Carmel Valley Ranch in Monterey California
Carmel Valley Ranch in Monterey California is a luxury hotel that exudes charm. Upon arriving at the front gate you can see and smell some of the ranch’s 7,000 lavender plants. The sights don’t end there though as you drive up the Old Ranch Road you can see hillsides, trees, a myriad of other flowers, vineyards and the Pete Dye custom designed golf course.
There is a sense of class at this hotel without it feeling stuffy. From the moment you step foot on the property you have an urge to explore and take in all the amenities which may just include the old tire swing on one of the Ranch’s large trees. It will teleport you back to an easier time when you were a child.
The lobby in the lodge even has a friendly old English Bulldog that’s there to greet guests. His name is Roxy and he’s a young pup, only two years old. You can’t help but grin when you see his wrinkly skin and long pink tongue panting.
The resort really tries to get you to feel one with the natural surroundings. They offer an assortment of artisan foods, beekeeping gear and much more at the Alyana shop.
If crafts aren’t your thing, then maybe the outdoors are. There are a number of activities to enliven your senses. You can take a nice hike through the trees covered in Spanish moss on the Huff n’ Puff Trail which is just minutes away from your suite. You can also tour the garden and get hands-on experience of caring for a real garden. A sure winner is the signature Bee Experience that’s lead by expert beekeeper john Russo. You can get an up-close and personal experience with bee’s like you’ve never had before in a safe and controlled environment.
If you want to be a bit more active there are tennis courts, a gymnasium and even a hilltop yoga platform.
After all the activities you can drop by and take a dip in the infinity hot tub by the lodge pool that overlooks the amazing vista of the valley and vineyards. If you’d rather cool of in peace and quiet, the Lodge Pool is for the ‘young at heart’. This is an adults only pool as the children have their own pool at the River Ranch Pool. Kids can also play at the Splash Zone which is an above ground water fountain area.
The bedrooms are what grabbed my attention right away. They offer spacious rooms with a cozy fireplace, flat-panel television and custom decorations that is a part of Carmel Valley. You’ll surely want to spend time either washing away your cares in the glass and marble tile shower or soak in the over sized bathtub.
The views here in the Monterey Valley are just incredible. The hotel offers a number of locations where you can lounge on comfy wicker furniture and overlook the rolling hills while take in a few refreshments.
Evening offers a special experience where you get to take in the sunset at the Lodge. Then after enjoying the sunset you and your loved one(s) can enjoy gathering around the fire pit to roast marshmallows or make s’mores.
All in all you’ll never forget the time you spend at the Carmel Valley Ranch and be ready to plan your next visit before you even leave.
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