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MAIN: PHOTO COURTESY OF RANCHO LA PUERTA Reset at the Ranch T HIS YEAR, I WAS DETERMINED TO reset my often frenetic life, resolved to recommit to health, wellness, exercise, and diet (and maybe lose a few pounds along the way). What I also needed was a "getaway with the girls," longtime friends who share my goals and with whom I always have fun. We decided to book a three-day trip to Rancho La Puerta, the storied destination, fitness resort, and spa just across the border in Tecate, Mexico, founded by Edmond and Deborah Szekely in 1940. Although Edmond died in 1979, Deborah, called the "grandmother of the modern spa and fitness resort movement," celebrates her 102nd birthday this month. Sara Livia Brightwood Szekely, their daughter, is now president and CEO, continuing her parents' vision. I have visited the resort several times in the past, but only for day trips. What I wanted was to immerse myself in all it has to offer: nature walks, exercise classes, and lectures on nutrition as well as healthy meals, cooking classes, and perhaps a spa treatment or two. My friends and I met at Lindbergh Field, where buses provided by Rancho La Puerta transported our group to the Tecate border about an hour away. With passports and immigration forms in hand, we passed through customs, walked across the border, and boarded vans for a short ride to the sprawling, 4,000-acre resort set in a valley at the base of Mt. Kuchumaa. e expansive grounds include 40 acres of hiking trails, dozens of landscaped gardens, four pools, gymnasiums, exercise studios, and Baja's Rancho La Puerta offers a peaceful place to unplug, reboot, and de-stress BY ANDREA NAVERSEN detour destinations The 4,000-acre Rancho La Puerta sits in the shadow of Mt. Kuchumaa, considered a sacred place by the Kumeyaay tribe ranchandcoast.com 62 MAY 2024 RANCH & COAST MAGAZINE