Sipping wine, relaxing by the pool, reading quietly next to the wood burning fireplace… all of these probably sound like a dream vacation to a parent of young kids. We are just getting home from a couple’s retreat in Carmel-by-the-Sea and oh my gosh, it was amazing! Having the opportunity to get away with your spouse and invest in your marriage is something we have made a priority because we realize that if we don’t work, none of it works, and our little weekend getaway benefits the whole family.
Carmel-by-the-Sea, just outside of Monterey, California, offers the perfect destination for couples in one of the most charming towns in the world. You’ll find the most adorable boutique inns to enjoy your stay, including the Hofsas House Hotel, offering European warmth and charm with 38 one-of-a-kind spacious rooms. We enjoyed views of the ocean from our room while we sipped on local wine next to the fireplace. It felt like heaven with the gorgeous sunsets and fresh ocean air!
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Mamas, we do it all, ALL the time, so kick back and let other people pamper you on your getaway! The Hofsas House offers a year-round heated pool, European style dry saunas, and a continental breakfast where you can enjoy your French Roast coffee while it is still hot (sipping on hot coffee, oh the simple things you forgot existed!). The hospitality of this hotel was exceptional, I didn’t have to plan anything, they guided us to all the best spots for wine tasting, dining and unique stores to visit.
Downtown Carmel is peppered with 41 charming passageways and courtyards to explore, each one unique in its own way, lined with shops, galleries, and restaurants waiting to be discovered. We walked the streets, holding hands, enjoying wine from local growers and talking to each other without interruption! It’s amazing how conversation can change on a getaway. We talked about what we want to do in the next year and how we’ll reach those goals together, setting the big picture instead of just living in survival mode day to day.
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Throughout the whole town of Carmel, you won’t find any big box stores, just local family-run businesses. The Hofsas House Hotel is family owned and operated, built 60 years ago by the great-grandmother of the woman who is running it today, Carrie Theis. I loved being able to hear the stories of how she started working with her great-grandmother when she was 8 years old, walking guests to their rooms and providing room service. Each shop and winery that she recommended to us had a great history story to enjoy too!
Carrie made reservations for us one night at Lugano’s, a Swiss bistro located underneath the windmill at The Barnyard (a 5-minute drive from the hotel). This cozy restaurant was the perfect date spot, with wood-paneled walls adorned with Swiss decor, whimsical murals, and checkered tablecloths, we felt like we were dining in the Alps! Their menu featured mouthwatering Swiss, German and French cuisine, and our four-course fondue dinner was such a treat. I love finding unique restaurants that are like nowhere we’ve ever been before, and this was definitely one of them.
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Sunsets over the ocean just add to the romance in this town. From the Hofsas House Hotel, it is only a few blocks stroll to the Scenic Bluff Pathway that parallels the road on the bluffs above Carmel Beach. We took the stairway down to the white sandy beach below as the sun set over the Pacific Ocean. With no city lights to wash out the night sky, we stayed and enjoyed watching the stars shine bright, trying to see how many constellations we could remember.
Taking a break for just you and your spouse makes you realize how special it is, and actually makes you a better parent. There is something about missing your kids that allows you to appreciate them so much more. This trip gave us time to reconnect and feel reenergized and ready to head home and tackle this crazy life season called parenthood. And guess what, our kids actually had a fun weekend without us (and didn’t end up with any broken bones) and they were excited to see us when we got home on Sunday night! So even though it can feel impossible to get away with your spouse for a weekend, start planning early and make it a priority!
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For more information on the Hofsas House Hotel in Carmel-by-the-Sea, visit their website and follow them on Facebook and Instagram!
Check out all the Carmel-by-the-Sea has to offer!
Macaroni Kid Lodi was hosted for the purpose of this review, but as always, the opinions and recommendations are 100% my own.
