Multigenerational Getaway at Carmel Valley Ranch

Carmel Valley Ranch offered us a media rate on the room for my family. As always, our thoughts and opinions are our own.

Multigenerational trips can be tricky to plan and selecting the right accommodations makes or breaks an experience. We celebrated my mom’s 80th birthday at CB! Approved Carmel Valley Ranch and found it to be an ideal venue for a group comprised of virtually every age and stage, including school-age, teenagers, and college-age kids.

What makes this hotel work so well for a large family group? This resort is all about PLAY. If you go to the Carmel Valley Ranch website, it’s the main theme and this resort delivers on that promise in spades.

All-Suite Accommodations

All-suite guest rooms are spacious with distinct bedrooms and living rooms that are large enough to sleep 2-3 children. Moreover, the living space is set up with an appealing seating area for informal gatherings from coffee to cocktails.

The entire resort has been thoroughly renovated. The ranch-style rooms are sophisticated and modern, yet the design is not fussy and feels good to everyone from style hounds to traditionalists.

Activities for Every Age

Carmel Valley Ranch truly has activities — 500 acres of them! — for every age and energy level. Best of all, there are numerous places where a group can relax together.

Family Pool: The family pool area is multi-age heaven with a toddler play zone, a ping pong table, a grassy area big enough to kick a ball, basketball courts, a full gym and fitness room with daily classes.

Our less agile grandparents sat poolside while the boys engaged in mean game of ping pong followed by frisbee on the grass. Lunch is effortless as there is a grill offering an array of options.

A free on-demand shuttle is provided to rooms so nobody has to drive (the family pool is a 5-minute drive from the main lodge area).

Quiet Pool: The quiet pool set off the main lodge and is open to ages 16 and up. Interestingly, our group made use of this pool too during our trip as the college-age kids wanted a hip place to chill away from the play-focused family pool.

Tennis: Carmel Valley ranch has nine tennis courts including hard courts, clay courts, and a sport court.

Golf: An 18-hole championship course and driving range designed by Pete Dye is right onsite. A junior golf academy is available for ages 12-15.

Bee Experience: This is a phenomenal group activity for ages 4 and up where participants can visit hives and play beekeeper for an afternoon. We didn’t have a chance to do this, but Dana raved about the experience with her tween and teen girls. Read her review of Carmel Valley Ranch for details.

Ranch Hands Kids Camp: For ages 2-5 and 6-12, Carmel Valley Ranch offers full kids’ club programming with themed weeks. There’s even kid’s night out for times when the adults want a kid-free dinner. We didn’t make use of this for a weekend stay, but certainly would have checked it out if we had been on the property for any sort of extended period.

Summer Play List: Summer in particular is full of options as the ranch puts together daily programming from fitness walks to tennis clinics.

And this is just the list of activities onsite at Carmel Valley Ranch. The area is full of amazing excursions. See Carmel with kids and Monterey with kids for highlights.

Dining at Carmel Valley Ranch

The dining set up at Carmel Valley Ranch is perfect for families celebrating special occasions. There’s outdoor seating with large tables for leisurely breakfasts together, as well as smart casual indoor dining with a fireplace, large open bar and kitchen, and a private room for larger group dinners.

The ingredients are locally sourced — which means the best of the land and sea inspired meals given this location — with creative menu selections from Swank Farms’ Organic Beet Salad to Carmel Valley Ranch Honey-Chile Chicken Wings to Fisherman Jerry’s Line-Caught Fish of the Day. There’s also a kids’ menu.

In line with the overall vibe at the resort, the dining is upscale but understated and appealing for every palette, i.e. great for family meals and small gatherings.

Want More Information and Help Booking a Holiday at Carmel Valley Ranch?

We can help! Our kid-friendly hotel review of Carmel Valley Ranch has more information about why this property works so well for families.

If you’d like comprehensive help planning a full California vacation, request assistance by Connecting with a Family Travel Advisor and one of our Family Travel Advisors will follow up with you to advise about any additional questions you may have regarding a stay here.

All photos by the Beekeeping Experience by Amie O’Shaughnessy