Only the world-famous golf courses, site of the 2000 US Open, are perhaps in more demand than the luxurious rooms at
The Lodge in Pebble Beach & The Inn at Spanish Bay www.pebblebeach.com
on the Monterey Peninsula. The two together are a match made in heaven. Azure views of the Pacific Ocean lap against the Spanish-style resorts, recognized as some of the finest in the world.

The Lodge offers fine dining, boutiques, spa, championship golf, tennis, horse and hiking trails and a level of service that sets a standard. Nearby is Casa Palmero, a 24-room estate that offers privacy and Old World charm. The five-star Inn at Spanish Bay is a bit more secluded, nestled against the Pacific Ocean. It, too, offers exquisite views, dining, shops, golf course, tennis and more.

A little further south past Carmel, Highlands Inn
www.highlands-inn.com
sits high on a hillside overlooking the sea. Food and wine are the attractions here. Home to the annual international Masters of Food & Wine, its Pacific Edge restaurant lives up to the honor. Match ocean vistas and a price fixe dinner showcasing the fruits of the Monterey Bay, add hot tubs, balconies and fireplaces for the rooms, and you have a memorable experience. For those who like a smaller but just as elegant setting, check out the
Tickle Pink Inn
next door. Originally a cottage for state Senator Edward and Mrs. Bess Tickle, it was named Tickle Pink for her love of pink flowers. The cottage was replaced with intimate Old World-style lodging in 1953 by the Albert Gurries family, but the attention to detail continues. Traditional décor is enhanced by a soft color palette, private balconies, spas and fireplaces.

Just outside of the Monterey Bay perched on cliffs overlooking the Pacific in Big Sur awaits two resorts so unique that it’s a good idea to make reservations a year in advance. Just the drive alone to get there is an awe-inspiring experience in itself. You’ll wind down Highway 1 past rocky cliffs, colors of blue water you didn’t know existed and dark redwood forests. Just past Big Sur are Ventana Inn and the Post Ranch, just across the highway from each other but offering different attractions.

Ventana Inn is high on the hillside on 240 acres of meadow and mountain. Deer and other wildlife wander the highly manicured, yet natural landscaping where 59 rooms and suites are tucked into the surrounding hills. Rooms, all with fireplaces, some with private hot tubs, offer "ocean horizon" or mountain views. Cedar plank walls and redwood-end floors give a rustic yet elegant lodge feeling. The attraction here is the pampering.

Two pools (one clothing optional in Big Sur tradition), two sets of Japanese baths, fitness room, library and spa help patrons truly get away. Try a couples’ massage, where you receive a rubdown with your mate, tea and a hot soak and that "ocean horizon" view. While there, you may also have an astrology chart done or aura read. Classes in Yoga, Tai Chi, Chi Gung and meditation are offered as well as guided hikes. After a busy day relaxing, take a winding trail through the hillsides to sunset and dinner at Cielo’s. Fresh seafood and regional specialties compete with the 50-mile ocean view.

Post Ranch Inn
is a bit smaller and quieter, but no less stunning. Here, you have the choice of tree-level, mountain or ocean view lodging. Architect Mickey Muennig’s vision of nature and luxury uses natural elements that blend with its surroundings.

Ocean houses have roofs covered with grass and wildflowers and glass-walled rooms and terraces with jaw-dropping views of the Pacific Ocean. Post Ranch Inn

Tree houses sit nine feet above the ground and are centered by a bed surrounded by windows with tree views, fireplace and terrace. Ocean houses have roofs covered with grass and wildflowers and glass-walled rooms and terraces with jaw-dropping views of the Pacific Ocean. The basking pool, a hot tub that seemingly drips into the Pacific a thousand of feet below, is close to Sierra Mar, the resort’s restaurant.

The design of redwood, rusted steel and glass continues the nature/contemporary look at Sierra Mar, which follows the cliff line hanging over the ocean. The price-fixe menu changes daily but emphasizes fresh, seasonal ingredients. Other resort elements, including spa treatments, massage, Yoga and guided hikes are a part of the experience. With reservations at the Post Ranch Inn at a premium, tours of the unique resort are offered at 2 p.m. daily.

Carmel Valley offers a different sort of lodging. Casual yet luxurious, these "ranches" offer relaxation with a Western sensibility.
Carmel Valley Ranch is one such resort. The 1,700-acre estate contains Pete Dye’s 18-hole championship golf course, guest suites clustering in the oak hills, fine dining, fitness center and nature hikes. In the rooms, fireplaces, decks and private hot tubs add to the experience.

Quail Lodge
also takes full advantage of its natural setting. Rooms are located near the golf course along the Carmel River and include fireplaces, private patios and hot tubs. The Covey restaurant overlooks the lake and lighted fountain, and offers "wine country" cuisine. The Bernardus Lodge (bernardus.com), a new addition to Carmel Valley, emphasizes the fine wine and food for which the Valley is known. Rooms include fireplaces and decks, and the resort offers pool, spa treatments, a workout facility, croquet, Yoga, hiking, bocci ball and two tennis courts. The restaurants, Wickets and Marinus, serve California-French cuisine and have assembled award-winning wine lists with more than a thousand selections. The nearby Bernardus Winery produces fine vintages and is available for tastings and tours.