Wedding Weekend: 3 Fun-Filled Day Trips From Stonepine Estate
The overarching feeling, when you turn a bend in the road and take the scenic mile drive through Stonepine Estate, is one of peace. Once you step on this enchanted slice of Carmel Valley, you feel like you have the run of the place — and really, that’s a significant part of its allure. Spread across 400+ acres, the estate delivers a rare mix of seclusion and natural beauty — making it a perfect destination for exclusive weddings and events. But don’t mistake privacy for remoteness. Although the estate feels like a tucked-away secret, it’s still within easy reach of several towns pulsing with history, architecture, culture, and world-class culinary delights.
If you’re tying the knot at our estate and are staying for an extra day or two, you’ll find no shortage of things to do in these parts — whether you’re looking to spend less than 15, 30, or 60 minutes behind the wheel. Ahead, we’ve rounded up the best day trips to take with Stonepine Estate as your home base for the weekend.
1. Carmel Valley Village
~ 5-15 minutes
See and Do | A mere five- to 15-minute drive from the estate will get you to the quaint, picturesque Carmel Valley Village. Shielded by the surrounding hills, the town’s inland location means it rarely gets caught in coastal fog — so, you can reliably spend your days strolling in the sunshine, exploring this cute-as-a-button town filled with art galleries and boutique shops. If you’re not feeling relaxed already, let yourself get fully pampered at Bernardus Lodge & Spa, where a 5,300-square-foot spa is ready to welcome you with seven treatment rooms, a eucalyptus steam bath, a dry sauna, and a menu full of head-to-toe treatments you won’t find anywhere else.
For a more active afternoon, Garland Ranch Regional Park offers itself up as a scenic playground for hiking, whether you’re looking for an easy time or are serious about breaking a sweat. Anyone who loves bird watching will also find plenty of winged creatures to turn their binoculars toward; the area’s wide variety of habitats makes it an excellent birding hotspot. History buffs won’t be disappointed either. The park offers a window to the area’s past through Rumsen Indian habitation sites, homesteads, and hunting and logging remains.
Eat and Drink | First, spike your caffeine levels with a cappuccino (made with Sightglass specialty coffee) at Earthbound Farm’s organic farm stand, where you’ll also find farm-fresh breakfast and lunch fare. Carmel Valley’s moderate climate and sandy, loamy soil have also made it a popular wine-growing region, which means there’s an array of tasting rooms to explore if that’s how you prefer to spend the day. Nestled on 15 acres of sustainably-farmed vineyards, Folktale Winery & Vineyards’ offerings are centered on brightened-up pinot noirs and chardonnays. You can taste them (and more) in the garden, backed by the establishment’s old-world chateau. Also unmissable: Cowgirl Winery, Bernardus Winery, Georis Winery, and Twisted Roots.
For dinner, you can’t go wrong with Lucia Restaurant, a sophisticated, country-chic space housed inside Bernardus Lodge & Spa. The menu delivers an elevated take on Californian cuisine, with ingredients foraged from the on-site garden. Looking for a more laid-back bite? Corkscrew Cafe is helmed by Walter Georis (who’s also behind La Bicyclette and other top-tier concepts) and set on an old one-story farmstead. With an eclectic and slightly off-kilter ambiance, it’s got plenty of charm — and even more delicious bites like perfectly blistered, brick-oven pies, wood-fired trout, and crispy cod tacos.
2. Carmel-by-the-Sea/Monterey/Seaside
~ 25-30 minutes
See and Do | Although Carmel-by-the-Sea, Monterey, and Seaside are clustered together on the Monterey Peninsula, each city has its own distinct character. Just a 25-minute drive away, Carmel-by-the-Sea is the closest to Stonepine Estate. The quaint seaside village has long been a haven for artists, writers, and those seeking a peaceful escape amidst its fairytale-esque architecture. Taking a stroll past these storybook cottages should top your to-do list, followed closely by a trip to Carmel Beach and the exquisitely maintained 18th-century Carmel Mission Basilica.
Drive a few miles north, and you will find yourself in Monterey, another frequently visited coastal city known for its world-class Monterey Bay Aquarium, and Cannery Row, a waterfront street steeped in fishing history. Feeling inspired after learning about Monterey Bay’s marine habitats? Get even more up close and personal by booking a whale-watching tour with Monterey Bay Whale Watch. However, if you prefer to explore on land (and from behind the wheel), you’d be remiss not to experience the 17-Mile Drive — a famed road along the Pacific Coast that courses past some of the most dramatically scenic coastal views.
Eat and Drink | Fair warning: Choosing where to eat in the restaurant-laden Carmel-by-the-Sea may prove to be an unbearable conundrum. The aforementioned La Bicyclette, for example, dreams up beloved French classics, while the two-Michelin-starred Aubergine serves a daily changing, seven-course menu to only nine tables. Stationæry, Yafa, and Chez Noir are also excellent choices.
In Monterey, you have even more options — from an ingredient-driven French-Italian restaurant tucked inside a historic adobe home (Stokes Adobe) to a beloved 1950s establishment serving up a mighty bowl of New England-style clam chowder (Old Fisherman's Grotto). Other favorites include: Osteria Al Mare, The Sardine Factory, and Coastal Kitchen. In the more suburban town of Seaside, just a 15-minute drive away, Gusto Handcrafted Pasta & Pizza is all about beautifully charred, wood-fired pizzas and a selection of house-made pastas any Italian nonna would proudly approve of.
3. Big Sur
~ 1 - 1.5 hours
See and Do | Early Spanish explorers referred to the area as "El Sur Grande," which translates to "The Big South," due to its vast, untamed landscape — so it’s no surprise that most of the activities in Big Sur are centered around nature. When you stay at Stonepine Estate, you’re only an hour’s drive away from the region’s wild and rugged beauty, which is almost guaranteed to make your heart skip a beat. Soak up the magical nature by lacing up your hiking boots and hitting the trails at Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, where an easy trek will lead you to an overlook for McWay Falls — an 80-foot waterfall that cascades into the ocean.
Bixby Creek Bridge is a bucket-list item for many visitors — and one of the most photographed landmarks in Big Sur. Soaring 260 feet above a dramatic canyon, this staggeringly beautiful architectural marvel is also known for starring in numerous films and TV shows, most notably the HBO series Big Little Lies. If all of this nature-viewing coaxes out your spiritual side, there’s no better place to get in touch with your soul than the Esalen Institute, which offers a wide variety of workshops on wellness, psychology, meditation, art, dance, and so much more.
Eat and Drink | In Big Sur, everything revolves around the vistas — and restaurants are no exception. Perched on a rocky seaside bluff, Sierra Mar puts its surroundings on full display through floor-to-ceiling windows that look out to the endless blues of ocean and sky. When you’re able to peel your eyes away from the horizon, you’ll be just as impressed with what’s on your plate. The restaurant offers multi-course, prix-fixe dinners of elevated Californian cuisine — with ingredients grown, caught, and raised locally.
At Nepenthe, which sits 800 feet above the ocean, you can also count on knock-out views — especially if you grab a seat on the terrace. The food is laid-back and unpretentious. Think: crave-worthy burgers, crowd-pleasing mains, and well-executed cocktails. Stick around until sunset before making your way back to Stonepine Estate, where you can unwind and reminisce about your day trip in your luxuriously appointed suite.
Looking to make the most of your stay and extend your celebrations at Stonepine Estate? Contact us to start planning an unforgettable multi-day gathering.