Bernardus Lodge & Spa Is a Charming and Intimate Carmel Valley Retreat
Bernardus Lodge & Spa consists of 73 rooms tucked neatly into a 28-acre vineyard of vines and lavender (from which they harvest to produce soap for the resort) in Carmel Valley, CA. The rooms are spacious and well-appointed with living areas, down beds and Frette bedding; our room faced the courtyard lawn, where we enjoyed both bocce ball and croquet while sharing a complimentary bottle of house wine. We started a second bottle touring the rose and vegetable garden and finished it fireside after enjoying the adults-only, hillside infinity-edged Jacuzzi. Bernardus Lodge & Spa Carmel
Keep Quiet at the Adults-Only Outdoor Recovery Spa
Only a few minutes’ drive from the resort is Refuge, an adults-only, outdoor hydrotherapy spa at the Carmel Valley Athletic Club. We were all about the strict “no talking” policy and were reminded by several signs as we entered the spa. This tree-lined facility is scattered with a dozen separate small pools. There is a dry sauna, steam room, eucalyptus room (with anti-gravity chairs), fire pits, Adirondack chairs and hammocks.
Bernardus Lodge & Spa Carmel
Sit Stoveside Among a Wall of Celebrity Signatures
You can enjoy a front-row seat to serious cooking inside the kitchen at Lucia at Bernardus Lodge & Spa. Tucked neatly behind the cooking stations is a booth with seating for five and chandeliers strung above that let you witness the art and skill of Chef Christian Ojeda. The resort is rooted in cuisine, and the addition of Chef Ojeda (most recently of Montage Deer Valley) is furthering that tradition with a fresh take on classics and an integration of local Monterey resources. The wall behind the booth has been signed by countless celebrities, including Julia Child, Clint Eastwood and Leonardo DiCaprio.
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Drive the 17-Mile Drive in a Mercedes Convertible
Driving the world-famous, 17-mile drive is certainly fun, but touring it for four hours in a complimentary Mercedes from Bernardus Lodge & Spa undeniably trumps your standard rental car. The cars are available on a first come, first served basis, and we highly recommend doing this one morning before the wine tasting begins.
Bernardus Lodge & Spa Carmel
Have a Storybook Brunch
Brunch will feel like a fairy tale with a wine tasting inside Folktale Winery & Vineyards. Folktale’s whimsical building design looks like it must have been designed by D. L. Ashliman himself for the opening chapter of Grimm’s “Rapunzel.” Their Sunday brunch is the antidote you will require after Saturday night’s bottle (or two) at dinner.
Head to the Moto Talbott Museum
A short drive (or ride) from the hotel is the Moto Talbott Museum, which boasts 170 vintage motorcycles from 17 different countries. There is a $10 admission fee, but it’s a great way to spend an hour marveling at the cycling heritage.
Bernardus Lodge & Spa Carmel
Bernardus Lodge & Spa
415 W Carmel Valley Rd
Carmel Valley, CA 93924
831.658.3400
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