What’s not to love about Carmel, California? There’s breathtaking scenery, a thriving art scene, delicious restaurants, pampered pooches, and, of course… charming historic properties. One of the best known historic houses in Carmel is the La Playa Hotel, which was originally built by Norwegian-born artist Christian Jorgensen as a home for his new bride, a member of the Ghirardelli chocolate clan. By 1925 additional rooms were added, new owners took over and the house was converted into a full-service hotel with rooms starting at $2.50 a night. Ahhh those were the days!
Jorgensen wanted the house to honor the style of the nearby Carmel Mission and as you enter the lobby, you can see evidence of this in the stained glass windows and the use of Carmel stone. A couple of remodels over the years have brought the hotel an air of “casual refinement” and the red tiled rooftops and fragrant garden paths added to the Spanish/Mediterranean feel.
Staying a couple of nights at the La Playa would put frosting on the cake of any romance. On a recent visit I enjoyed a king sized room with ocean view (#441 if you can get it) where the breeze through the open windows and plantation shutters made me feel like I was lying in a hammock high above the ground. I liked the room so much that I just wanted to pull a chair up and eat dinner watching the sunset. Later that night, I fell asleep to the faint sound of waves crashing on the shore.
We did manage to leave the room for a bit while we attended the 18th annual La Playa Garden party which benefits the Carmel Youth Center. If you are in the area next year around this time, it’s worth checking out. There were stations set up with local wine tasting (take notes as you’ll forget, as I did, who makes that fantastic Syrah) and tasty finger foods, laughing women in elegant dresses and matching hats mingled with men in linen shirts while the live band played “Fly Me To The Moon” in the gorgeous sunlight – my husband thought it was very Four Weddings and A Funeral.
So if you are looking for a great, romantic weekend away – I highly recommend the La Playa Hotel in Carmel. A hearty thanks to Kellie James for all her kind assistance. Stay tuned for more historic travel recommendations!
Tags: la playa hotel, travel
