Like there weren’t enough excuses to come to Tradewinds Carmel already, what with the angelic, within-walking-distance white sand beaches, the flood of foodie-adored restaurants, the custom Balinese robes, serene setting, unbeatable views and the jet bathtubs.
But a few more couldn’t hurt.
Long weekends created by Martin Luther King Jr. Day (Jan. 17) and Presidents Day (Feb. 21) make it a little more possible to squeeze in all the splendor of Big Sur, the Monterey Bay Aquarium, River Road wine tasting, Carmel Valley’s trails, Pebble’s 17-Mile Drive and Carmel’s incomparable coast in one trip—though it’s still darn difficult.
The Chinese New Year (Feb. 3) is all the more fun to celebrate in the area’s only Eastern-style sanctuary. Besides, meditation on the year gone by is easier in a context like the Zen garden or the infinitely peaceful rooms appointed with trickling ponds, fireplaces and custom platform beds from Bali.
The AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am (Feb. 7-13) remains the game’s best celebrity tournament, and the storied Pebble links are just minutes from Tradewinds.
Valentine’s Day (Feb. 14) in Carmel-by-the-Sea is about as romantic a setting as lovers could conjure. Impeccable restaurants bred to wow on occasions like this lie everywhere in the forested streets, appealing to all palates and providing seamless service.
The Sea Otter Classic (April 14-17) is arguably the best bike festival in the world, and only getting stronger after two decades. Note the 10,000 athletes and 50,000 fans, the nearly 200 classes of road and mountain bike racing, including Cross Country, Dual Slalom, Super D, Downhill, the mountain bike tours, demos, stunt show, kids’ playhouses, food court, beer and barbecue garden.
The Big Sur Marathon (May 1)—still worthy of Runner’s World’s words “If we were told that we could run only one marathon in our lifetime, Big Sur would have to be it”—rounds out the many reasons to make it to Tradewinds, and that doesn’t even include the wine-and-food festivals. More on events like Pebble Beach Food & Wine (April 28-May 1), the finest tasting compilation this side of Aspen, and the intoxicatingly flavorful Big Sur Chanterelle Festival and Cook-off (TBD February/March).
