Things To Do
Monterey Bay Aquarium
World renowned. Probably don't need to explain what this is, but obviously WOULD recommend. :) This is a 30 minute drive from our venue. No group rates, unfortunately, but people can still go together and have a ball!
Garland Ranch Regional Park
Great place for hiking near our venue! This is a family favorite. There are hikes/loops that range from easy to hard and it’s all beautiful. This is a 5 minute drive from our venue.
Wine Tasting in Carmel Valley
There are so many places to wine taste in Carmel Valley Village (a 1-2 min drive away from our venue) you would assume the Village was designed just to taste wine. Most of these are not the actual vineyards, but tasting rooms with a lot of delicious wine. Holman Ranch is in Carmel Valley and has a full vineyard tour and tasting if you are looking for the whole shebang (currently $100 per person for 1.5 hour tour with a tasting of 5 wines).
Big Sur, CA
Another world renowned place…. The hiking, drive along Highway 1, forest-nestled dining, riverside relaxing, and camping is unmatched. It is VERY busy here in the summer, so any activities or lodging needing reservations or permits likely will go fast. Look ahead to see how far in advance you can book, if you’re interested! Depending on where you go, this can range from a 40 minute to 1 hour 30 minute drive from our venue.
Point Lobos State Natural Reserve
This is a beautiful area that you can stroll through or sit and relax your mind. The parking gets very busy and can be a nightmare (many people park along the side of the road to avoid the cost and it’s chaotic). However, the views are incredible and even when parking seems crazy, there is enough space that it does not feel crowded once you are in the nature area. This is a 20 minute drive from our venue.
Carmel Beach
Carmel Beach is beautiful and dog-friendly. You can walk all the way to where you have a slight view of the Pebble Beach golf course back to the rocks where some pretty incredible homes are perched. The drive becomes one way as you head south along the coast where you can look at the beautiful homes and come upon the Lagoon, which is a smaller beach cove with beautiful water and rocks. This is a 25 minute drive from our venue.
Pebble Beach
There are multiple golf courses associated with Pebble Beach. Pebble Beach Golf Links (famous course - $695), Spyglass Hill Golf Course ($495), The Links at Spanish Bay ($350), The Hay ($75), and Del Monte Golf Course ($130). If you are interested, I would book in advance! The availability should be up for the dates around our wedding already. The area is beautiful and you can drive through 17-Mile Drive for $12 a vehicle without paying to play golf. The gate fee is reimbursed with a purchase of $35 or more at all Pebble Beach Resorts restaurants. This is a 30 minute drive from our venue.
The Quail
This is another golf option for any golfers attending! This is closer to our venue than Pebble Beach (this is about a 15 minute drive away) and will be cheaper than the top 3 courses at Pebble Beach. It seems like tee-time bookings open a month in advance at The Quail. For the non-golfers, there is a spa here, too.