Thank you all so much for the valuable input. Much obliged!

Still sort of set on Montage ATM. Parts of that Fairmont Grand Del Mar look really nice, but the property does look gigantic and i was happy to have Kat's sub-link - that Beach Village enclave looks delightful. It's also a touch south of where we'd ideally want to be.

(FYI know I seem maddeningly picky on exact location for this....full disclosure, my wife is a cancer survivor and doing great, been post-chemo for almost two years. For the past year or so, she's been on a special trial of follow-up infusions every six weeks - 90 minute drip, no side effects, pretty easy for her/us. One of these treatments unexpectedly fell during our April vacation window, so the two of us need to be in driving distance to huff back to UCLA for a few hours mid-week. This is why i may be willing to take a flyer on a property close to L.A. - Terannea rather than Del Mar, for example - on a venue that wouldn't otherwise pique interest, at least at current rates.)

I may have overstated my kids' needs for dolphin swims and face painting and game rooms and the like. They're definitely young adults and quite independent. My son's 19 and a CRSPR nerd, doubling in genetics and microbiology at UCLA. My daughter's 15, a high school soph, and right ATM appears tracked towards a double major in IG and TilTok. If the joint has a good beach that's not more than a hundred steps away, a big pool with grill service, and some minimum of design style my girl can IG a bit with, that's more than enough. Unfortunately, Eugenie, in more recent years my kids have started to get a taste of the (irresponsible) good life - Rosewood Mayakoba, WA BH, MO NYC - so while that Hilton would have been perfect for us 10 years back (when my my kids were littler critters), this needs to be a little nicer. One of two times this year that everyone's gonna be together, son's off to study in Paris for junior year in August.

Homegrowned, that Alila looks really nice. I've seen this brand here and there, and have never quite figured out what it is or, more to the point, how it's being positioned. Know it's Hyatt, and maybe seems like one of their Andaz-esque easy/breezy 'upscale' type deals? I'm generally not too in love with that brand's various offerings, other than a few Thompsons which i found wonderful. I definitely err towards MB/Hilton/IHG for these big(ger)-box upscale/luxe choices. But that Alila looks like the closest hit yet (rates considered, value) outside Montage, even as it's further down in Encinitas.

THANK YOU ALL!

EDIT; Someone recently posted a mini review or TR on Terranea, not a particularly positive one. I'm almost positive it was in this sub (though i attempted a full FT search too and couldn't find.)
Did i dream reading this and seeing pictures? I thought it was Kat or FlyerEC or maybe UCLAbruin?
Would love to refer back to that typically-excellent FT review - probably won't book (especially if i'm able to re-read this review), but the location is optimal.