Traveling to Carmel Valley

Traveling to Carmel Valley

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When you think of traveling to the Central Coast, you immediately think of white sandy beaches and cool crisp air. But get yourself out of that mindset, I have a hidden gem you will want to discover during your next trip to Northern California...

With a scenery that most painters and photographers will be inspired with well after their visit, the Carmel Valley is a hidden gem within the Central Valley coastal region. It is the perfect escape for those looking to decompress yet still enjoy the modern conveniences of big city living.

Just a few short miles from the sandy white beaches of Carmel by the Sea, Carmel Valley is a world apart from the picturesque small town experience most people are familiar with when traveling to the Central Coast.

Characterized by its warm climate, Carmel Valley boasts various wineries and upscale dining thats perfect to escape city life.

While most people might enjoy a day wine tasting in Carmel Valley and stay elsewhere, on a recent trip to the Central Coast I was able to stay at one of the Hacienda-inspired cottages at Holman Ranch, one of the largest private vineyards in the area.

Usually reserved exclusively by hosting wedding or private event at Holman Ranch, the compound has ten shared one-bedroom cottages, and a larger two-bedroom one, all joined by a private round and walkable trails. It's a gorgeous setting in the middle of the vineyards with the Santa Lucia Range backdrop.

The Holman Ranch compound also has an Hacienda that is usually reserved for the family owners of the winery, but as a guest of the #llblognotaconf blogger retreat that I was attending, I was able to enjoy a private tour of the Mexican-inspired home.

The wrought iron details, original Mexican furnishings and religious artifacts beautifully set the mood of the home. Other details, such as the wall coverings, stonework and ground coverings are reminiscent of early Californian’s Spanish and Mexican style & decor influence.

Other amenities at Holman Ranch included a private game-room, an outdoor pool, and a wine cave. Imagine experiencing all of this while celebrating a family reunion or your own wedding? Simply memorable!

As for the foodie part of my experience in Carmel Valley, I enjoyed a five-course meal at Will's Fargo Restaurant + Bar, which is owned by the Holman Ranch family.

Will's Fargo Restaurant + Bar has undergone several menu upgrades by celebrated Chef Greg Karjala, formerly of Sticks at the Inn at Spanish Bay in Pebble Beach, that’s inspired by the local farms and seasonality of the area.

From traditional steaks to inventive dining selections, each unique dish was elevated when paired with the Holman Ranch wine selection we enjoyed in each course.

Ultimately, Chef Greg Karjala celebrated the Carmel Valley in its own distinct way. Truly a delight from the appetizers to the grand finale, which was a marscapone cheesecake topped with hibiscus sauce.

To enjoy your own Carmel Valley getaway, visit:

Holman Ranch
(831) 659-2640
http://holmanranch.com/
Ranch tours by appointment only
Tastings at the Holman Ranch Tasting Room located at:
19 E. Carmel Valley Road, Suite C
Carmel Valley, CA 93924

To make reservations at Will's Fargo Steakhouse & Bar when visiting the Central Coast, visit:

Will's Fargo Restaurant + Bar
(831) 659-2774
http://wfrestaurant.com/
16 W. Carmel Valley Road
Carmel Valley, CA 93924

Cheers!

Ana Lydia

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Pismo Beach & Morro Bay Vacation Stop

Pismo Beach & Morro Bay Vacation Stop

To kick-off our Central California vacation, we spent the night in Pismo Beach based on a recommendation from our friend Kris who runs the SIP Certified Sustainable Wine program. 

Kris is very familiar with the California central coast region and knows me personally, so after mentioning that we were looking to stop somewhere relaxing halfway up to Carmel, she immediately suggested that we spend our first night of our vacation at the Cliffs Resort in Pismo Beach.

Trusting her whole-heartedly, it didn't take me long to make our reservations for this beautiful hotel.

Pismo Beach is a quintessential California beach town is located halfway between San Francisco and Los Angeles, next to the Pacific Coast Highway and the 101.

Their laid-back culture and welcoming attitude towards dog-families made it the perfect stop to regroup, relax and get into our vacation mindset before we continued with our road trip.

The drive up to Pismo Beach is very scenic and relaxing once you leave Los Angeles. But on a Friday it can take an hour or two longer than usual. Because we left later than planned, we arrived a bit later than expected, tired and hungry with just had enough time to grab dinner at The Cliffs Resort.

The pictures I found online did little justice to The Cliffs Resort!

Not only is the resort a dog-friendly full-service property, it's also located on the Pismo Beach Bluffs giving most rooms a beautiful view of the ocean.

The boutique-style hotel also prides itself with treating all guests like locals, as witnessed by the many travelers my hubby and I spoke to in the short time we were there. Some folks, a woman named Jenna (if I recall correctly) had spent an entire week at the resort. Her plans were to return again the following summer with friends.

Yes...it's that gorgeous and makes total sense why you would like to spend more than a day (or night) at the Cliffs Resort.

As for our accommodations, our room was large, airy and bright; decorated with modern furnishings, including an in-suite wall fireplace, large flat-screen TV, and accented with large plantation doors that opened to a view of the pool area and a short walk to the on-site restaurant.

But besides the location of the room that made it a perfect first night away, it was the superior attention to our needs as a traveling dog family that took our breath away and made our Pismo Beach stay much more enjoyable.

The first morning in Pismo Beach we woke-up to the sounds of the seagulls singing outside our patio and Maya trying to jump on our bed excited to walk on the beach. Truth be told, we couldn't wait to walk the hotel property either!

The bluffs in Pismo Beach are absolutely beautiful, although mostly covered by the dense fog in the morning until the sun burns it off.

Either way, you can't go wrong walking around the pathway and chatting-up with other travelers who are just as smitten with the view as you are.

While we did walk around the property in the morning before we headed north, the scenery was more breathtaking once we walked down to the beach and strolled on the soft rocky beach.

By mid-day, hubby was hungry and so was I. So we decided to head to Carmel and have lunch in Morro Bay, which was only a few minutes north of Pismo Beach.

Morro Bay happens to be one of my favorite towns in the Central Coast because it's unspoiled from the downfalls of tourism. But for a budding photographer, like myself, traveling to Morro Bay goes beyond the small town charm.

It's the sunsets, velvet-like blue water, and the seals and sea lions that seem to live among the humans quite nicely that make Morro Bay a picture-perfect stop for any travels through the Central Coast.

During our open-air lunch on the Morro Bay pier, we had a lunch buddy that showered underneath the pier with the water being used to clean the fish and other seafood being sold to local restaurants.

The sea lion had a name...I can't recall. But the fishermen told me that she came by daily to play in their water.

Whether true or not, the story reminded us that we were traveling simply to play.

And play we did...

Ana Lydia

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Peter B's, Monterey's ONLY Award-Winning Brew Pub

Peter B's, Monterey's ONLY Award-Winning Brew Pub

When on vacation, hubby and I tend to gravitate in two directions when choosing restaurants: high end/foodie faire or local dives. We rarely, if ever, dine in the hotel restaurant unless it's for breakfast. 

But on our recent #UnminivanMoments #CaliforniaGold road trip up the California coast, the lovely folks at the Portola Hotel and Spa in Monterey invited us to enjoy after dinner drinks and appetizers at Peter B's brew pub.

A mainstay of the Monterey Peninsula for more than 30 years, Peter B's is recognized for being Monterey's first craft brewery and the 2014 Open Table Diner's Choice Winner. 

The family-friendly pub was recently renovated and added 18 Hi-Def TV's, pool table area, and renovated the outdoors space -which is also dog friendly-.

With Brew Master Kevin Clark and Executive Chef Jason Giles at the helm, Peter B's has developed an extensive menu that goes beyond the traditional bar faire.

Let's first talk about the beer...

Unlike other brew pubs that bottle their bring beer into their establishment, Peter B's brews EVERYTHING on-site; and while many of the fave's are available year round, others, like the absolutely YUMMY Raspberry Ale is only available during, well, raspberry season. So hurry on up, you MUST get it while in season!

Now, for those of you that are a little more adventuresome or like me, not sure what you like, trying a Flight of Beer is a perfect choice! The flight includes six small beer glasses (I'm guessing around 3-4 ounces) selected by Peter B's, or you can select the beer yourself. Price? ONLY $6.50!

While if you know what you like and travel to Monterey often or lets say you live there, another great option is joining the Mug Club. 

This $50 membership (renewed for only $15) includes a personal 25 oz. beer stein that is displayed at Peter B's and yours to use when you come back. You also get discounts off the price of beers as well as exclusive invites to sample new beers and invites to Peter B's monthly Brewer's Dinners and mug club mixers. This is truly an opportunity to mix and mingle with a community of home brewers, beer connoisseurs and enthusiasts.

Now lets talk about the food...

Hotel food, by nature of what it is, is usually never palatable, let alone worthy of a return visit. Then lets talk about pubs, which usually have greasy faire that's basically meant to absorb liquor. Now get this out of your mind before visiting Peter B's.

Their menu is actually quite extensive and welcoming to various tastes. From your mainstay bar food, like cheese sticks, to their dinner and lunch plates, everything on the menu has been recreated with Peter B's gourmet touch. The sauce is seasoned perfectly allowing the flavors of the tomatoes swirl with the flavorful cheese - that is not just your basic mozzarella.

Being only steps away from the ocean, it was quite fitting that we also taste one of my favorite bar foods: fried calamari rings.

Perfection doesn't quite begin to describe the yummy batter that covered these just-fished-today calamari. Crispy, flavorful, and just all around amazing. A MUST TRY whether you stop by for a beer or dinner.

I wasn't excited to try to japaleno poppers. Mostly because they taste the same everywhere I order them. This time? Absolutely not!

The FRESH jalapenos were filled with Mexican cheese (not cream cheese!) and covered in this amazing beer batter and fried to perfection. The jalapenos actually had a crunch while the cheese oozed out.

Life changing I tell ya, life changing!

Peter B's is a MUST STOP next time you're traveling to Monterey. Trust me - you will have an amazing time and eat yummy food while enjoying one of my favorite cities. Or, as I like to call it: Monterey - My heaven on earth.

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Peter B’s Brewpub

2 Portola Plaza
(Behind Portola Hotel & Spa)
Monterey, CA 93940
Direct & Reservations: (831) 649-2699
Email: peterbsbrewpub@portolahotel.com

Hours:

Monday – Thursday: 4:00pm to 11:00pm
Sunday: 11:00am to 11:00pm
Friday – Saturday: 11:00am to 1:00am
Happy Hour Everyday: 4:00pm to 6:30pm

Follow on Twitter:  @peterbsbrewpub
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