All content & photos: Copyright© 2008,
Jan Hight. All rights reserved.
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La Playa Hotel Carmel-by-the-Sea, California
La Playa is a marvelous old hotel located in that most enchanting of villages, Carmel-by-the-Sea, California. Those who have read our "Jan’s Journeys" article about the Sunset House already know how much delight we find in Carmel’s many opportunities for fine dining, its great variety of shopping possibilities, the fanciful architecture which graces its tree-canopied lanes...and, above all, the exceptional natural beauty of its Pacific-edge location. Carmel is definitely a charmer, and so is La Playa! La Playa offers a distinct alternative to the numerous
B&Bs, inns and lodges
Returning to irresistible Carmel-by-the-Sea each year, especially at Christmas when it seems to have an even more magical quality, is one of our most valued travel traditions. We found La Playa to be a superb "home" from which to launch our excursions to the beach, to the shops, to the various outdoor activities, and to the restaurants -- within walking distance in Carmel-by-the-Sea, and a short drive away in the surrounding towns. La Playa offers a glimpse of Carmel’s past, quietly elegant lodging, and the amenities of a full-service hotel, all in one distinguished inn. You may call La Playa at 1-800-582-8900 for rates and reservations; it would be an ideal complement to your Carmel holiday...and give them best regards from "Jan’s Journeys"!
Copyright © 1997 - 2008: Jan Hight
Published -- January 23, 1997 |
in Carmel-by-the-Sea (and its sisters, Carmel Valley and Carmel Highlands).
It’s a beautiful full-service hotel that is firmly linked to Carmel’s history
and artistic ambience. The original structure was built as a mansion in 1904 by landscape
artist Christian Jorgensen for his bride, of the San Francisco Ghirardelli family... art
and chocolate, what a wonderful combination! Jorgensen’s most 
famous
paintings were of California’s Yosemite, and prints of those pieces adorn La
Playa’s guest rooms. The family that currently owns La Playa is headed by a
memorabilia collector and historian of turn-of-the-century California and the Old West.
Consequently, there are vintage photos, old newspaper articles, and other mementos of the
area’s past displayed throughout the hotel. In fact, La Playa is listed on the
National Registry of Historic Places (by the U.S. Dept. of Interior), as well as the
Historic Hotels of America (by the National Trust for Historic Preservation).
Even with all of this historic resonance, La Playa definitely
isn’t a musty old museum! The graceful building rambles along, with its varying
levels bordered by vibrant gardens dotted with sprightly statuettes (a goose here - a pig
there), 
a lacy gazebo, fountains, and a heated pool with poolside "room"
service (there were several hotel guests enjoying a swim during our Christmas stay). Upon
entering the genteel lobby, it is immediately obvious that you will be surrounded by
refinement and charm during your stay here. Just past the reception desk is a comfortable
sitting area centered around a welcoming 
fireplace. To one
side a curving staircase, with brightly detailed tile and a stained glass window, ascends
to one section of the guest rooms. The hall past the staircase leads to the bar, with its
wood and brass richness and references to La Playa’s history; the pleasant banquet
rooms; and the Terrace Grill. This very attractive restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and
dinner inside or out on the deck which overlooks the hotel’s beautiful grounds.
Guests may also order room (and pool) service from the Terrace Grill’s tempting menu.
We enjoyed room service breakfast most mornings during our visit; delivery was made
promptly at the time we requested, accompanied by the newspaper of our choice, and the
food was delectable...just as it is in the Grill.
There are guest rooms in the main building, as well as the nearby
cottages. The signature mermaid motif is embodied in the carved headboards of the beds,
and other touches of the sea are apparent in such decorating items as clamshell light
fixtures. We requested an ocean view, which also provided us with ocean sound since La
Playa is just a couple of blocks from
Carmel Bay. There was a storm at sea one night, and the
reverberations of the Pacific filled our room with awesome energy. As well as being able
to gaze at the ocean past the hotel’s gardens by day, we experienced incredible
sunsets each evening before leaving our room for "happy hour" in the bar or
dinner at one of Carmel’s marvelous restaurants.
Carmel-by-the-Sea’s beach is a splendid crescent of granular
ivory sand, spiked by weathered Monterey Cypress, with majestic and contrasting views of
Pebble Beach in one direction and Point Lobos in the other. What an exquisite spot
to wander, people watch, and contemplate! For visits to other extraordinary spots, head
south to nearby Point Lobos State Park and a bit further down the coast to the ethereal
Big Sur. Take off in another direction, and you’ll find yourself winding along the
17-Mile Drive past more phenomenal land and sea vistas.
When you finally finish roaming the shoreline, it’s time to hit Ocean
Avenue and the wonderful collection of diverse and fascinating shops! Be sure to stray off
the main boulevard, too, since there are other eclectic boutiques scattered throughout the
side streets and hidden courtyards of Carmel-by-the-Sea...plus the three-level, open-air
Carmel Plaza with its mixture of internationally-known stores and local establishments.
Additionally, dotted throughout the village are numerous galleries reflecting all styles
of art and all types of artists...from just-budding to world-famous.
If all of this hasn’t satisfied your shopping craving (which means you
must be a psychic twin of mine!), The Crossroads and The Barnyard, located in Carmel
Valley, are two open-air marketplaces that offer an assortment of shopping (and dining)
possibilities. Then...you can venture into the exclusive shops of Pebble Beach; the
picturesque downtown of Pacific Grove and the nearby outlet mall which borders Monterey;
and Monterey itself with Cannery Row, Fisherman’s Wharf, the downtown/oldtown area,
and the regional Del Monte Shopping Center. Of course, if you finally grow tired of
shopping (I’m not sure I’ve ever reached that point), there are seemingly
endless options for other activities on the Monterey Peninsula...including the must-see
Monterey Bay Aquarium, various boat trips out of Fisherman’s Wharf, walking tours
through the historic districts, kayaking and sailing on Monterey Bay, tide pools, wildlife
refuges...in other words, enough to keep any visitor busy and happy and wishing for more
time to spend in this fabulous area!!
All of this intense activity builds up an appetite, and Carmel
can provide the perfect answer to whatever cuisine your taste buds demand. There are many
excellent restaurants, too numerous to list, in Carmel-by-the-Sea, Carmel Valley and
Highlands, as well as in nearby Monterey and Pacific Grove. We mentioned some of our
particular favorites in our "Jan’s Journeys" article about 
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