A 40th birthday bash at Carmel Valley Ranch - March 20-22, 2015

(note: supersized post!  Some pictures are courtesy of Karen and Jennifer...thanks!)

Turning 40 is a big milestone, and I was happy that my friend Jennifer was making the most of it with celebrations scattered throughout the year.  The local girlfriends had previously celebrated her birthday with a tasting dinner at a fine dining establishment in early September.  This past January, when Jennifer revealed details about a birthday trip to Carmel Valley Ranch, my friend Karen and I were in.  We love to keep the party going!

Carmel Valley Ranch is a unique resort, a haven situated just an hour and a half away from the hustle and bustle of Silicon Valley and the Bay Area.  There are horses, hiking trails, organic gardens, chickens, vineyards, apiary, kids camp, and other outdoorsy activities.  Yet there is also golfing, spa, tennis, pool, luxury suites and fine dining.  It's an ideal destination for families and couples who want the great outdoors, yet still be pampered and taken care of.

When I went to book our room on the Carmel Valley Ranch website, with two months to spare, I couldn't find any availability in the lowest category (Ranch Suite at the time; now they have new "Studio Suites" that are smaller in size).  Then, a little voice inside my head hinted to go check the American Express Fine Hotels and Resorts (FHR) website, accessible by AMEX Platinum Card members.  Carmel Valley Ranch was one of the participating resorts and a Ranch Suite was available for booking...what luck!  I was glad that the hotel's website had no Ranch Suite availability, as the FHR program offered a room upgrade, noon check-in, 4pm guaranteed late checkout, daily breakfast for 2, and a $100 resort credit.  These included amenities help eliminate the annual fee for the card. (as I wrote about it here)

Once booked, you can look through the resort calendar and make dining/spa/event reservations through the "Plan Your Stay" page.  There are plenty of kids' activities, fitness classes, and various workshops such as the Bee Experience and visiting the chickens.  We all signed up for the Bee Experience as well as a hike around the resort.  Jennifer was also hosting a birthday dinner on Saturday night at the resort's main restaurant. (previously named The Lodge but now is Valley Kitchen)

Of course, Karen and I planned our other food outings around the Ranch stay. :)

Let's begin!  Karen and I took Friday off, so we set out for the Bay Area after 9am to have lunch at Tanto, a Japanese izakaya, similar to Spanish tapas-style dining.  The place didn't take reservations for lunch, but we were able to get a table since we arrived right when it opened around 11:30am.  Too bad we were only 2 people because we could only eat so much.  4 people would've been perfect.  I am salivating for their uni fried rice as I type this...

Tanto

cold seared duck

tender fatty braised pork belly

crispy salmon rice balls

uni fried rice...need I say more?

After our fantastic meal, we set off for Carmel Valley Ranch.  It took under 2 hours to get there.  When we arrived, there was a security booth; the guard checked the list for our reservation and directed us on how to reach the lobby.  Check-in was a breeze and our room was upgraded to a Hilltop Ranch Suite, same floorplan but with a nicer view.  We were taken to our suite via golf cart.  The driver was a skilled navigator around the narrow winding paths.  He also showed us around the suite and instructed us on how to use the gas fireplace.

large property

resort map

living room with sofabed

work desk

welcome letter from the GM

room service menu

complimentary snack basket

Keurig coffee maker

complimentary bottled water

high ceilings with skylights

separate shower and tub

large pumps

bulk toiletries explained

two double beds

gas fireplace

fireplace control panel

private balcony

beautiful valley view

After we settled into our room, it was time for our next eating experience, at Monterey's Fish House.  Thank goodness Karen made reservations ahead of time as the place was packed!  The food was reasonably priced and fresh.  The only mishap was that our first order of oysters were muddy; we notified our server and we got clean ones in return.

spinach salad

BBQ baby octopus and shrimp scampi

We returned in time to meet up with the whole group at the Poolside Firepit at 7:30pm for free s'mores.  I was expecting some basic setup...wrong!  There was a whole cart filled with enough ingredients to make a hundred s'mores, including full-size Hershey bars!  Metal sticks were provided to roast marshmallows, with a bucket labeled "Used" for dirty ones. (though not sure if guests adhered to it)  There was also a kids' activity counselor on site doing show and tell with various items found on resort grounds like fern leaves and feathers.

want a s'more, or twenty?

roasting marshmallows

happy "glampers"

We retired to our suite and tried out the gas fireplace while snuggled in luxurious down comforters.  This is definitely glamorous camping, or "glamping". :)

so spoiled...

Saturday morning, Karen and I walked down to the Clubhouse for breakfast. (you could also call a resort shuttle to pick you up, but we needed the exercise!)  The "daily breakfast for 2" FHR amenity was a $25 credit per person.  Though not on the menu, they offered a buffet breakfast of select hot and cold items with beverage for $25, so we opted for that so we could get our food immediately and make it in time for our morning hike at 9am.  I was impressed by the quality of the buffet selections.  The scrambled eggs looked like real eggs were beaten versus pouring it out from a container.  Bacon was thick and cooked perfectly.  The fruit was ripe.

continental buffet section

standard hot items also available

gorgeous view outside

After breakfast, we huffed and puffed back up the hill to meet up in the lobby for the Ridge View Hike.  Our guide took us further into the resort grounds, alongside a few of the golf course holes, the new construction of the "Studio Suites", then up into the hills towards the equestrian center, where we met "Goatus" the mini-goat, who followed us for quite a bit before running back home.

meet up in lobby

expansive views on the trail

easy trail

at the equestrian center

the horse almost ate my hat

does Goatus want a sip?

miniature horse pen

The group then headed back to the resort and split up to do different activities.  Karen and I explored the grounds before meeting up again for the bee activity.

pleasant walk back

vineyard

organic garden

mmm...veggies

a few tulips poking out

chicken coop

Then it was time for the Bee Experience at noon, meeting in front of the Clubhouse.  The lavender and honey lemonade was delicious. 

The beekeeper led the participants to the apiary, sharing bee facts on the way, including stopping to observe bees in the clubhouse parking lot.  We then suited up with protective garments.  The kids' outfits were the cutest!

"no one's been stung this season..."

helping the little ones into their suits

adults suiting up

going in...

Once all the participants suited up, the beekeeper lectured some more, then we went into the apiary.  We got to see the inside of the hives, handle a section of it, and safely participate in an experiment standing in front of the hive entrance.  The bees were stressed out from having obstacles in their flight path and started swarming around us, getting louder and louder with every passing second.  It was a bit unnerving, but then when we walked aside, the swarming quickly subsided and the atmosphere got calm again.  Whew!

loading the smoker with fuel

the kids got to squeeze the bellows

the hive is opened

several hive frames were passed around

After we left the apiary and removed the suits, we were treated to a taste of fresh honey.  Yum!  Part of the package also included a "travel-sized lavender beeswax balm to take home" but we didn't receive anything, so I thought maybe it was at checkout.


Karen and I returned to our suite to rest a bit and enjoy the snack basket.  Later on, the rest of the group met at the pool and hot tub.

Then it was time for Jennifer's birthday dinner at the Lodge restaurant.  We had a huge long table for our group of 15. The feast started with an amuse-bouche, followed by many shared appetizers.  I enjoyed a rib-eye steak for my entree.  The birthday cake was tasty and moist. (I think there was lavender in it)   Happy (continuous) 40th birthday Jennifer!

Lodge restaurant menu

amuse-bouche

must have my knife-and-fork shot

happy birthday Jennifer!!!

1:1 cake-to-cream ratio

Sunday morning, Karen and I met the group for breakfast at the Clubhouse around 9am and did the buffet breakfast again.  During the meal, a discussion regarding credit cards, points and miles came up (since I mentioned that our breakfast was free, along with other amenities, thanks to AMEX) and I discovered miles and points enthusiasts in Jennifer's friends Carol and Bev!  It's always exciting to find others that share the same hobby (like when I met a similar group in the Maldives last March).  We were so animated talking about all the perks and savings we've received in the past from credit cards that we convinced Jennifer to wade deeper into the miles and points pool.  Have fun collecting United miles, Jen! :)

Everyone was doing their own thing today so we all said goodbye, then Karen and I headed down to the River Ranch building to take a "cardio tennis" class.  It wasn't exactly a drill, more like a workout.  The coach would tell us to do a specific type of hit, then run to the back of the line and repeat, etc.  Lots of running!  We and three other ladies participated.  Unfortunately, on my first run towards the net, with the court a bit dusty, plus me wearing a new unbroken-in pair of running shoes (not court shoes, tsk tsk!), I slipped and ended up leaving pieces of knee and shin skin and part of a thumbnail bed on the pavement.  I cleaned it up with water and ended up finishing the class without any other mishaps, but now I looked like I had road rash.  Moral of the story: don't be a dummy like me and bring the right shoes!

three days after the fall

almost 7 months later...I'm a slow healer

Our time at the Ranch was over.  At check out, I inquired about the beeswax balm from the Bee Experience.  The desk agent said that we should have gotten it after the activity, and went to the Spa Shop to inquire.  He came back and gave us each a tube of lip balm and apologized for the inconvenience.  I doubt the balm was the actual product given out at the Bee Experience (since it didn't have any lavender in it), but what great customer service!

Our last stop on the eating route was a crepe restaurant at Monterey's Fisherman's Wharf called Crepes of Brittany(!).  It was pretty busy with limited seating, but we managed to snag a table outside adjacent to the window where you could see the cooks in action.  They were super nice to deliver our savory crepes first, then time our dessert crepes to be delivered after we had finished the first one!

savory crepes made with buckwheat flour

Nutella crepe with bananas and ice cream

What an indulgent ending to the weekend in Carmel!  Thanks Jennifer for organizing the trip and for dinner...a very happy 40th year to you!!!

Where to next?  I will take you along with me on a travel agent inspection of the Carnival Miracle cruise ship in Long Beach, CA...stay tuned!

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