Kiki & Ollie
As a Southern California native, I’ve taken my fair share of trips up the California coast. We flew into Monterey and then drove to Carmel Valley Ranch for a 3-night stay. It was the perfect blend of luxury and rustic charm—and the property is super family-friendly!
Hotel Highlight: The Chicken Coup
Little One’s Age at Visit: 20 Months Old
Having grown up in Southern California, one of my all-time favorite trips is a multi-day drive up the coastline. There are so many special places to stop along the way, and some of my favorites are along the central coast.
With an “almost” 2-year-old, the “multi-day road trip” part sounded more scary than relaxing. So, we opted to fly into Monterey for a more direct trip to Carmel Valley Ranch.
Traveling with a baby or toddler means slower travel — naps and adult downtime are sacred on family trips.
We booked a 3-night stay at Carmel Valley Ranch for myself, my toddler, Oliver, and Nana came along too! The Ranch is a family-friendly destination with everything from farm animals to hiking to organic gardens.
We wanted to travel somewhere we could have outdoor adventures (the toddler kind) while remaining close to our accommodation for meals and nap time.
The resort offers a luxurious experience filled with relaxation and outdoor activities, perfect for both couples and families. Plus, it’s just a short drive from the seaside towns of Carmel-by-the-Sea and Monterey—with a famous Aquarium little ones will LOVE!
I’m sharing everything we experienced here as a family traveling with a toddler—our room, kid-friendly activities, dining options, and more travel tips!
Here’s what it’s like staying at Carmel Valley Ranch with a toddler!
More Information
Hotel:
Location:
Carmel, California, USA
accommodation:
Boutique Hotel, Luxury
price range:
$$$
Highlights of Staying at Carmel Valley Ranch with Children
Carmel Valley Ranch has been named one of the top resorts in Northern California in Condé Nast Traveler’s prestigious Readers’ Choice Awards and offers a wide range of amenities, activities, and services to ensure a memorable and enjoyable stay for both parents and children.
There was SO much to do here for every age. You could easily spend your days cozying up by the fire in your suite, but their jam-packed Activity Calendar inspires guests to get outside for a hike, a round of tennis, or a lesson on beekeeping.
The ultimate highlight for my animal-loving toddler was all of the animal encounters!
We had lunch with the miniature donkeys, walked to the chicken coup in the organic garden (three times because… toddlers), and spent an afternoon at The Corral visiting the Highland cows, alpacas, and other farm animals.
Carmel Valley Ranch Children’s Amenities
As if all of the above wasn’t enough, this hotel provides so many additional details, tools, and resources for you and your family including:
- Complimentary Bob Hiking Stroller
- Complimentary Mockingbird Stroller
- Pack and plays
- High chairs and booster seats
- Baby Toiletries Kit
- Bottle warmer
- Night light
- Diaper Genie
- Baby sets (toilet adapters, baby bathtubs) *upon request & subject to availability
Family-Friendly Accommodations: The property offers all-suite accommodations where the luxury of resort living meets the call of the wild. Each room comes with its own deck for star-gazing, spacious suites with separate living areas and multiple bedrooms, and a fireplace for some cozy cabin vibes.
*New* Adventure Den for Kids: Carmel Valley Ranch just opened a brand new activities center (located at the property’s River Ranch) with themed activities for your little ones separated by groups: Adventure Tots (ages 2-5) and Adventure Kids (ages 5-12). There’s also a new playground and Game Lawn, an outdoor lawn space with games, daily treats, and more.
Children’s Activities: Outside of the Adventure Den, the resort offers a wide range of activities and programs designed specifically for children. These include animal encounters, games, nature walks, and more, providing entertainment and opportunities for kids to make new friends.
Teen Activities: Older children and teenagers can enjoy several activities on site, whether that’s taking space on one of the hikes, enjoying a scavenger hunt across the vast acreage, or zoning out at the pool at River Ranch.
Kid-Friendly Dining: We ate most of our meals at Valley Kitchen, which has an extensive kid’s menu and even homemade baby purees!
Hiking: We didn’t hike this time around, but there are many hiking trails on the property. Guest Relations can help you determine which trails to hit with little ones.
Family-Friendly Pools & Splash Pad: The River Ranch is the property’s family-oriented hub—you’ll find a huge family pool and hot tub here. There’s also a new Wading Pool for their youngest guests AND a Splash Pad with squirting water jets and bubbly fountains.
Bring Your Fur Babies!
Carmel Valley Ranch is welcoming to the WHOLE family, which includes your fur babies too! There are two dog packages you can request when booking your stay (both of which require an additional charge) and, at a minimum, include food/water bowls, treats, and a memory foam bed. The highest package includes a Magic Link leash and a Falcon Toy to bring home with you!
Market & Creamery
Though we ordered room service each morning, we’d walk over to the Market Espresso Bar for a vanilla latte.
The Market sells local & artisanal goods as well as snacks, hand-crafted treats, and gifts.
When planning your stay at Carmel Valley Ranch with children, be sure to inquire about specific family amenities and services, as offerings may vary and be subject to seasonal changes!
Carmel, California
Getting There
The nearest airport to Carmel Valley Ranch is Monterey Airport (MRY) which is 20-30 min away.
Most people opt to rent a car so they can get around the property and explore the surrounding area. Otherwise, you can organize airport transfers with the hotel and use their shuttles to get around the property during your stay.
Carmel Valley, California
The Location
Carmel Valley Ranch is located in the foothills of the Santa Lucia Mountains in the Monterey Peninsula, next to Garland Ranch Regional Park and 15 minutes away from Carmel-by-the-Sea.
The ranch is incredibly vast, situated on 500 acres. With miles of scenic hiking vineyards, gardens, and other natural wonders, there is much nature to behold.
Nestled between the famed Big Sur and Monterey, there is so much to see and do in the surrounding area.
And if you’re looking to turn your idyllic getaway into a slow road trip, check out my California Coast Road Trip Itinerary!
Carmel & Pebble Beach (15 Minute Drive)
Originally founded as an artists’ colony and oceanside retreat, Carmel-by-the-Sea offers quaint streets and cobblestone courtyards lined with galleries, boutiques, restaurants, and tasting rooms, plus easy access to expansive white beaches. Neighboring Pebble Beach is home to some of the most famous golf courses in the world.
Monterey & Pacific Grove (20 Minute Drive)
Monterey County has long been known as a mecca for outdoor activities and world-class hiking, biking, surfing, kayaking, and golf. Don’t miss Old Fisherman’s Wharf in downtown Monterey or the Monterey Bay Aquarium with kids!
Big Sur (40 Minute Drive)
With jaw-dropping views of the Pacific and its rugged coastline, ancient redwoods, and other natural wonders, Big Sur is a place where outdoor exploration reigns supreme.
Getting Around the Ranch
The property is very spread out, and we didn’t have a car, so there was a bit of a learning curve to figure out how to get around. The property has shuttles, which are convenient enough, but be prepared to have some downtime waiting for transfers.
Map of Carmel Valley Ranch
With such a sprawling property, this map came in handy quite often during our stay.
Click the button below to view the full-sized map!
The Studios & Suites
Carmel Valley Ranch offers a range of luxurious and spacious studios and suites—whether you’re traveling as a couple or a family.
There are four different areas with suites: the Bluff Suites, Treetop Suites, Forest Suites, and Valley Suites. And, the River Ranch, which is the more “family-friendly” area, is located in the lower area of the property.
We stayed in the Forest Suites, which was super convenient as we could walk over the bridge to the Valley Lodge, where we had most meals at Valley Kitchen.
The Forest Suite was HUGE and provided ample space for a family of almost any size. We had a king-size bedroom with a separate living room (with a dining room) and a huge bathroom with a tub.
Having a separate living area with a little one was nice as we could enjoy a glass of wine and carry on with evening conversations by the fire while the baby slept without disturbing him.
Additionally, we had a full dining table, so we opted to order room-service breakfast each day to enjoy a slow morning.
We organized a diaper genie and crib in our room and they had a basket of their “fun” items for Oliver on arrival.
Property Tip
The River Ranch is the more family-friendly area of the property. It’s where the Adventure Den, family pool, and new splash pad are located. We actually enjoyed staying in the more “adult” part of the property (Forest Suite), but with a slightly older child, I think River Ranch would have been the move!
Dining
At Carmel Valley Ranch, farm-to-table isn’t just a dining detail; it’s a lifestyle.
Carmel Valley Ranch thoroughly believes in the homegrown approach to food, using ingredients grown from the property whenever possible. With an on-site organic garden, in-house creamery, property chicken coops, and beekeeping colonies, every single ingredient is hand-crafted and sustainably sourced.
As I mentioned, we ordered room service every morning (it’s one of my favorite luxuries on a vacation!), and ate most lunches and every dinner at Valley Kitchen.
The food was absolutely phenomenal, and they were incredibly accommodating to families with little ones.
Child-Friendly Dining
Valley Kitchen offers children’s menus AND baby food options (housemade purées!) with lots of menu options, ensuring that even picky eaters can enjoy delicious meals.
I was SUPER impressed with Valley Kitchen’s Kids’ Menu—there were 10 options, ranging from mac and cheese and burgers to catch of the day and even steak!
Activities & Experiences for Kids
If you’re looking to explore a sustainable and rustic experience, Carmel Valley Ranch offers countless complimentary experiences, allowing you to see what it really takes to be a farmhand!
Story Time in the Garden: Amidst the property’s beautiful Organic Garden, your little ones will be transported into amazing stories and incredible fairy tales. This was one of our favorite complimentary experiences.
Little Ranchers: This was a fun activity to see what it was like for the ranchers on-site to work with some toddler-friendly animals. Located at the Hilltop Corral, we were able to feed chickens and check out donkeys! This activity is $65 per child and is meant for ages 2-6.
Picnic with Pablo and Paco: Carmel Valley Ranch is home to Pablo and Paco, two Sicilian Mini Donkeys. You walk along with the two sweet donkeys on a scenic stroll to one of The Ranch’s many scenic picnic spots. We did this with Oliver, and he LOVED it! It was a total of $350 for 2 guests + $25 per additional guest.
Pablo + Paco
our little farm walk
Tennis courts: If you’re into the tennis scene, this social event is a great chance for players to mix and mingle while playing doubles. You can play multiple rounds with a pro, pairing you with and/or against players of similar playing levels each round! This is $40 per resort guest.
Junior Gardening for Kids: For the slightly older kids, guests can enjoy getting their hands dirty as they learn about the journey from seed to salad and everything in between. They can even build and fly their own kite, chat with our chickens, and much more! Expect to pay $115 per child, ages 6-12.
Seasonal Events: As the seasons change, so too do their offerings! We visited during their Wellness Weekend, which featured a candle-making workshop, complete with beeswax from their own hives! Be sure to check their site for additional seasonal activities.
Build Bouquets and Flower Crowns: I’m a sucker for a good flower crown, and these two events allow you to work with the seasons to create the perfect display or accessory to wear! Both events are $75, ages 6+ for flower crowns and 12+ for the bouquet workshop.
Smores: Every night you can make complimentary S’mores at the Valley Lodge. Carmel Valley Ranch provides premium chocolate from Chuao Chocolatier, graham crackers, and marshmallows. And for grown-ups, you can even pair them with a glass of local wine.
Spa & Yoga: If you can find some adult time during your stay, don’t miss a luxurious spa treatment or yoga class. My mom and I swapped baby-duty so we could each enjoy a massage before we departed!
Golf & Tennis: Carmel Valley Ranch was recently ranked “World’s Best” top resort golf course in the country by Travel + Leisure’s readers’ survey. If you are traveling with older kids, you can play as a family or sign them up for lessons!
Hiking at the Ranch: There are several ways to get some exercise and enjoy the views, whether you hike up the Horseshoe and Mucklehead trails, enjoy the easy downhill stroll of Gitalong Way, or Geocache throughout the property.
In My Opinion
Overall, I would highly recommend Carmel Valley Ranch in Northern California—especially for families! After growing up in California and having traveled throughout the state, I can say with confidence that this property is one of the best hidden gems for your next family vacation.
If you’re looking for a fun-filled family vacation in Carmel, this hotel has everything you need to make your stay comfortable, enjoyable, and unforgettable.
I was invited to experience the Carmel Valley Ranch. I was not asked to share a blog post or compensated for this review. All opinions are my own!
