Carmel Valley Ranch

Carmel Valley Ranch is the Monterey area's great sunshine resort: a sprawling property of several hundred acres in the oak-studded hills of Carmel Valley, where the coastal fog that blankets Monterey and Carmel usually burns off early and afternoons run warm and bright. Every room is a suite, and most have fireplaces, deep soaking tubs and private decks looking over the valley, the vineyards or the golf course. The resort leans into its rural setting with an activity program that is unusual for a luxury hotel: guests can tend the beehives with the resident beekeeper, help in the vineyard and garden, hike trails through the hills or join guided outdoor programs, and the golf course, a Pete Dye design that climbs into the hills with big valley views, is a strong alternative to the Pebble Beach courses (and far easier to book). There are several pools including family and adults-oriented options, a spa, and restaurants and bars focused on valley produce and local wine, and Carmel Valley Village with its tasting rooms is a short drive away. It is part of the Hyatt Unbound Collection. Fit: families (space, pools and real activities), couples seeking a sunny, romantic retreat, golfers wanting a scenic and accessible course, and anyone who wants to pair the coast with wine country without changing hotels.

Carmel Valley has its own microclimate, and that is the resort's biggest selling point: when Monterey is gray and cool, the valley is often clear and warm, making the ranch an ideal base from which to dip into the coast and retreat to the sun. The grounds are big enough that a golf cart or shuttle is useful for getting between suites, pools and restaurants.