Pacific Grove/Carmel CA area
 

I posted back in June requesting info for a girls trip in Oct. for 4 people. WE are still going to the Carmel area but not until Nov 8 and now only 2 people. We will be flying into San Jose because airfare is better from Chicago. Would like to see some redwoods on the drive from airport, Lovers Pt. FIshermans Wharf, Cannary Row, Pt. Lobos a couple good restaurants and a nice winery. HWy 1 to big Sur is a must. We are looking for decent accommodations, 2 beds, maybe scenic and spa services available, with good location that doesn't break the bank. Any suggestions of place or altered itinerary would be appreciated. So many places to choose from.

>> with good location that doesn't break the bank<<

We have no idea the size of your bank. What is your actual budget?

You can visit Henry Cowell Redwood state park in the Santa Cruz mountains between San Jose and the coast.

oh -- and you can drive into Big Sur but not all the way <i>thorugh</i>. The road is still closed.

$200 to 250@ night.

Any suggestions out there for hotel accommodations???

We recently stayed at La Playa in Carmel and loved it. Price point was mid 300s. Small room, one bed. Don't know if they have rooms with 2 beds or if rates go down in Oct.

For that price range I think you'll have more luck at a chain hotel in Monterey.

$200 is low for Carmel. $250 is probably doable -- but you may need to try plugging your dates into Booking.com to see what's available. Also -- room taxes will increase the costs.



Maybe try Asilomar -- it is under your budget (it is a State owned beach and conference center) but is popular and books up.

asilomar was booked. I can go a little higher. Would like views and restaurant.

Most properties in Carmel are smaller inns that don't have restaurants onsite (La Playa is by far our largest hotel) and none have spa facilities that I'm aware of. Town is only one square mile and there are lots of restaurants within walking distance if you stay downtown. Ocean views from rooms, if any, tend to be more distant ones as downtown is about half a mile uphill from the ocean. I'm wondering if you'd prefer a larger waterfront hotel in Monterey with more facilities like the Intercontinental Clement or Monterey Plaza. View rooms will be over $300.

The biggest issue we used to have staying in Carmel, is the lack of rooms with two separate beds. i.e. rooms for non couples to share. Before we started renting a house, we (as in my sister and I) used to rent rooms at the Mission Inn, because it had some double queen occupancy rooms at a reasonable price (under $300)and is very scenic, with views of Point Lobos. It is not however in downtown Carmel, which is a plus for us, but it does have a restaurant, tennis courts and a fitness club.

I think Bernardus Lodge has a spa and double/double rooms. It is however in Carmel Valley,which has its own charm, but no ocean views and rooms are over $300.

Thanks everyone. Still looking. My daughter liked the looks of Hotel Carmel, but a bit pricy.

Thanks everyone. Still looking. My daughter liked the looks of Hotel Carmel, but a bit pricy.

Booked Carmel Hotel. I'm the site seeer and she loves wine. Are ther a couple special wineries you recommend and restaurants. I want to go to Nepenthe on way to Big Sur. she also likes Sushi. I'm excited.

Keep an eye on the reopening of Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge. Caltrans is still saying mid-October but there could be further delays. Right now Hwy 1 is only open for 26 miles south of Carmel due to the bridge closure. If the bridge has reopened, you can drive to Nepenthe. If not, there's a half mile 500 feet elevation gain hiking trail through Pfeiffer Big Sur that goes around the bridge closure and then it's another 1.5 miles to Nepenthe which you can either take a $5 per person shuttle once you're on the other side of the trail or just continue walking on the highway.

Akaoni on Mission between 5th and 6th (on the west side of street, there are no street numbers in Carmel) has the best sushi in Carmel. There's no sign on the door and it's a tiny place with 4 tables plus a counter so I would reserve for dinner. You can usually walk in for lunch.

Other restaurants we really like in Carmel are La Balena, Il Grillo, Cultura, Andre's Bouchee and Basil.

There are about 20 wine tasting venues in downtown Carmel with the advantage of being able to walk from one to the next. There are probably another 20 or so clustered out in Carmel Valley Village about half an hour away. All of these are offsite tasting rooms and not wineries. If you want to visit a winery, the closest one is Folktale which is located mid-valley about 15 minutes from Carmel. The majority of our vineyards are in the Santa Lucia Highlands/River Road area which is about an hour away if you want to make a trip out there http://riverroadwinetrail.com/ Cool climate pinot noir and chardonnay are the primary grapes grown but other varietals are made here as well.

Wineries are in the middle of crush right now and for most of October. A trip out to River Road may be worth it if you have the time. Paraiso/ Smith Family are friends and a long time grower. I believe they also have a tasting room in Carmel.

Thanks for all the info. Is anyone familiar with Hotel Carmel. The site said it has been renovated and used to be called Dolphin something?

Yes it was recently renovated (I haven't seen the inside). It's on the northern side of downtown, 3 blocks from Ocean Ave. It's a slightly longer walk to the beach vs other downtown locations and uphill on the way back. Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge is now expected to reopen at 5pm on October 13th.

>>Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge is now expected to reopen at 5pm on October 13th.<<

Are they throwing a party to celebrate! That is wonderful news.

Thank you. So this is what I'm thinking for itinerary. :

DAy 1 - Fly in to San Jose at 1:00. Get rental car start driving towards Henry Cowell park to see Redwood trees. 1 1/2 hr. DRive towards Monterey. See Fishermans Wharf and Cannery Row. Supper at

DAy 2 THursday -----Drive toward Pt Lobos, and Big Sur. have lunch at Nepenthe.. DRive on to Phiefer Park. start back . Bixby bridge . Supper back in Carmel or Mission In.

DAy 3 Friday _ Breakfast at Village Corner, shopping, Cowboy winery, supper at Casanova rest.

DAy 4 Sat..?.......whale watching in Monterey. 17 mile hwy. supper at The forge in the Forest.

DAy 5 Fly home
I have booked Hotel Carmel. CHecked others but no 2 beds available. Does this even make since, route and time Wise? Open to any suggestions or changes.

Oh what will Nov weather demand for attire???????

Attire - temps will be in the low 60s. If it were me, I'd wear jeans, a light long or 3/4 sleeve shirt or, with a down vest or light jacket.

Of course, if it's raining, my attire would be different - I'd add a rain jacket and rain boots.

What did you think of my above itinerary????? Thanks for weather info.

>>DAy 1 - Fly in to San Jose at 1:00. Get rental car start driving towards Henry Cowell park to see Redwood trees. 1 1/2 hr. DRive towards Monterey. See Fishermans Wharf and Cannery Row. Supper at <<

With a 1PM arrival at SJC and visiting Henry Cowell - you probably be eating dinner before you get to Monterey/Fisherman's Wharf/Cannery Row.

Say you are in the car an on the road by 2PM then maybe 60 minutes to Felton and a minimum of 2 hours in the park. Then about 90 minutes to Monterey.

I'd maybe hit Phil's Fish Market in Moss Landing.

That would give you day 4 to do 17 Mile drive if you want, explore Cannery Row/ the Aquarium, Fisherman's Wharf, and possibly a whale watching trip.

I'd personally cut 17 mile Drive - but that is easy for me to say since I've been n the area MANY time. But honestly -- just going to breakfast or lunch at Spanish Bay/Pebble Beach would be better.

>>I'd maybe hit Phil's Fish Market in Moss Landing.<<

. . . I meant for dinner that evening.

Delicious cioppino!

To me that itinerary is a little too much driving around. You've not left time for simply enjoying the time in Carmel.

Beach, walk, shop, eat, browse, sip, relax, enjoy.

Thank you. Revised

DAy 1 - Fly in to San Jose at 1:00. Get rental car start driving towards Henry Cowell park to see Redwood trees. Supper at Moss Landing Phils Fish House

DAy 2 THursday -----Drive toward Pt Lobos, and Big Sur. have lunch at Nepenthe.. DRive on to Phiefer Park. start back . Bixby bridge . Supper back in Carmel or Mission In.

DAy 3 Friday _ Breakfast at Village Corner, shopping, Cowboy winery, supper at Casanova rest.

DAy 4 Sat..?.......Wing it. enjoy Carmel--supper at The forge in the Forest.

DAy 5 Fly home

IS this better? Is DAy 2 too much...?...?.......Anything else that is a must see?

????

Monterey Bay Aquarium.

In November, the Monarch butterflies will be getting back to PG to overwinter.

Skip Forge in theForest--there many better places in Carmel.See Patty's recommerations in her post.

I think that's a nice itinerary. And I happen to like Forge in the Forest, so I think it's a good choice for dinner :)

OMG. Maybe this trip wasn't meant to be. The poor people experiencing the Fire in Sana Rosa. prayers go out to you. Thinking we should cancel this trip!!!!!!! San Jose, Carmel, Big Sur. Help. Need your thoughts from people in the area. thank you. Trip is Nov. 8th. God bless.

Sorry, but why would you cancel your trip due to fires that are nowhere near where you’re going? The fires are devastating (my friends brothers house burned down) but you may as well never travel - there’s always something bad happening somewhere.

Ditto sf7307.

Canceling a trip to the Carmel area because if (horrible) fires in the Sonoma/Napa area makes no sense to me.

Those fires are hours away... no reason to cancel your trip at all.

sf7307:

Sorry to hijack this thread but I am so sorry for your brothers loss and trouble. Devastating. I am in the Santa Barbara area where we often have fires and am stunned that so many homes and structures have burned. Is it the winds or the topography that are making this so deadly? It's just hard to imagine... Again, so sorry for your families troubles.

Definitely no reason to cancel. These fires won't affect your trip in the least. Other than some bad air in SJ, you won't even no anything is going on - and our air in SJ has cleared up considerably.

lynni - One of the major issues has been wind - it fans the flames of course, and embers are flying up to a mile and starting new fires. So instead of a well-defined fire area, it's been hopscotching around. I think that's how it jumped Hwy 101. Normally firefighters have a more than decent chance of holding the line at a major roadway like that, but not this time. And it's super dry with low humidity.

lynni, thank you, but it wasn't my brother - it was my friend's brother. And he was away from home visiting her at the time. His wife was able to evacuate safely with their pets. A friend who lives near Santa Rosa (but not near the fires, yet) said she's heard from 8 people about other people they know who've lost their homes. It's awful.