L’Auberge Carmel is a full-service Relais & Châteaux property located in the heart of Carmel-by-the-Sea just blocks from the famed Carmel Beach. Originally built in 1929, the historic hotel is known for its graceful architecture, personalized guest services, European-style and elegance. Individually designed guest rooms feature the finest fabrics and linens and enlarged bath areas with radiant floor heating.
There is much to discover when traveling the beautiful and pristine California coast. Carmel-by-the-Sea and Monterey Bay are destinations not to be missed, sanctuaries of natural beauty like no other. Take a short stroll along the white sands of Carmel Beach located just four short blocks from the hotel. If you linger there among the forest pines and cypress trees, you can catch the sunset before making your way back to your luxurious room for a private massage or to prepare for the evenings culinary exploration. For those into the art scene, you can spend hours visiting many of Carmel’s many galleries. Shoppers can delight in the myriad artisan boutiques that line the cobblestone streets of the Village-by-the-Sea that will inspire and delight with a treasure trove of textures and unique artifacts. Engage the senses. See the sights. Relax…Explore…Discover.
Held each year from mid-July through early August, the Carmel Bach Festival attracts performers and attendees from around the world.
Founded in 1927, Carmel’s oldest gallery features the work of more than 120 professional local artists, and is dedicated to presenting only the finest work for sale by artists living on the Monterey Peninsula.
Founded in 1910, this is the oldest operating outdoor theater west of the Rockies. Live plays and some films are presented through their May through August season.
Home of the 100 year old Pacific Repertory Theater, a variety of live performances are presented throughout the year.
Often performing at the Sunset Center, the Monterey County Symphony performs throughout the year.
Dubbed the “best small town museum in the United States,” the Monterey Museum of Art is home to works by famed artists Henri Matisse and Pablo Picasso and photographer Ansel Adams.
This center for the performing arts offers an elegant setting for performances throughout the year.
This upscale shopping area offers fine quality and service. Special tours, tastings and events can be arranged for groups to sample.
Visit SeeMonterey.com or Carmelcalifornia.com for more information
Executive Chef Justin Cogley and Pastry Chef Yulanda Santos’ cooking philosophy is built first and foremost on spontaneity. With access to an array of outstanding local products as well as ingredients and artisan purveyors from around the world, Cogley and Santos focus on incorporating these elements into their ever-changing menus.
The popular restaurant offers the pure flavors of an authentic Italian trattoria in a casual, modern setting. Cantinetta Luca’s ingredients are always fresh and seasonal; presentations are rich and rustic. Chef Aaron Rayor sources the best available ingredients from local farmers, fishmongers and purveyors. Many items on the menu are made in-house including the breads, many cheeses, artisanal salumi and fresh pastas. Specialties include wood-oven baked pizza, as well as a wide array of antipasti, whole fire-roasted fish and grilled meats.
Renowned vineyards and wineries large and small call Monterey County home. The Valley offers a pleasant country road dotted with tasting rooms and vineyards.
Approximately 85 vintners and growers call Monterey Wine Country home. Monterey County’s lifestyle and wines are defined by the cooling influence of the ocean and especially of Monterey Bay and its very deep marine canyon.
The River Road Wine Trail is an association of Monterey County winery tasting rooms, located primarily along the River Road / Foothill Road corridor, on the Santa Lucia Highlands bench above the Salinas Valley. Charming and intimate, these tasting rooms specialize in limited release vintages and genuine hospitality. Often, visitors will be sampling with the actual winemaker. Conveniently situated just east of Monterey and Carmel, and about seventy minutes south of San Jose, the River Road Wine Trail has become one of the Central Coast’s premiere wine touring destinations.
One of the top family attractions in the country, the aquarium provides a fascinating journey through our sea life and the conservation of it. Summer hours are 9:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Winter hours are open 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The aquarium is open every day of the year except Christmas.
Located in John Steinbeck’s hometown of Salinas, Calif., a scenic 20-mile drive from Monterey in the heart of Steinbeck Country. The Center offers three distinct visitor experiences in literature and history, agriculture and art, as well special events and educational programs.
The AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am is a 72-hole PGA TOUR golf championship dating back to the 1930’s when Bing Crosby gathered a few friends to raise money for charity… and have a little fun. Top tour professionals team with Hollywood celebrities, world renowned musicians and the captains of industry as they compete for a $7.4 million purse.
GourmetFest is an international food and wine festival in the quaint village of Carmel-by-the-Sea. The festival features the talents of Relais & Châteaux Chefs from around the world. Events include an opening night welcome party, a cooking demo, wine tastings, off-site tours combined with exciting lunches, featured chefs, world-class wine dinners, a rarities dinner, and a Champagne tasting.
A four-day “Celebration of Cycling” that welcomes nearly 10,000 athletes and 50,000 race fans and other bicycle enthusiasts. Professional and amateur athletes make the annual pilgrimage to participate in cycling’s best competitive events in various mountain and road bike disciplines. Hundreds of pro cyclists, including national and world champions, come to Sea Otter to race, sign autographs, and share their racing techniques with fans.
The Big Sur Marathon is 26.2 miles of the most beautiful coastline in the world – and, for runners, the most challenging. Named “Best Marathon in North America” by The Ultimate Guide to Marathons, the Big Sur International Marathon continues to sell out earlier and earlier each year and, as a major destination marathon, draws entrants from all over the world. Related marathon-day events include a 21-mile power walk, 5K run, 9-mile walk, 10.6-mile walk, marathon relay, and Just Kids 3K.
Carmel-by-the-Sea highlights its artist colony origins with the Annual Carmel Art Festival. Centered around the visual arts, the festival features sculpture in Devendorf Park, a juried plein air painting competition, art activities for children, live performances and more. In addition, galleries throughout Carmel will hold receptions and demonstrations during the Carmel Art Festival.
Set amidst the stunning architectural and natural landscapes of Carmel, California, the Festival is a 15-day world class celebration of music and ideas inspired by the historical and ongoing influence of Johann Sebastian Bach in the world. The Festival offers a compelling array of rich musical experiences featuring national and international artists in a variety of settings enjoyed by 22,000 attendees each year coming from local, regional, national, and international locales.
A tradition going back over half a century, the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance is where the world’s collector cars meet and compete. Only the 200 best collector cars in the world roll onto the legendary 18th fairway of Pebble Beach Golf Links, and only a handful of those will receive official recognition for style, technical merit and historical accuracy.
The Monterey Jazz Festival is the longest running jazz festival in the world. It is held annually on the 20-acre, oak-studded Monterey Fairgrounds, located at 2000 Fairground Road in Monterey, California. This has been the site of the Festival since its inception in 1958. More than 500 top jazz artists perform throughout the weekend on 9 stages spread throughout the grounds.
Contemporary art and independent film collide for five days in Carmel-by-the-Sea during the Carmel Art & Film Festival. The festival features art in almost every medium including music, fine art, photography and, of course, film. Events will be scattered throughout the artist’s haven of Carmel-by-the-Sea with the Sunset Cultural Center as the hub for the event.
Indulge in fantastic food, great wines and exquisite scenery at the Big Sur Food and Wine Festival. Local restaurants, resorts and wineries from all over California will team up for dinners and tastings that showcase area produce and wines. Proceeds from the event benefit health, safety and educational programs in the area.
Some of the most beautiful coastline views in the world are within this 89 mile stretch of Highway 1.
It’s locally renowned for good surf and excellent dog-walking conditions, as well as breathtaking sunsets. An annual sandcastle contest is testimony to the quality of the silvery sands, which are punctuated by outcroppings of rock.
Coastal and inland trails abound in Monterey County.
Pebble Beach, Carmel Valley, and Big Sur all offer horse riding trails.
This beautiful state park is only three miles south of Carmel. Take a moderate hike around the point and look for coastal sea life, including sea otters, jelly fish, seals and whales.
Named greatest public golf course in America. Par 72, 6828 total yards. Reservations: 48 hours prior to desired tee time, although peak times are more challenging to arrange.
Scottish style links golf course with rolling hills and deep valleys. Par 72, 6821 total yards. Reservations: six months prior to desired tee time
Spyglass Hill golf course takes its name from Robert Lewis Stevenson’s classic novel, Treasure Island, published 1863. Spyglass Golf Course is one of the toughest golf courses in the world from Championship tees. Opened in 1966, Spyglass features two distinctly different kinds of terrain – the first five holes roll through sandy seaside dunes. The following 13 holes are cut through majestic pines and elevated greens. Par 72, 6960 total yards. Reservations: one month prior to desired tee time
Opened in 1897, Del Monte is the oldest course in continuous operation west of the Mississippi. Par 72, 6365 total yards. Reservations: six months prior to desired tee time.
Opened October 1957, Peter Hay is the only public 9-hole par-3 golf course on the Monterey Peninsula.
Opened in 1963. Par 71, 6500 yards.
Due to Carmel Valley’s unique microclimate, Carmel Valley Ranch Golf Course sees 300 days of sunshine. Signature holes 11 and 13 provide views of the valley below. Par 70, 6234 total yards.
Zagat Survey ranked Poppy Hills “12th most popular course” in the U.S. Opened in 1986 and is home to the Northern California Golf Association (NCGA). Par 72, 6857 total yards
Rancho Canada presents an outstanding golf club facility with two 18-hole courses that meander back and forth over the Carmel River. These mature venues were once a prized portion of a 4,366 acre California Rancho named, “Canada de la Segunda.” The 6,125 yard East Course is more a matter of skill than of length. The Carmel River comes into play five different times as you negotiate a front nine with holes that start out deceptively open in nature. The 6,357 yard West Course will test your golfing skills. Fairways range from deceptively broad to needle narrow as you traverse the Carmel River three different times. Par 71, East Course 6,125; West Course 6,357
Bayonet named after the Army’s 7th Infantry Division – the first major unit to occupy Fort Ord, as well as the last. The famed Light Fighters (nicknamed the “Bayonet Division”) marched for the last time during inactivation ceremonies in 1993 as part of the Base Realignment and Closure Act. Black Horse named in honor of the 11th Cavalry Regiment (nicknamed “Black Horse”) which was stationed at the Presidio of Monterey from 1919-1940. Par 72, 6533 yards.
Discover the special charms of Carmel-by-the-Sea on a 2-hour guided walking tour. Walks are held Tuesday through Saturday at 10:00 a.m. with an additional walk at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday afternoon.
San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo Mission is considered the most authentically restored Franciscan mission, and despite its many events and services, the Carmel Mission’s courtyard and gardens are peaceful places to meditate or rest. Self-guided and docent-led tours are available.
Offering a superior wine tasting experience on the self-paced, self-guided stroll to various tasting rooms on the south side of Ocean Avenue. Visitors can amble to each participating room to sample local estate-grown still and sparkling wines.
The Downtown Food Tour is a three-hour, guided tour of Carmel’s most interesting attractions. The tour offers food tastings from seven unique eateries coupled with insightful presentations of Carmel’s cultural, historical, and architectural highlights provided by knowledgeable and entertaining local guides.
Since 1897, the dramatic beauty of the Monterey Peninsula has attracted directors and cinematographers from around the world.
Self guided tours of historic downtown Monterey or the waterfront start at several landmarks.
California is one of the only places in the world where visitors can see whales year-round, and there’s no better place for whale watching than Monterey. While in many areas whale watchers have to go far from shore to see a whale, along the Monterey coast whales can sometimes be seen offshore with the naked eye. The Monterey Submarine Canyon, the ocean’s answer to the Grand Canyon, provides a perfect habitat for many whale species, allowing them to come close to shore to feed.