Holiday Greetings

Carmel is a magical place during the holidays. Ocean Avenue glows with holiday lights and shop windows have enchanting displays. Every year I take some time just to stroll the town and side streets to enjoy the special decorations that residents and shop owners have carefully put up to share the joy of the season. The pace is slow, the shops are unique and the restaurants are warm. Carmel-by -the-Sea is a special town to visit to enjoy any and all holidays and celebrations.

The weekend of December 2^nd kicks off the holiday spirit with the annual Holiday Tree Lighting and Holiday Open House with entertainment beginning at 3:30 pm and the official lighting happening around 5:45 pm. There will be music, refreshments and performances. Santa may even make an appearance! Check out all the details here! Directly following the tree lighting will be the Holiday Open House in the Carmel Plaza. Be sure to stop by to beat the Christmas shopping rush!

On Sunday, December 4^th, take a tour of some of Carmel’s Inns of Distinction. Even though we are not on the tour this year, we still welcome you to come by and visit. We are happy to give a private tour, no tickets needed. Click here to purchase tickets for the Inns of Distinction tour.

Even though we don’t enjoy snowfall here on the peninsula, Ice Skating By The Bay in downtown Monterey manages to make us feel like we are in our own Winter Wonderland.

Dance Kids of Monterey County will be putting on their 23^rd Annual Nutcracker show this year. It will be performed in the Sunset Center starting Friday, December 9^th. Purchase tickets to the show here!

The Pacific Repertory Theatre at the Golden Bough Theater in Carmel is putting on two great shows this winter season.  Sister Act is showing until December 18^th.  It will be followed by Winter Boogie Wonderland from December 29^th through January 8^th. Click here to purchase tickets!

First Night Monterey is an annual New Year’s Eve celebration that takes place in downtown Monterey, from 3:00 pm to midnight.  If you’re interested in ringing in 2017 with Monterey locals and visitors, find all of the details here.

The Annual Rio Grill Resolution Run starts at the Crossroads, winds though downtown Carmel and ends at Carmel Mission.  The run is a family event, including dogs. Choose either a 5K or 10K course to run, walk, or stroll.

If you can’t make it to town over the holidays, think about January and February, just to relax and rejuvenate. We have lots of special packages available, simply call and ask. We also offer Gift Certificates that are perfect for any type of gift giving.

We hope to see you this Holiday season!

Tours By The Sea

While visiting Carmel, one should absolutely explore and attempt to visit all of the hidden pathways and charming courtyards. Of course it is endless fun to wander through town and find great shops on your own; however, taking a tour will ensure that you encounter many of Carmel's hidden gems that one might have missed. Whether the tour is self-guided or in a group, you will be sure to find all of the must see spots of Carmel By The Sea.

There are tours offered for the food and wine connoisseur as well as tours for visitors who enjoy learning about the history and culture of a town. Carmel is celebrating its centennial this year and the celebration makes learning about the rich history of the village even more interesting.          

  

Brief descriptions of some great self guided tours follow:     

                                                             

Wine Walk By The Sea

What's better than a darling village full of wine tasting rooms? Carmel Wine Walk by-the-Sea is a self-guided stroll along Ocean Avenue and the surrounding blocks. One may purchase a wine passport from our front desk staff that entitles the buyer to one $10 flight at 9 different wine tasting rooms of your choosing. These passports can be used in one day, or enjoyed over a long weekend or even a few months.

Carmel's Historic Walking Tour

This self-guided tour suggests various interesting and notable historic homes and buildings to see. We are able to provide maps for this enlightening stroll upon request.

If you prefer to be guided along by a knowledgeable local, consider any of these guided tours:

Carmel Food Tour

Love food but don't know where to begin? The guided Gourmet Food Tour visits seven food tasting locations within the quaint village of Carmel-by-the-Sea. These locally-owned tasting stops are only the tip of the iceberg, as Carmel is truly a perfect town for foodies.

Carmel Walks

Enjoy a leisurely 2-hour guided walk through Carmel’s secret pathways, hidden courtyards, award-winning gardens, and by enchanting storybook cottages. This company also offers guided tours within Point Lobos. Point Lobos is one of the gems of the State Park System with gorgeous views of land and sea.

Carmel Art Tours

Perhaps a day enjoying art is more your style; if so, consider a 90 minute guided walking tour of local galleries.

Ag Venture Tours & Consulting

Take a wine tasting tour in Carmel Valley!

Big Sur Tours and More

                                                                                                                                                                    Big Sur is a beautiful area not to be missed! Join Dave, a local guide, on a customized tour of Big Sur. Dave also offers tours of beautiful 17 Mile Drive and transportation to Hearst Castle. 

Summer - Thinking Outside the Beach

Summer has arrived in Carmel-By-The-Sea! Carmel is a great escape from the sweltering heat many experience in other parts of the state.  Whether  you are traveling as a couple, in a group of friends or as a family, June and July offer a variety of events to attend in addition to all of the wonderful outdoor activities and food in the area.

The Carmel Bach Festival is in its 79th season of offering brilliant performances by world class musicians who gather from around the country. Opening night will be Saturday, July 16th, with a performance of Bach and Handel by the Sea in celebration of Carmel's centennial.  There will be concerts held daily through Saturday, July 30th. Venues include Sunset Center, Church in the Forest, Carmel Mission Basilica and other locations in Carmel. Visit the website for the schedule and tickets. Many concerts sell out early.

If you will be in Carmel for Father's Day, Run in the Name of Love is both a 5K run and a 2K walk through Carmel. This year dogs will be welcome in the 2K walk. This is a nice family event open to the public and you can register up to and including race day.

The Carmel House and Garden Tour, hosted by the Carmel Heritage Society, on Saturday, June 25th, will have some special houses included this year. These homes are all within Carmel-by-the-Sea and it is a great walk around the town and an opportunity to see inside some of the unique homes of Carmel. Included this year will be: The first house built in Carmel "The Dunes", The First Brick House built in Carmel in 1898, The Charles Sumner Greene Studio, the Frank Lloyd Wright House, and a Comstock house. You can see the complete list at www.carmelheritage.org. They also have a great exhibit called "Then and Now".

The unique outdoor Forest Theater, founded in 1910, is one of the oldest outdoor theaters west of the Rockies. The theater was closed last summer to update it and bring it up to code. It has just reopened and offers a fun lineup for the summer. The featured play this summer is The Borrowers and will run from June 23 through July 17. There will also be a number of films shown on the large outdoor screen during June  and July. Take a picnic, a bottle of wine, and sit under the pines for a relaxing evening. As always in Carmel, dogs are welcome. For the schedule and times go to www.foresttheaterguild.org

The Carmel Valley Art & Wine Celebration takes place on June 18th. It is held throughout Carmel Valley Village where you can sip on award-winning Carmel Valley wines while viewing the work of over 50 artists in the Village streets. Carmel Valley is just 12 miles from downtown Carmel.

So no matter the reason one chooses to visit Carmel in summer, we are sure you will find something unexpected to enjoy. We hope to see you in the coming months!

Fall has Arrived with an Abundance of Activities and Events to Enjoy

There really is something for everyone this time of year. Some days it is hard to choose between a hike, whale watching or attending a special event. 

Cultural events in the fall include Monterey Jazz Festival - www.montereyjazzfestival.org; Carmel International Film Festival - www.carmelfilmfest.com; and Pebble Beach Authors and Ideas Festival - www.pbaif.com.

For golfers, The First Tee Open Golf Tournament - www.thefirstteeopen.com and the TaylorMade Pebble Beach Invitational are both great tournaments open to spectators free of charge.  The First Tee pairs Pros and Junior players.  The TaylorMade is one of the only tournaments that has both PGA and LPGA players. 

The Taste of Carmel is a special evening for Foodies, or for anyone who can’t decide which restaurant to go to.   Held in the courtyard of the Carmel Mission; it gives you the chance to sample cuisine and sip wines from many of the top restaurants and winemakers in the area.  It also gives you the opportunity to dance to some great music.  The Taste is on Thursday October 1, and during the rest of the weekend there are food tours and other events planned.  www.tasteofcarmel.com.

Carmel's Birthday Celebration is on Halloween with a home town parade featuring both people and dogs in great costumes.  Anyone is welcome to join the Parade, or watch it, on Ocean Avenue.  Another local event is the 55th Annual Sandcastle Contest on October 4th, anyone can join in.

Fall is also a great time to gear up for the Big Sur Half Marathon held on November 8 in Monterey. www.bigsurhalfmarathon.org.

For those who would like to just sit back and be entertained be sure to visit www.sunsetcenter.org.  There is a wonderful variety of entertainers lined up for the 2015-2016 season. 

And last but certainly not least - DON'T FORGET THE WHALES!  They are putting on quite a show this year.

Carmel Heritage Society House and Garden Tour

Carmel has a rich history of attracting a vast array of artistic individuals.  Many artists, writers and architects have all used Carmel's special beauty and character for inspiration.

As a long-time resident of Carmel, and an avid walker, I love to wander the streets and enjoy the unique  gardens and architecture.   This weekend is one of my favorite events.  The public will actually have the opportunity to enter some of the gardens and houses that we usually can only walk past.

The Carmel Heritage Society House and Garden tour is Saturday, June 20. Every year there is a wonderful variety of homes open to the public, this year is no exception.   Open on Saturday are homes designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, Julia Moran and M. J. Murphy.   There are also two

houses I am very excited to see, the Ship and the Golf House.  I used to babysit in the house beside the Ship and I can't wait to see the inside.

For more information on this annual event go to www.carmelheritage.org.

If you can't make the tour this weekend, think about coming in early December for the Inns of Distinction Tour.  This is another great event hosted by the Heritage Society.  This event includes food, wine and a look into a number of Carmel Inns.   This event gives you a great chance to pick out the perfect Inn for your stay the next time you visit Carmel, if Tradewinds is full.

Summer !

Although Spring is my favorite season, Summer is a very close second. 

I have always considered Memorial Day the kick off for Summer activities and it has arrived.  I am ready to go outside and enjoy the plethora of activities that are easily available throughout the Monterey Peninsula. I do have to admit that our climate usually allows most of these activities throughout the year. However, there is just something special and carefree about Summer.

Because tickets are going fast, today I want to mention the very special Carmel Bach Festival (www.bachfestival.org). The Festival takes place over two weeks in July. This is the 78th Season. Paul Goodwin, is in his 5th year as the Artistic Director and Principal Conductor. The world class musicians and Choral members, most of whom return year after year, come from throughout the country. The theme this year is "Bach, Bohemia and Beyond." The program is wonderful; I had a very difficult time deciding which concerts I could go see. I certainly won't miss the Brandenburg Concerti, the Royal Fireworks Music, or The Magic Flute. The main venue for the concerts is Sunset Center in downtown Carmel (www.sunsetcenter.org). However, there are many other locations hosting concerts and lectures including: the Carmel Mission Basilica, All Saints Church, and the Church in the Forest. The Bach Festival website is full of excellent information about the performances, participants, and the area. For me, a perfect Summer day might be a hike, dinner, and a concert.

Following is a list of some of my other favorite Summer pass times. During the next few weeks I will  provide more specific information on some of these adventures:

• Picnics--Where to pick one up and where to enjoy it
• Hiking--Both coastal and inland
• The Carmel  Heritage House Tour
• Bicycle Rides
• Kayaking
• Monterey Bay Aquarium
• Dining Outside
• Building a sandcastle, flying a kite or maybe even surf lessons
• Wine tasting on a long sunlit evening
• Taking a short drive up Carmel Valley or down to Big Sur

Relais & Chateau GourmetFest

The second ever Relais & Chateâu GourmetFest builds on absurd luxury, celebrity and execution of year one, which enjoyed a couple of dozen chefs carrying as many Michelin stars as they did ice chests of crazy-good caviar.

 It enjoys all the ingredients and intrigue of PBFW, just simmered down to an even richer, more exclusive and intimate affair.

 Bring on Gary Danko, Michel Bras, Black River Caviar-Dom Pérignon lunches and Rarities Dinner where $5,000 isn't enough to get you a seat. (You'll need a few bucks more and some nice connections.)

 The best way to enjoy GourmetFest and its range of demos (like the Grand Chef Women's four-hour demo lunch), tastings (note the Journey through Barbaresco with Gaia Gaja) and once-in-two-lifetimes dinners (The Relais & Chateaux Grand Chef Dinner) is to stay in Carmel at, say, one of two family owned lodges, and the most beautifully blended between modernity and old-school luxury (yes, Tradewinds.)

 In fact, it's perfect, because Tradewinds is a lot like a smart connoisseur's Relais & Chateaux, minus the incredible restaurant. Instead you save your money for events like the Seafood Grill with its hard-to-forget wineries (by the score) and internationally renown chefs (by the dozen) and are closer to most of the events than any other comparable hotels.

It's enough to make for one of the most sumptuous weekends in the world.

Here's the schedule at a glance. Find more at the mouthwatering GourmetFest website:

THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 2015

WELCOME PARTY with Justin Cogley, Michel Bras, Olivier Roellinger,

Gary Danko, Annie Féolde, Tetsuya, Diego Muñoz & Lanshu Chen

Seventh & Dolores | 6-9 pm | 600 people

FRIDAY, MARCH 6, 2015

GALANTE VINEYARDS TOUR & LUNCH

Carmel Valley | 9:30 am - 2 pm | 80 people

PAUL DRAPER & THE MAGIC OF RIDGE MONTE BELLO

La Playa Carmel - Pacific Room | 10:30 am - 12 pm | 50 people

GRAND WOMEN CHEFS & WINEMAKERS

LUNCH & COOKING DEMO with Annie Féolde and Lanshu Chen

Seventh & Dolores | 11 am| 160 people

THE TERROIR OF COMTE GEORGES DE VOGÜÉ MUSIGNY

with Jean-Luc Pepin

La Playa Carmel - Pacific Room | 3:30 - 5 pm | 50 people

RARITIES DINNER

with Michel Bras, Olivier Roellinger, Tetsuya, Justin Cogley, Richard

Geoffroy from Dom Pérignon, Paul Draper from Ridge Vineyards,

Jean-Luc Pepin from Domaine Comte Georges de Vogüé

& Black River Caviar

Aubergine at L'Auberge Carmel | 6:30 pm | 28 people

CUISINE AND WINES OF THE WORLD DINNER

with Gary Danko, Colin Bedford and Diego Muñoz

Seventh & Dolores | 6:30 pm | 160 people

SATURDAY, MARCH 7, 2015

WILD MUSHROOM HUNT & LUNCH with Ranger Chuck Bancroft

Santa Lucia Preserve | 9:30 am - 2 pm | 80 people

A JOURNEY THROUGH BARBARESCO WITH GAIA GAJA

La Playa Carmel - Pacific Room | 10:30 am - 12 pm | 50 people

DOM PÉRIGNON & BLACK RIVER CAVIAR LUNCH with Winemaker

Richard Geoffroy and Black River Caviar's Graham Gaspard

featuring Chefs Justin Cogley, Tetsuya, Gary Danko & Ron Mendoza

Aubergine at L'Auberge Carmel | Noon | 28 people

A TASTE OF FRANCE LUNCH & COOKING DEMO

with Olivier Roellinger and Michel Bras

Seventh & Dolores | 11 am | 160 people

THE STAR OF THE MOSEL with Ernst Loosen

La Playa Carmel - Pacific Room | 3:30 - 5 pm | 50 people

RELAIS & CHATEAUX GRAND CHEF DINNER

with Justin Cogley, Annie Féolde, Colin Bedford,

Diego Muñoz & Lanshu Chen

Seventh & Dolores | 6:30 pm | 160 people

SUNDAY, MARCH 8, 2015

THE PLENITUDE OF DOM PÉRIGNON

with Chef de Cave Richard Geoffroy featuring Rare Vintages

La Playa Carmel - Pacific Room | 10:30 am - 12 pm | 50 people

SEAFOOD GRILL

Seventh & Dolores | 12 - 3 pm | 600 people