[Sipping some cava in the courtyard of L’Auberge Carmel, a stunning Relais & Chateau property blocks off the ocean in town with the most marvelous staff on the planet. So friendly and fun! Glittering in the sun are my Joie glittery slides that were made for airport travel.]
Quick trip photo post for ya.
After a pretty intense few days meeting up with my team out in San Francisco for some team building and planning and general mental olympics, my parents met me out for a little rendezvous in Carmel and Big Sur—and I’d never been to either.
Here’s a quick peek at some places we stayed, ate, hiked, and imbibed. Guys, Carmel-by-the-Sea is straight out of a fairytale, and I can’t wait to go back.
[Carmel-by-the-Sea in a nutshell: funky architecture, dutch doors galore, and succulents like you wouldn’t believe.]
Had to do it! Although the rain has shut down most of Big Sur and blocked off access, we got as far as the Bixby Canyon Bridge and stood in the drizzle to gawk. The coastline is stunning there.
Below, stairway to heaven. Literally. Off to the left, a quaint little bar and fireplace, to the right, the dining room with exceptional breakfast pastries.
Cams and Dad before dinner. We ate at La Bicyclette one night, a little seafood joint, Flaherty’s (where I had a delicious oyster sampler sitting at the bar with my parents) the last night, Il Fornaio for lunch (truffly prosciutto pizza!). Drinks and crispy crickets at Cultura Comida y Bebida, too.
Rocky Point in Big Sur is an awesome option for lunch currently with a lot blocked off further south. The views were crazy stunning and I was just feeling crazy amounts of happy. Also: I saw a $100 fall out of the back pocket of this guy’s pants when he was taking a selfie with his wife, and it fluttered and blew up against a rock on the cliff and we spotted it, snatched it up, and returned it. Karma was overflowing.
[Legit signed Navajo turquoise earrings purchased from the lovely ladies at Burns Cowboy Shop in Carmel.]
We hiked Point Lobos, which was surreal at every turn. Definitely go here on a weekday, and get there as early as possible—like, before 9am. By the time we looped back, the trails were packed with human beings and the parking lot had overflowed onto the road. We were the only ones on it for the first half, which was magical.
Also, did I mention I met longtime blog pal/cosmic sister from another mister This Free Bird?! That’s right, kids—me and Carrie G. and Chef Chris had dranks and dinner too, and was essentially just what you’d expect: like we’d known each other all along.
I’ll miss grabbing coffee from the bar at L’Auberge and walking down to the beach in the chilly morning air. The people that live there are lucky SOBs.
All in all, perfect way to wind down.
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