After two years of being sidelined due to the pandemic, my family returned to Carmel, California over the weekend and had a wonderful time together exploring the beauty of the California Coast.
A 2022 Return To Carmel, California
Can you believe that the last time we traveled to to Carmel was after Thanksgiving in 2019, just a few months before the world would totally change? Back then, we only had one child and my life looked a whole lot different than it does now.
I prefer to head up north late on Thanksgiving night and stay a night at the Hyatt Regency in Monterey, but we felt that was too rushed this year on Thanksgiving Day and wanted to get our work done and the house clean before departing.
We were able to get out the door by about 9:15 am on Thursday enjoyed a relatively smooth drive up US-101 North (we did hit some heavy traffic – delirious Black Friday shoppers at the outlets in Camarillo).
I wanted to drive all the way to Paso Robles, but the kids got quite hungry as we approached noon so I introduced them to Cracker Barrel in Santa Maria, California.
I exercised some self-control and failed to order the 4,500 “sampler” feast this time around, opting just for meatloaf. The kids had chicken and my wife had beef….and we all liked it. It was a nice stop.
We then continued to Paso Robles, where were stopped for a coffee break at Spearhead Coffee and then re-charged the car (no tire problems this weekend, thankfully).
From there, we made the final two hour trek to the Hyatt Carmel Highlands. We arrived at dusk and it was great to return to this hotel that my family has so greatly enjoyed in the pre-pandemic years.
I’ll provide a full review of this hotel in the days ahead: let’s just say there was some disappointment, but it will not stop me from returning.
Here’s one clue:
Like, seriously? You get rid of your wood-burning fireplaces for this?
But we had a marvelous time here and it is really one of the most beautiful spots on the Earth.
We spent the next day in Pacific Grove and Monterey. In Pacific Grove we stopped by a little thrift shop, enticed by the 50% sale, and had a great time filling up a basket with stuff we really didn’t need, but was so cheap it was just a fun family exercise.
As always in Monterey, I enjoyed some great coffee and cold pressed juice at Captain + Stoker.
The following morning we went to church in Carmel before enjoying some time together at the hotel before heading back.
…Well, my wife and children headed back—after dropping me off at Monterey Airport. I’m enroute to a whole new adventure this week.
CONCLUSION
It was great to spend a few days with my family in the beautiful Carmel Highlands. Little getaways like this our revitalizing and such quality family time is great for Heidi and me and great for Claire Marie and Augustine. We will do this again soon.
Based on your numerous reviews, I stayed here for the first time about a week before you. We had a small ocean-view room, but it still had a wood burning fire. I’ll have my own review up at some point in the future, but I thoroughly enjoyed our stay. The supreme talented ceramicist Christina Liu also stayed earlier in November and was disappointed by the same change as you. I wonder if they’re in the process of updating their rooms or if this change is only for the larger villas?
It may be a local or county ordinance around wood burning stoves and air quality that forced them to replace the stoves when they renovated.
Love Carmel. Years ago purchased fabulous prints (blue dog) from George Rodrigue. (Studio now closed, he died). Super thumbs up for St. Vincent De Paul visit! Who doesn’t enjoy a good thrift for a good cause?
As the daughter of a dog trainer and a mother, I say this gently……face to face close exposure by an enthusiastic child with a leashed/tied dog could end very badly. They can’t flee and their flight response may be triggered.
Glad you enjoyed your Thanksgiving with your family in what appears to be a great hotel.
The wife and I enjoyed Thanksgiving with my family at a family tradition, Sea Island Resort.
It is truly a beautiful place and the entire family renting a beautiful 8 bedroom cottage makes the entire stay even more special.
The food is excellent and the Turkey meal was delicious and that is saying something as I generally dislike Turkey.
Call me crazy, but whenever I see meatloaf on the menu … it’s always my first choice.
1) Cracker Barrel is seriously underated. Dinner, breakfast, it’s all good
2) Monterey is a stunning place
3) Did you hang out with Lord Kilby (Craig Kilborn) while there?
What a sweet article! Is that an offensive description for an article written by a man? Sorry. The article caught my eye as I was sipping my eggnog/vanilla latte this morning and made me smile. Nice photos and absolutely darling children
Thank you Carol! No offense taken at all.
I’m jealous, Matthew. It’s been years, but I used to enjoy Carmel and Monterey a lot in my younger days. So happy you got to go back.
Soy claudia Lucila Fernández de Argentina. Conocí Carmel en 2016. Fue el lugar más lindo que jamás haya visto en mis 56 años de vida. Dios quiera pueda volver algún día.
…we too spent every thanksgiving in Carmel…actually the family would come in from all over California and we had dinner at the state park in Big Sur and then drive back to Pacific Grove for a night cap at Gus Arriola’s art studio where he had a pinball machine that occupied us kids…then back to Carmel where grandma lived!…a great weekend…every year!