Carmel Valley combines the back country living of pick-up trucks and horse ranches with the sophistication of world-class resorts, fine dining, and luxury automobiles. In Steinbeck’s Cannery Row, Mack and the boys come down from Monterey, and turn off at Carmel Valley Road, which starts at Scenic Highway 1 and twists and turns eastward for about 12 miles, along the willow-lined banks of Carmel River before ending at Carmel Valley Village. This is where folk singer Joan Baez reputedly led the cultural revolution of the ’60s and ’70s from her nearby Miramonte ranch. Actress, singer, and animal activist Doris Day has called Carmel Valley home for many years, and Rupert Murdoch has a second residence here. Enjoy year-round recreation at Garland Ranch Regional Park’s 4,500 acres of forest, chaparral, and grassland, known for its excellent trails that beg to be explored on horseback, mountain bike, or your own two feet.
GUESTLIFE DON'T MISS
Through The Grapevine
Carmel Valley is a favorite stop for wine connoisseurs, offering a rural, relaxed atmosphere to enjoy the vineyards and award-winning wines of Monterey County. Nearly a dozen wineries call the rolling hills of Carmel Valley home. During grape growing season, the climate is influenced by the warm midday sunshine, the late-afternoon cool breeze, and the fog that come off the Monterey Bay. The long, cool season allows the vineyard’s varietals to fully develop. Enjoy the bucolic country ride, or leave the driving to Monterey Salinas Transit’s Grapevine Express.
Information: (831) 375-9400
