Bernardus Lodge and Spa

Bernardus Lodge and Spa is the Monterey Peninsula's countryside luxury address: a Mediterranean-style resort in Carmel Valley, set among vineyards and gardens where the sun usually shines when the coast is wrapped in fog. Suites are generous, with sitting areas, patios or balconies and many with fireplaces, and the resort's pleasures are unhurried: a full spa, a pool, lawn games such as bocce and croquet, restaurants that lean on local produce and Monterey County wine, and the tasting rooms and trails of Carmel Valley Village close by. It is the stay for couples, anniversaries and travelers who want to rest rather than sightsee, with Carmel and Point Lobos a half-hour drive away.

Carmel Valley sits just inland from Carmel-by-the-Sea but feels like a different place: warmer, sunnier and quieter, with oak hills, vineyards and ranches in place of cypress and fog. Bernardus Lodge and Spa makes the most of that setting, with low-slung, terra-cotta-toned buildings arranged around courtyards, fountains and gardens, and views over vineyards to the hills. The architecture and the pace both borrow from the Mediterranean: long lunches, slow afternoons and dinners that last.

Rooms are spread through the property and are among its best selling points. Suites are spacious, usually with a separate sitting area, a patio or balcony, and in many cases a fireplace; bathrooms are large, and the beds and linens set a high bar. The resort's spa and pool anchor the day for guests who plan to rest, and the lawn games, including bocce and croquet, give the afternoons a pleasant, old-fashioned rhythm.

Dining is a major draw, with the resort's restaurants emphasizing local produce and California wine, and the tasting rooms of Carmel Valley Village are a short drive away if you want to see the vineyards up close.

The location is a trade-off worth knowing about. You are about twelve miles from Carmel village, roughly a thirty-minute drive to Monterey and a little farther to Point Lobos and Big Sur, so this is a base for people who value the resort itself and are happy to drive for sightseeing. In return, you get sun, quiet and a very different feel from the coastal hotels.

Book well ahead for summer, fall and holiday weekends, and ask about spa and dining packages. Fit: couples, wine lovers, anniversary and honeymoon travelers, and anyone who wants a long, slow weekend without the coastal crowds. Families will find the grounds spacious, but the resort is geared toward adults.