Summer at the Ranch
Last week Brandon and I decided to take a few days off to relax in central California’s beautiful Carmel Valley.
We had gone there for the day to do some wine tasting during our anniversary trip to Carmel back in April and immediately fell in love with the area. The views are stunning, the wine is flavorful, and the weather is pleasantly warm.
I knew I wanted to return as soon as we left and began randomly searching every couple of weeks for deals that would justify a trip back. Then last month I discovered that Carmel Valley Ranch was running a special on Sunday nights for California residents so we packed a few small bags and made the two hour drive south on a Sunday morning.
As a part of the package we booked, the Ranch provided us with free wine tastings at two of the valley’s local vineyards so we took advantage of that while we waited for our room to become available.
Twisted Roots Winery was the first one we visited and it was definitely our favorite. Their charming patio is the perfect spot to relax and enjoy a tasting.
Their patio is also pet-friendly and because we were the only ones there, we let Coco off her leash to explore a little. That lasted for about 10 minutes before she fell asleep! :)
After lunch and a short tasting at the second winery, we went back to the hotel to check-in and get settled. The room that I had originally booked included an outdoor bathtub which we were both really excited about but unfortunately it was down a set of steep stairs that would have been too hard on Coco’s arthritic legs, seeing how we would have to take her up and down every time she needed to use the bathroom. #olddogproblems
Luckily they had a room available with direct access right above the original one but as a result we lost our outdoor bathtub. Even so, the room was still really nice and came equipped with a gas fireplace and a tranquil patio that’s nestled within the trees.
Another benefit of the package that we booked was a complimentary bottle of Carmel Valley Ranch’s Reserve Rosé.
We ordered a pizza to the room on the second night and drank a few glasses and it was actually quite tasty!
The first night we went for an early dinner at their new restaurant, The Valley Kitchen. The main focus of the menu is using ingredients that are locally sourced so everything they serve is either from their own organic garden or one nearby. We had a stone fruit and artichoke salad with burrata, tomato soup with corn and goat cheese stuffed puffed pastry, and vegetable risotto with hazelnut gremolata.
Everything was great, especially the soup and the risotto.
After dinner, we decided to check out a few of their hiking trails during sunset.
It was a little too cloudy to see the sun but the views were still gorgeous. I couldn’t get enough of the pretty moss on the trees. It made me feel like I was back at home in the southeast.
Eventually we came across all of the ranch’s farm animals including this cute little goat perched in a tree!
It was so sweet! It let me pet it for a few minutes but then it started trying to eat my sleeve so we moved on to say hi the horses.
The donkeys were also super friendly. They came right up to us, probably looking for a treat!
We continued to hike around and take in the views for a while before making our way back to the lodge to end the night with a warm, gooey s’more.
Every night they set up a complimentary s’mores station by the fire pit from 6-10pm. That was probably the highlight of the stay for me. :)
The next morning, we went back to the Valley Kitchen for breakfast and our way we spotted a deer on Bambi’s path!
We saw two more later that day and none of them seem startled by humans, which was nice for a change. The surroundings are so peaceful, I would probably be hanging out in these woods if I were a deer too!
For breakfast we had multi-grain waffles with blueberry syrup and organic yogurt with homemade granola and mixed berries.
I’m salivating just thinking about those waffles. They were amazing!
After that we took Coco for a short hike around the property…it is seriously one of the most beautiful places I have been. They have their own vineyards, fields of lavender (that smell incredible!), tree swings, a hen house, and an organic garden all perched on the side of a mountain with stunning views of the valley.
Last but not least is the saltwater pool. They actually have three, one for children and one for adults only.
We spent the rest of the day there, drinking muddled orange spritzers and Moscow mules in between dips in the pool.
They also serve you lunch right there and I had to get another portabella hummus wrap with a side of truffle fries. Those fries are everything!
And because we happened to still be by the pool once 6pm rolled around, I kindly asked Brandon to make me another s’more. ;)
Overall, it was the perfect quick and relaxing getaway. I usually plan a million things for us to do when we travel so it was nice to visit somewhere that has a lot to explore without the need for extensive planning. It would also be a great place to take kids. There are so many activities to keep them busy!
That said, I wouldn’t stay here if I wanted to visit downtown Carmel and the beach because it’s kind out of the way. But to me, the ranch is a destination in itself so it makes sense to stay on-site and make the most of it while you’re there. Your only problem after that will be leaving. :)
Absolutely stunning!! Looks like the perfect getaway – lots to do, but plenty of relaxing solitude. I would give anything for a weekend like that. Hope you two (and Coco!) had a fantastic time!! :)
Thanks Melissa! I hope you get your weekend of relaxation soon! xo
What a fun trip!!! I haven’t been to Caramel since I was kid and it’s on my list of places to return to for sure.
What a perfect weekend retreat! Carmel looks amazing and that’s so great you were able to bring Coco along with you. I’m sure she loved having a little vacay too.
You guys have so many amazing spots out there in Cali. I’m officially adding Carmel to my list of places I want to go!
SOLD! I’m so going to visit CVR…hopefully asap! It looks like such a relaxing place with such pretty scenery! I’d likely follow suit and simply enjoy the ranch. I can see why leaving would be so tough after such a nice breath of fresh air! All your photos are so pretty and enticing. Thanks so much for sharing your getaway with us!
Absolutely breathtaking! This looks like the kind of place I would want to eventually go on a honeymoon or something :)
People actually get married there all of the time! It would be a great place for a honeymoon too!
It looks incredibly beautiful there. I always want to go on a small mini getaway. Maybe someday David and I will make it a priority again! Perhaps for a babymoon someday. haha.
It would be a great spot for a babymoon! ;)
That goat in the tree :). There is so much joy and beauty in these photos and I love how you bring sweet Coco with you when you travel… (adorable photo of her sleeping on the patio). I wish we could have brought Stella back home to the lake with us this summer (her favorite place on earth) but cross-continental flights are really tough on her. You’ve opened up my eyes to so many possibilities in Carmel beyond the touristy main strip ;-). The Valley Kitchen sounds like a winner and your room, even without outdoor tub, looks pretty heavenly to me – love the outdoor seating on that peaceful balcony. Thank you so much for sharing this beautiful trip with us Sarah.
Thank you, Kelly! Coco would not do well in an airplane either so I totally understand leaving her behind. I’m sure was happy to have you home. :)
I’d definitely have a problem leaving that place — how gorgeous! I’ve been to Cali a good number of times, but I feel like I never spent enough time exploring it outside the bigger cities, which is sad because you have so many beautiful places. And I love how you’re always bringing Coco with you when you travel :)
What a beautiful location! Another one for my list of places to visit in America!
I have wanted to go to Carmel Valley Ranch since seeing it on another blog! This post is not helping!!! haha It looks like you had a fantastic and relaxing time! And I always love seeing pictures of Coco! :)
I’m bookmarking this!! Looks like a great weekend escape.
Oh my gosh, how perfect is that ranch! Rustic chic. Wonder if they host weddings. It look luxurious. Hope you had a relaxing stay.
Thanks for sharing your lovely vacation and all the photos! looks like such a great trip. i can’t believe how pretty and green everything is. And good choice on the Moscow Mules! Drink of the summer for sure :)