Monterey and Carmel-By-The-Sea
If you know anything about us Walker sisters, you know we TRULY love being on California soil. Which is why we needed to first share with you all our weekend in Monterey/Carmel. Watch Big Little Lies? The views are exactly as pictured- the town is a laid back beach haven with Hansel & Gretel cottage vibes from a folk tale. Go see for yourself and take some of our below suggestions with you on your northern California trip. Best way to get there? Spend a few days visiting San Francisco then rent a car for the drive down Highway 1. Make sure to stop for the amazing coastal views and lunch/drinks in one of the tiny beach towns on the way down.
WHERE TO STAY:
SEVEN GABLES INN- BED AND BREAKFAST: The place to go for a quiet escape & to watch the ocean-life through binoculars in multiple locations with complimentary happy hour/breakfast. Avg. Nightly Stay: $300-$700
HOTEL CARMEL: This Instagram worthy hotel is perfect for a girl’s trip! Set in town, just a few blocks from the water, come back to complimentary happy hour every evening! Avg. Nightly Stay: $300-$600
THE GETAWAY: A stunning boutique hotel that we chose because of their dog-friendly accommodations! Another Instagram worthy stay with complimentary breakfast every AM. Avg. Nightly Stay: $250-$400
AIRBNB: There is nothing Alex loves more than hunting for the perfect Airbnb. If hotels are just not your thing- here are some of the most loved Airbnb’s to choose from on your stay!
WHERE TO EAT:
BREWERIES:
HALF MOON BAY BREWERY- We took the drive from San Francisco down to Monterey and made a pit-stop at this local brewery (the Saison and the Amber Beer were both delicious!) The food looked amazing, but we were just there to stretch our legs, take in the water views, and quench our thirst! P.S This is a dog friendly spot!
ALVARADO STREET BREWERY: Located in downtown Monterey, this was our first stop in Big Little Lies country. We, of course, inhaled everything & enjoyed the back porch covered patio! (Again, another dog friendly spot!)
BREAKFAST/BRUNCH
BAGEL KITCHEN: Since Lauren refused to eat in the mornings with the elderly, we stopped here on our way to a winery! This grab & go spot was perfection with fresh bagels, awesome breakfast sandwiches, and delicious iced coffee! The neon sign also makes for the perfect picture.
CREMA: This was one of our favorite spots on our trip. The girls ate here while the dads golfed. This local spot gets busy on the weekend but is worth the wait. Get the pitcher of red sangria and you can’t go wrong with ANYTHING on the brunch menu. (chicken n’ waffles specifically).
CAPTAIN AND STOKER: This was a local coffee shop with some amazing pastries & breakfast toasts! We stopped here on our way out of Monterey, heading back into the city! All white aesthetic with unique wooden tables. Great for a quick bite to eat or an early morning stroll snack.
CASANOVA: If you can’t make it to any other eating spot, make this the priority! This quaint French/Italian restaurant had OUTSTANDING food (highly recommend the Fettuccini with a ton of fresh seafood- can be a shareable meal), an expansive wine list, a tree that the restaurant had to build around, and if that’s not enough, a table Van Gough ate at!
ROYS: Our California relatives were staying at the Pebble Beach Golf Resort, so we joined them for dinner at Roys. Let me just say, the sushi is mouth-watering fresh. The restaurant is also on the golf course grounds, so it’s a great spot to walk around and explore too!
ACTIVITES:
FOLK TALE WINERY: Located 20 minutes away from Monterey this is also a MUST if you can’t do anything else! Our group did the food & wine tasting and it was worth every penny. We were able to tour the grounds (which made Alex fall in love with the idea of getting married here) and then sit down to enjoy our food and wine pairing. The aesthetic of the vineyard made you want to abandon your Midwest lifestyle and move there!
BIKE RIDING & KAYAKING: Everyone is OUTSIDE in this town, we headed to Adventures By the Sea to rent our bikes and kayaks. Biking towards Carmel, we took in all the incredible views of the houses and ocean! We recommend stopping any chance you get to climb the rocks and explore. Kayaking was also an adventure- we were able to watch sea otters swim beside us in the ocean and watch as they hung out on kelp.
MONTEREY BAY AQUARIUM: Even if you are not traveling with kids, we highly recommend exploring the aquarium. Not only is Finding Dory inspired from Monterey Bay and a reason to go, but the animals, such as the giant squid and sea otters, are so fun to watch and be mesmerized by!
