After months of COVID shelter-in-place, you find the perfect luxury hotel for a weekend getaway. Tons of wide open space for social distancing, private studio rooms that have patios with double-sided fireplaces and outdoor tubs. Sprawling grounds with giant oak trees, vineyards and firepits. A gorgeous California destination, Carmel Valley Ranch.
WAKING UP AT CARMEL VALLEY RANCH
You wake up in your studio room at the relaxing Carmel Valley Ranch and feel an overwhelming sense of peace. No city noise, no loud neighbors, no cars driving by. You wonder if silence always sounds this good. From bed, you can see through the double-sided fireplace to the outside and the sun is just beginning to illuminate the giant oak trees just beyond your patio fence. Even though it’s July, it’s a little chilly in the room. You put your feet on the cool cement floor and quickly step over to the fireplace controller to turn it on and run back to bed.
The warmth radiates from the fireplace. A walk over to your kitchenette to make a cup of Nespresso coffee, you know, the coffee before you go to get your coffee. Opening the curtains now lets in the light through the floor-to-cealing windows. You sit back in bed to take in the view and enjoy your coffee. You could easily spend the entire day in this exact spot.
You’ve reach the bottom of your coffee cup which signals that it’s time for breakfast … and more coffee. Throw on some yoga pants and a sweatshirt, and of course a mask, to walk across the property to the Market & Creamery, the coffee and pastry shop just in the main lobby. The walk takes you along a tree-lined paved path and across a bridge that goes over the one road into Carmel Valley Ranch. From this bridge you can see through the entire valley and it is so beautiful in the golden morning light.
Just outside the lobby is an outdoor sitting area, where in a non-COVID time you imagine people would sit and leisurely sip their coffees while the day warms up. There’s also a fire pit that is burning, surrounded by socially-distanced adirondack chairs, and you make a note to stop there for a bit after you’ve gotten your coffee to go.
COFFEE AT THE MARKET & CREAMERY
The Market & Creamery at Carmel Valley Ranch looks like it popped out of a Pinterest page. Stone floors, open wood shelving, a long live-edge seating bar that traces the length of a huge glass window, where stools would normally be placed during different times. You order a hazelnut latte and a chocolate croissant and meander around the market. There are artisanal jams and other treats, and also a corner of boutique baby onesies. Which is super convenient because you’ve got a virtual baby shower coming up and you still need a gift to send. Thank you for the save, Carmel Valley Ranch!
Coffee, croissant, and onesie in hand, you stroll back out to the fire pit which surprisingly doesn’t have anyone around. But nearby there is a mom pushing her son on the swing that is hanging from an oak branch. Sitting in your adirondak, you soak in the perfect balance of luxury and nature that surrounds you. You can smell the fresh air and the trees and still have every amenity imaginable.
Post-croissant, you make your way back to your room on the other side of the property. It’s such a beautiful walk and there are so few people around. It’s easy to take your time and enjoy the scenery. You’re thankful that you could finally take this Carmel Valley Ranch weekend getaway. You sip on your coffee as you stroll the grounds back to your room. The sun is climbing in the sky and the day is starting to warm up.
LUNCH AT VALLEY KITCHEN
You walk up to the hostess podium like normal. But true with the times, it’s shielded by plexiglass to separate you from the host. There’s a QR code posted up so you can view the menu on your mobile device to avoid sharing menus between customers. The host escorts you through an expansive dining room that’s been emptied of tables, with the only-outdoor seating available.
The tables on the back patio are spaced 6-feet apart with space heaters in between. It’s still hard to believe there’s such a chill in the air in July. The deck seating is surrounded by glass instead of a fence so that your view is unobstructed. You can see trees, the property vineyard, and what’s that? Fire pits for s’mores with a view of the valley? YES PLEASE. You know what you’re doing later…
Your order of Hawaiian Style Tuna Poke and Local Line-Caught Fish Tacos and an Old Fashioned arrive. Everything tastes divine! The fish is so fresh and the flavors of each dish are magical in your mouth. You’re not in a rush, so you order up another Old Fashioned (because come on, it’s vacay), and enjoy every. single. bite.
TAKING A BATH
It’s early afternoon and the only thing on the agenda is complete and utter relaxation. There’s a soaking tub on your patio and it’s calling your name. Check, check, and check. You turn on the water and let the tub begin to fill. Throwing in some of the divine-smelling bath salts that Carmel Valley Ranch keeps stocked in the rooms for exactly these occasions.
You open up the bottle of red wine in your room (also provided by Carmel Valley Ranch) and pour yourself a glass. Then you don your Carmel Valley Ranch robe and slippers and step out onto the patio, feeling a little bit like you’re in a Carmel Valley Ranch commercial ad. But you don’t care, because you’re in heaven. The water is rising, the suds are ready. You slowly climb down into the tub facing the unobstructed incredible view of old oak trees and gorgeous California summer sky.
You sip your wine and soak not only in the tub, but in the surroundings. The tranquility is calming for your soul. Every care or worry you’ve ever had has melted away as you relax in this piece of paradise you’ve found. You watch the tree branches sway in the breeze and the bubbles start to dissipate, and before you know it the warmth from the water has vanished — and so has your wine. Sad that your luxurious outdoor bath has come to an end, you don your robe once again and step inside to dry off and get dressed for the day’s next relaxing activity.
WALKING THE VINEYARD, SUNSET, & S’MORES
Back on the other side of the Carmel Valley Ranch property, sits their very own vineyard. The vines run down the hillside across the sprawling grounds. You walk the paved path through the vineyards and notice picnic tables scattered throughout. The late afternoon sun lights up the leaves on the vine giving everything a perfect golden glow. You see families playing and couples taking photos, everyone enjoying being able to be outside after the months of the pandemic lockdowns. Feels good to just take a walk somewhere new.
As you make your way back up out of the vineyard, the sun is starting to sit lower in the sky. Word on the street is Carmel Valley Ranch has s’mores kits for roasting out on firepits overlooking the valley. You head into the lobby to pick up your skewer and pre-made s’mores kit, which are carefully packaged to minimize contact. Necessities in hand, you head out to claim your spot by the firepit.
Luckily, you arrive early enough and it’s not crowded. People are definitely respecting the social distancing, which in this particular case, increases the ambiance since it doesn’t ever feel like you’re in a crowd. You open up your s’mores kit and take out the marshmallows to roast one on the open flame. Careful not to catch it on fire… just that nice golden brown and squish it between the chocolate and the graham cracker. Delectable, the perfect summer evening treat.
As if that isn’t good enough, your backdrop is the July sun setting behind the mountains. The sky turns all shades of pink, orange, and purple before the sun drops out of sight for the day. You’ve had all the s’mores you can possibly consume and decide to head back to the room before it gets too dark.
THE PERFECT WAY TO END THE DAY AT CARMEL VALLEY RANCH
Back at the room, the summer air is chill and crisp, but you’re not ready to go inside. You decide to enjoy just a little more time on your private patio. You turn on the double-sided fireplace, pour a glass of wine, and make yourself comfy on the swing to watch the final bits of light fading from the sky as night takes over.
The fire keeps you warm, but you pull up the heavy blanket and snuggle up to the oversized pillows on the swing. You sip on your wine as you lightly sway back-and-forth with absolutely nothing on your mind except the perfect day you had at the luxurious Carmel Valley Ranch.
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