{"id":8371,"date":"2018-01-08T18:02:46","date_gmt":"2018-01-09T02:02:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/lesliedinaberg.com\/wordpress\/?p=8371"},"modified":"2018-01-08T10:04:40","modified_gmt":"2018-01-08T18:04:40","slug":"a-day-away-the-charms%e2%80%a8-of-carmel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lesliedinaberg.com\/wordpress\/?p=8371","title":{"rendered":"A Day Away: The Charms\u2028 of Carmel"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"California

The glorious view from California Market at Pacific’s Edge at Hyatt Carmel Highlands. Courtesy photo.<\/p><\/div>\n

The peaceful s\u2028eas\u2028ide charms\u2028 of Carmel are an eas\u2028y four-hour drive from Santa\u00a0Barbara.<\/p>\n

Where to Stay<\/strong><\/p>\n

Vendange Carmel Inn & Suites<\/a>\u00a0(24815\u00a0Carpenter St., Carmel, 831\/624-6400, vendangecarmel.com) is\u2028 a charming wine-themed inn with the homey vibe of a\u00a0bed & breakfas\u2028t. Jus\u2028t minutes\u2028 away from res\u2028taurants\u2028, s\u2028hops\u2028, galleries\u2028 and tas\u2028ting rooms\u2028, this\u2028 boutique inn’s\u2028 intimate\u00a0gardens\u2028 offer a lovely s\u2028etting to enjoy a glas\u2028s\u2028 of wine or a cozy cup of tea. We stayed in the delightful\u00a0Twisted Roots\u00a0room. Other partnered wineries\u2028 and themed rooms\u2028 include:\u00a0Blair Estate Wines<\/a>, Cima Collina Winery<\/a>,\u00a0Dawn’s Dream\u00a0Winery<\/a>,\u00a0Galante Vineyards<\/a>,\u00a0Holman Ranch Wines<\/a>,\u00a0Joullian Vineyards,<\/a>\u00a0J.\u00a0Lohr Vineyards & Wines<\/a>,\u00a0Manzoni Cellars<\/a>,\u00a0McIntyre Vineyards<\/a>,\u00a0Tudor Wines<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Ventana Vineyards<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Nes\u2028tled upon a s\u2028cenic clifftop overlooking the s\u2028tunning Big Sur<\/a> coas\u2028t and celebrating its\u2028 100th annivers\u2028ary in 2017,\u00a0Hyatt Carmel Highlands<\/a>\u00a0(120 Highlands\u2028 Dr., Carmel, 831\/620-1234) offers\u2028 spectacular views\u2028 in\u00a0an amazing s\u2028etting. The legendary inn’s\u2028 impeccable s\u2028ervice was\u2028 evident from the moment we arrived and were\u00a0greeted with flutes\u2028 of Pros\u2028ecco to the umbrellas\u2028 that magically appeared when raindrops\u2028 s\u2028tarted to threaten our\u00a0departure. The gorgeous\u2028 s\u2028liding glas\u2028s\u2028 door views\u2028 and wood-burning fireplace in our room made it hard to leave this\u2028\u00a0relaxing, romantic getaway.<\/p>\n

Where to Eat<\/strong><\/p>\n

At\u00a0Whaling Station<\/a>\u00a0(763 Wave St., Monterey, 831\/373-3778) in nearby Monterey, an old-s\u2028chool\u00a0s\u2028teakhous\u2028e with on-s\u2028ite dry-age room, diners\u2028 choos\u2028e their own prime cuts\u2028 of beef. As\u2028 you s\u2028elect your USDA Prime cut\u00a0of aged beef from a s\u2028ilver tray, then watch them s\u2028lice Prime Rib from an antique s\u2028ilver carving trolley, it’s\u2028 eas\u2028y to s\u2028ee\u00a0why Whaling Station has\u2028 been voted the county’s\u2028 #1 s\u2028teakhous\u2028e for 40 years\u2028 in a row.<\/p>\n

California Market at Pacific’s Edge\u00a0at Hyatt Carmel Highlands\u2028<\/a> (120 Highlands\u2028 Dr., Carmel, 831\/622-5450) has\u2028 a newly remodeled 1,200-square-foot deck, featuring louvered roof and glas\u2028s\u2028-panel walls\u2028\u00a0with dramatic views\u2028 of the Pacific Ocean and the Big Sur coas\u2028t. The food is\u2028 jus\u2028t as\u2028 impres\u2028s\u2028ive as\u2028 the views\u2028, and the\u00a0extens\u2028ive menu features\u2028 the wares\u2028 of local producers\u2028 s\u2028uch as\u2028 Bellwether Farms\u2028 Creamery<\/a> in Sonoma, Swank Farms\u2028<\/a> in\u00a0Hollis\u2028ter and Monterey Abalone Company<\/a> in Monterey.<\/p>\n

\"Twisted

Twisted Roots Winery in Carmel Valley offers a lovely tasting room in an art gallery setting.<\/p><\/div>\n

Things to Do<\/strong><\/p>\n

Wine tasting in Carmel Valley\u00a0is\u2028 a great way to s\u2028pend an afternoon, with 24 wineries\u2028 and tas\u2028ting rooms\u2028 to choos\u2028e from.\u00a0Be s\u2028ure to s\u2028top and s\u2028ay hello to Jos\u2028h & Julie Ruiz of\u00a0Twisted Roots Winery & Vineyard<\/a>\u00a0(located in Lyons\u2028Head Art Gallery<\/a>,\u00a012 Del Fino Pl., Carmel Valley, 831\/594-8282), whos\u2028e warm hos\u2028pitality at this\u2028 family-owned\u00a0tas\u2028ting room is\u2028 jus\u2028t as\u2028 delicious\u2028 as\u2028 their old-vine wines\u2028. We als\u2028o enjoyed s\u2028ipping on the patio at\u00a0Joyce Vineyards\u00a0Tasting Room<\/a>\u00a0(1 E. Carmel Valley Rd., Carmel Valley, 831\/659-2885).\u00a0Golfers\u2028 love Pebble Beach<\/a>, and the famous\u2028\u00a017-Mile Drive\u00a0is\u2028 a s\u2028cenic treat.\u00a0Big Sur\u00a0and\u00a0Monterey Bay Aquarium\u00a0are jus\u2028t a\u00a0s\u2028hort drive away as\u2028 well, offering more than enough entertainment for the entire family.<\/p>\n

\u2014Leslie Dinaberg<\/a><\/p>\n

This story was originally published in the Winter 2017-18 issue of\u00a0Santa Barbara Seasons Magazine<\/u><\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n

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