How to spend a wellness weekend in beautiful Carmel, California

Photo courtesy of Dana Rebmann

Just one square mile in size, Carmel-by-the-Sea is a coastal charmer overflowing with shops, restaurants, wine tasting rooms and a striking white sand beach. A short, stunning drive inland are the rolling (and often grapevine-covered) hills of Carmel Valley. Both are often referred to as Carmel for short; together they boast a striking beach, farm-fresh food, spas, wineries, miles of scenic hiking trails and have all the makings for the quintessential wellness getaway.

Photo courtesy of Dana Rebmann

Take the scenic route

The scenic route, in this case, is the Scenic Bluff Path. Stretching 3.5 miles (out and back), the pathway boasts stellar views of Carmel Beach. It runs parallel to Scenic Road – just start at the Ocean Avenue beach parking lot and head south. When the path ends, if you’re interested in getting some more steps in, keep going on Scenic Road to Carmel River State Beach.

Photo courtesy of Dana Rebmann

Wander the nooks and crannies of Carmel-by-the-Sea

It’s easy and fun to get lost in Carmel-by-the-Sea. Downtown boasts more than 40 passageways and alleys that lead to courtyards with fountains and sculptures, along with shops and restaurants. There are no street addresses here. Many homes have names like “Sea Urchin” or “SeaDaze.”

Photo courtesy of Dana Rebmann

Go for a wine walk

Carmel-by-the-Sea boasts nearly 20 wine tasting rooms in just one square mile. Talbott Vineyards is known for its estate-grown chardonnay and pinot noir; choose from a chardonnay exclusive flight, pinot noir exclusive flight or a combination of both varietals. Reservations are recommended.

The Carmel-by-the-Sea Wine Walk is a free, mobile guide (no app to download) that offers upgraded tasting experiences from nearly a dozen Carmel-by-the-Sea wine tasting rooms.

Photo courtesy of Dana Rebmann

Set your sights on the seashore

It’s been called the “crown jewel” of California’s nearly 300 state parks. Point Lobos State Natural Reserve is located on Highway 1, about 3 miles south of Carmel-by-the-Sea. Hiking trails range from easy to challenging, but in just an hour, you can soak in stellar views of the rocky coast and possibly see wildlife including sea lions, sea otters and whales. Docents with the Point Lobos Foundation frequently offer free, guided walks of the natural reserve.

Photo courtesy of Dana Rebmann

Hiking in Carmel Valley

Boasting more than 60 miles of trails, there’s a stroll or hike for every fitness level at Garland Ranch Regional Park. The 1.5-mile Lupine Loop is mostly flat and typically takes less than an hour to explore, whereas you want to plan on two to three hours to climb to Snively’s Ridge. There is no fee to visit the park; it’s open from dawn to dusk. Dogs are welcome on leash or under voice control.

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Photo courtesy of MPRPD Ranger Staff

Chasing waterfalls

Fern Falls is part of the Kahn Ranch addition to Garland Ranch Regional Park. The less-than-a-mile round-trip hike is the easiest way to reach the seasonal 20-foot waterfall. Access requires a permit. It’s free and easy to apply online, but only 10 cars are admitted per day. Without a permit, the falls can also be reached via Garland Ranch Regional Park, but be prepared for a more strenuous experience.

Photo courtesy of Dana Rebmann

Roll through Carmel

Sign up for a guided tour or simply cruise through town on your own with an electric bike from Mad Dogs & Englishmen. A variety of e-bikes (off-road, performance, vintage, family) are available to rent by the day or by the hour. Fun, vintage sidecar add-ons are available for kids and dogs. Guided tours are limited to 10 people.

Photo courtesy of Refuge

Find Refuge

Heat up, cool down, relax. Repeat. Spread across two acres, Refuge is a co-ed outdoor relaxation spa. It features four Nordic cool pools and a half-dozen hot pools, along with a cedar sauna (said to be the largest in the U.S.) and a pair of eucalyptus steam rooms.

Spend the day soaking away your stress and worries. No electronics are allowed in the relaxation areas. Massages are also available for an additional cost.

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Photo courtesy of Dana Rebmann

Earthbound Farm's Farm Stand

Overflowing with organic fruits and vegetables, you’ll also find prepared foods, coffee, flowers and an assortment of gifts at the Farm Stand. But the real beauty of spending time here can be found in the Farm Stand’s backyard. Along with row after row of vegetables and flowers, there’s a kitchen garden, herb garden, berry patch and labyrinth.

Birds chirp, bees buzz and hummingbirds happily zip from here to there. 

Photo courtesy of Dana Rebmann

Sleep among vineyards and gardens in Carmel Valley

Surrounded by the Santa Lucia Mountains, Bernardus Lodge & Spa knows how to take advantage of what seems like Carmel Valley’s endless days of sunshine. Vineyards, lavender blossoms, roses, fire pits and gurgling fountains surround 73 guest rooms, suites and villas spread across 28 acres.

Spacious patios and balconies bring the outdoors in. Perks including featherbeds, Frette linens, complimentary wine and snacks, along with heated marble floors in the bathrooms, make a strong argument to simply stay put and enjoy doing nothing.

Photo courtesy of Dana Rebmann

Garden inspiration

The two-acre organic garden at Bernardus Lodge & Spa is flanked by vineyards on one side and a rose garden on the other. Guests are encouraged to wander the quiet space.

It’s not uncommon to see chefs from onsite Lucia Restaurant & Bar harvesting ingredients for the day’s menu offerings. Residents of the property’s apiary – 180,000 Italian honeybees – can be seen buzzing around from time to time as well.

Photo courtesy of Dana Rebmann

Pamper yourself with a spa day

The Spa at Bernardus offers a full range of treatment options, but unlike most hotels, guests don’t have to book a treatment to access the spa’s amenities. All guests (age 18 and older) enjoy complimentary access to the eucalyptus steam room, dry sauna and co-ed warming pool.