. The shower head is oversized and it feels like I am standing beneath a fresh spring-fed waterfall during a summer rain. The white free-standing sink gives room an open and unique décor. But bath products adorning sink say it all. The shampoo is a Sorrento lemon scent that smells like it came right from ranch’s lemon orchard. The body lotion is smooth and silky with fragrance of juniper, as refreshing as a walk in woods. The shower gel is perfumed with an invigorating citrus scent. If their bath products are this extraordinary, I can’t wait to discover what their spa is like.

How can spa be even more serene and relaxing than my room and beautiful grounds? The truth is that my spa adventure begins moment I step onto grounds. Every where I look I see sprawling gardens of eucalyptus, lavender, and citrus trees permeating air with opulent fragrances. Only real spa surpasses this sensual garden of Eden — another grand adventure greeting me!

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By Janice Wilson, Jetsetters Magazine golf and tennis Correspondent – Visit www.jetsettersmagazine.com

Local game includes estate venison.

Dining at Dromoland’s Earl of Thomond Restaurant is an adventure in culinary elegant delights (with harpist setting romantic tone); quality of food and service is impeccable — 5 stars! With all deer running loose in neighborhood, but of course venison is one of my six courses, but I am assured by John Hehir, Sales Manager of castle, that I can not just go out and poach king’s deer, but rather hunt clubs supply game for table. It is noticeable that venison I was fortunate to indulge in was grass fed, and tenderness needed no knave’s knife. The six course dinner winds down after round after round of fine wine (the castle has its own sommelier) from castle’s extensive wine cellar (check out vintage cognacs and ports), and desserts should be considered aperitifs. Then it is off to Cocktail Bar for more lies, libels, and legerdemain (You can not be in Ireland unless you are a ribald raconteur!).

Formerly Castle Library, Cocktail Bar at top of Main Gallery, now provides a cozy setting for pleasures of a less literary nature, unless string of libations loosen up lengua franca, and then of course that Irish poet in you sets tongue loose. The bar is open from 10:30 a.m. and I think they close whenever. A log burns in fireplace; candles are lit in evening. I sip a Jameson Irish whiskey on rocks as a beautiful spun gold Rapunzel-haired Irish balladeer sings and strums a guitar in background as if she were a soundtrack to a Gothic romance novel.

Other dining options at castle include Fig Tree Restaurant (at Golf and Country Club), offering a wonderful variety of dining, from 12 noon to 10 p.m. The menu and presentation have been created for more informal dining, in contrast to award-winning Earl of Thomond Restaurant. For guests preferring privacy and comfort of their room or suite, full complement of restaurant menus is offered. Room service is available from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. A reduced night menu is available from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m.

I don’t have to drop drawbridge to get to my luxury deluxe room overlooking grounds; nearby is 300-year-old stone Walled Garden that is used for special events, such as weddings. The romantic sleeping rooms are designed in three styles: standard, deluxe, and state (suite) rooms, and all are ensuite with TV, direct dial telephones, iron, ironing board, hairdryers, and trouser press. I look for ironing board, and it drops down off side of armoire. Other room amenities include a modem jack, laundry services, room service, turn down service, and safe deposit box. The best amenity is box of Dromoland chocolates on polished hardwood night desk!

The rooms in entire castle complex are spread out over several buildings. The Caste Keep itself incorporates public rooms, game rooms, and Earl of Thomond Restaurant, Cocktail Bar, Hotel Reception, and 27 bedrooms (This is where I stayed.). The 19th century Queen Anne Court incorporates 28 bedrooms, and although I didn't get to see them because they were occupied, I hear that they are ultra romantic rooms overlooking an enclosed courtyard. The Moriarty Wing incorporates 24 bedrooms. The Links Rooms have 16 bedrooms. The Orchard Wood development area has 13 private golf course houses.

The 300-year-old Walled Garden was Castle's original entrance.

The Walled Garden is like a Renaissance painting on living display. What could be more romantic than perfume of spring flowers blooming? Imagine, over three centuries of interludes! Everywhere I look, even out my deluxe room window, I see greenery.

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By Kriss Hammond, Editor, Jetsetters Magazine – visit Jetsetters Magazine at www.jetsettersmagazine.com