I have fond memories of visiting the Monterey Bay area with my parents, especially Carmel-by-the-Sea. When I was younger, we would visit my aunt and uncle who live in Seaside, which is about 15 minutes away from Carmel. I remember walking down Ocean Avenue in downtown Carmel and peeking into the various shops with my mom. Touring the Monterey Bay Aquarium was also a favorite place to visit as a family.
Last month, I took my parents on a trip to revisit our old hangouts and tour new places. When planning our trip, I knew that one of the challenges with vacationing with older adults is to make sure our accommodations fit our needs. Fortunately for us, Hofsas House Hotel had exactly what we needed to ensure a great winter getaway!
Read on for my five reasons to visit Carmel-by-the-Sea!
Hofsas House
This lovely hotel with old-world European charm is located in the heart of Carmel. Our adjoining rooms had lovely views of Carmel and the ocean.
Since our rooms were street level and we had a parking space right outside our front door, it made it easy and convenient for my family to get up and go. The continental breakfast that Hofsas House provides every morning in their office was just a short walk from our rooms.
The close proximity to downtown Carmel (it’s within walking distance to Ocean Avenue) and a short drive to places like Monterey and Pacific Grove made Hofsas House a wonderfully cozy home base for all our activities!
Yummy Eats
The Carmel and Monterey area has no shortage of delicious restaurants. While we were there, we ate at Brophy’s Tavern which is conveniently located across the street from Hofsas House. We also ate at a restaurant on Cannery Row and on our last night, when we were too tired from walking around Monterey, we ordered delicious sandwiches, soups and salads from Café Carmel. They have a nice selection of baked goods and ice cream too!
If you’re looking for a unique experience, I highly recommend Lugano Swiss Bistro. Their Schnitzel and fondue are delish!
Nature
The beaches in Carmel and Monterey are gorgeous! I could spend all day there just looking at the ocean.
Nearby Point Lobos State Natural Reserve has wonderful areas for hiking.
The views from Cannery Row and Monterey Bay Aquarium offer spectacular views of the bay and you might catch a glimpse of sea otters too!
Shopping
Downtown Carmel has wonderful clothing boutiques, art galleries and more. It’s very easy to loose track of time when you are wandering the pedestrian and dog friendly streets! There are lots of terrific places to window shop.
Carmel Plaza has upscale boutiques, gourmet shops and wine tasting rooms.
Neighboring Cannery Row in Monterey offers fun shops to buy souvenirs.
Sight-Seeing
If sight-seeing via car is more your speed, then you must take the 17-Mile Drive!
The Lone Cypress / 17 Mile Drive
Pacific Grove is home to thousands of monarch butterflies when they migrate to this coastal town during the month of October. The town is also home to P.G. Butterfly House, a private residence decorated with colorful butterfly artwork and sculptures. The colorful designs and artwork are a labor of love that was created by the owner of the house for his wife.
Carmel-by-the-Sea is the perfect destination to relax and unwind. It’s a fun winter getaway for family members of all ages. Thanks Hofsas House Hotel for hosting our stay!
For more information, visit the Hofsas House Hotel website here. Also make sure to check out their Facebook page to get the latest updates!
Disclosure: No monetary compensation was received for this post. Hofsas House Hotel hosted our complimentary two-night stay, which helped facilitate this review. All images & opinions are 100% my own.
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