Carmel Valley combines the backcountry living of pickups 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, and Carmel Valley was where Bob Dylan took refuge to write many of his songs. 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 Romance — Holman Ranch
Designed and built by architect Clarence Tantau in 1928, Holman Ranch was purchased by Clarence and Vivian Holman in the 1940s. The current ranch sits on 400 sprawling acres and has been meticulously restored to its former glory by the Lowder family. Charlie Chaplin made it his home away from home in the ’30s, and celebrities like Clark Gable and Marlon Brando used the ranch as a getaway from Hollywood.
Today, under the direction of Hunter Lowder and Nick Elliot, Holman Ranch boasts a state-of-the-art equestrian center and has quickly become one of the most popular places on the peninsula for weddings and parties of any size.
Information: (831) 659-2640.
GuestLife Don’t Miss — Carmel Valley Village
Follow the grapevine-lined twists and turns of Carmel Valley Road 13 miles inland past wineries, pastureland, and horse farms before arriving in idyllic Carmel Valley Village. When the coast is socked in with fog, you can count on sunshine in the village.
The locals swear that it is sunny 300 days out of the year. Wine-tasting rooms are the biggest draw to this tight-knit community, but there’s more to explore than meets the eye. Grab a European-bistro lunch on the sun-drenched patio at Café Rustica or enjoy the food and ambiance of pet-friendly and very French Garden Bistro. Splurge on a spa treatment at Harmony Day Spa. Meet an always-colorful cast of local characters at the Western-influenced watering hole The Running Iron. Shop at the fashionable woman and baby boutique Diamond Horseshoe; outfit your fellow at Robert Talbott’s studio, or make your property pretty at gallery-like garden shops, such as FezQ Gardens. When you’re ready to call it a day, unwind poolside at Los Laureles Lodge with one of the best margaritas around.
