Best. Getaway. Ever. We LOVED the Crane House in the magical Carmel-by-the-Sea! The owners were friendly, responded immediately to all our questions, and are warm, gracious hosts.
EASY ACCESS. Give yourself, friends and family, the treat of an easy get-away from the hustle of the Bay Area. If you avoid rush hour, it’s just 1.5 hours from the office in SF/Palo Alto to the front door of the Crane House. And another 2-minute walk to the glorious beach.
EVERYTHING YOU NEED. The newly renovated kitchen has an expansive view into the garden patio and cheerful décor so we elected to spend time cooking together. You can prep the appetizers and enjoy an aperitif at the high-top island, while the chef-for-the-day cooks at the gas-top stove. There’s also a full-sized Weber BBQ on the patio, as well as table, chairs and lounges, which we used on our first evening to enjoy wine & cheese before walking to the Village for dinner at the popular French bistro, La Bicyclette. Be sure to make reservations and order the pizza, which belongs on the Food Network show “Best. Pizza. Ever.”—do not miss it!
HANGING OUT. The cozy living room is perfect for group activities—playing board games, sharing stories, and watching the Warriors on the flat-panel TV. The WiFi worked well throughout the home, including the patio, and the sound system gave us all a little musical boost. The beds were comfortable and bedrooms quiet. The entire home is tastefully decorated with the original owner’s sculptures and current owner’s gorgeous photography.
LOCATION! What’s more, the Crane House is located in the Golden Triangle – a few blocks from all the restaurants and cute shops on Ocean Avenue and a short block from the breath-taking Carmel beach. Every morning began, and every evening ended with a walk on that beautiful white-sand beach. We also took meandering walks through the neighbourhood, past Clint Eastwood’s Mission Ranch, to the Carmel Mission. Along the way we took in the original artist/Carmel cottage architecture and landmarks like the Frank Lloyd Wright Walker House.
SO MUCH TO DO…OR NOT! The beach is host to walkers, joggers, families, and lots of frolicking dogs (also welcome in many of the restaurants). There’s surfing, boogie boarding, and tide-pooling. The world-renown Pebble Beach golf course sits on the bluff above. There’s plenty to do in Carmel, the Highlands, Monterey, and Big Sur. https://www.carmelchamber.org/
We can't wait to return!