Carmel Weekend and the New Quail Lodge

Our suite and below the view from our front door.

Having my own mini closet was pretty cool too. (Hey notice I stuck with one palette packing this time? I did black, grey and cream colors.)

 Here was our suite entrance.

 Or outside on the sunny deck. Hard to choose. We did both.

The lodge also has a fun lobby bar right off this deck that opens in the afternoons and had live music the night we stayed there.

Quail Lodge  has it’s own 18 hole golf course and happily still retained the 9 hole course on the grounds as well for hotel guests. They also have a Land Rover Experience driving course and tennis courts and a great gym with weights, cardio and stretch areas overlooking the pool area.

Quail sits in the start of the sunbelt that is Carmel Valley. The town of Carmel is just 5 minutes away, but is quite foggy many days of the year. Carmel Valley is sunny and warm which I like in a getaway.

You can see on this photo, we were leaving the fog. Five minutes up the road, it is a completely different climate!

Kids can have their meals in a car…

We spent some time Saturday in Carmel-by-the-Sea. I can’t resist the charm of Carmel. So many fun stops and shops to love..

This bakery and coffee shop is always on our list to stop for a pretzel or even a great caesar salad wrap. My son loves their French Dip. It’s a tiny spot on Ocean Street, but worth a stop.

Also on Ocean is my personal favorite, Carmel Bay Company. I always find something to bring home from this 2-story home, garden and what they call, “eclectic living,” store- i.e. cool stuff!!

You can find something unique, like these whale platters. This time they got me with their baskets of French espadrilles! So many cute styles it was hard to choose.

My small shopper couldn’t wait to spend his pet-sitting money on this log pillow he found there. (He’s got a pillow thing right now.) I have to admit it has some sort of pellets that feel really good.

If you walk to the bottom of Ocean Avenue there is the world’s most lovely white sand beach where you can see Pebble Beach to the right. We also love to drive along the beach to the left and check out all the unique homes. The fog came in after a sunny morning and enveloped everything that day! You could hardly see the water.

This is why when you travel to Northern California coast, bring layers!  Some poor bride was  having a wedding on the beach when the fog crept in. Days begin sunny then suddenly you can actually see it come in like huge clouds moving down the street!

Still, a drive or walk along the coast is lovely. These plants and fences are typical Carmel.

The fog makes the cypress trees even more dramatic.

My favorites are the beach cottages. Some are quite funky.

If you keep along the ocean front path you will get to the beautiful Carmel Mission. However, right before that is Clint Eastwood’s Mission Ranch Inn. It’s also in a lovely spot and is fronted by an open pasture with sheep grazing. They say he has one black sheep out there!

I have never stayed at the inn, but have heard it’s also a fun spot to have a cocktail and overlook the ocean and open space and that sometimes, Clint himself makes an appearance!

Spanish Bay has a Scottish style links course and a not to be missed outdoor bar with fire pits and blankets. If you come before sunset, you can catch the lone bagpiper. It’s always a treat to do this. My kids love the special pretzels and nuts they have. Roy’s inside the lodge, is excellent Hawaiian-fusion food and also fun!

Back at sunny Quail, we enjoyed the fire. Yes, you will use the fireplace here. Guarantee it. Mornings and nights are always cool at the Northern California coast.

The boys enjoyed a Harry Potter weekend marathon they caught a bit of.

I tested out my new espadrilles. (How much do you love these sand washed looking wood floors?)

 Enjoyed some quiet time writing at this perfect little desk with a view.

One thing about Quail that’s nice is they have kept the relaxed and low-key vibe the property always had. It’s a perfect getaway if you want nature plus luxe lodgings. If you need anything, service was wonderful, but this isn’t one of those places they follow you all over. You feel some privacy here and that’s just the way we like it.

It makes us happy to know a great place was thoughtfully renovated and they retained all that was so good about it while adding some awesome new things as well! I can’t wait to get back here.