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Monterey and Yountville Beckon
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Posted by Jason Tue Nov 30, 1999 00:00:00 PST
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0 responses 0 comments Finally, fall is here. After the hot temperatures of Bakersfield’s famed summer season, fall gives us a breather between the heat and the cold. Not all years are likely to see a fall, at least not around here. The running joke of Bakersfield having two seasons is one that locals become all too familiar with.

Luckily, there is the opportunity to escape, for a while at least. Two destinations that locals have come to call their “home away from home,” are Monterey and Napa Valley. While both areas have an abundance of things to do and places to dine, there are a few things that make those two areas special this time of year.

There are some staple attractions in Monterey – the aquarium, Cannery Row and the scenic Lover’s Point. But here are some offbeat unpublicized adventures waiting for your free time to discover. When you’re in Monterey, check out the Moonlight Tours at Point Sur lighthouse. It’s a surreal hike under a star-studded sky that leads visitors to a wonderful lighthouse and other facilities built in 1887-89. This tour ends in October so there’s only a short time to get over there. The Ghost Walk of Old Monterey unlocks the “other side” with an evening tour through downtown’s haunted hotels and buildings with a historic bent  (www.montereyghostwalk.com).

The question of where to stay always comes up when traveling. In Monterey, the off-season is a ripe time to lock in a room rate for well under $125/night. Key finds include Casa Munrus, Las Laureles Lodge, Carmel River Inn, Sandpiper Inn by the Sea and Carmel Inn and Suites. Historic properties are another venue to discover: Carmel's La Playa Hotel (1904) is recognized by the National Trust for Historic Preservation; quirky Deetjen's Inn in Big Sur is on the National Register of Historic Places and The Monterey Hotel has been a stately fixture of Alvarado Street since 1904. 

A little knowledge to keep in the back of your mind for future visits to the area – five new hotel properties are slated for development including a 330-room Fairmont resort on the grounds of the former Ford Ord in Seaside.  The $100 million property will include 24,000 square feet of meeting space, a 14,000square foot Willow Stream spa, magnificent Bayonet and Black Horse golf courses, pool and 295 residential units with a 2009 completion date.  Pacific Hotels Management is breaking ground on a new Cannery Row hotel property set to open in spring 2008. The more than $80 million, 200-room beachfront hotel will include 20,000 square foot of upscale retail space, meeting facilities and a 95-seat restaurant.  Additional projects include mid-size hotels in Marina, Salinas and Seaside due to top off in advance of the 2010 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach Golf Links.

While fall is starting to turn into winter, Yountville has a special way to welcome the holiday season. This cozy, wine-country getaway is off the beaten path of the usual Napa wine trek. Starting November 23, Yountville will be celebrating the holiday season with its 19th annual Festival of Lights. Like a scene from a holiday film, Yountville comes to life with a procession of thousands of twinkling lights transcending the town into a show-stopping winter wonderland complete with carolers, elves, horse-drawn carriage rides and a visit from the Big Guy in Red.

Yountville’s annual holiday celebration is a magnet for visitors seeking the real deal.  The town’s charming European ambiance mixed with a classic California wine country beat is a perfect ticket for urbanites seeking an escape from the hectic shopping season.  Throughout December carriage rides (weekends), late-night shopping and festive events round out the seasonal salute. Key wine stops include Cliff Lede Vineyards, Domaine Chandon, Goosecross Cellars, Bell Wine Cellars and newcomers Tamber Bey, Keever Vineyards, Kapcsandy Family Winery, Gemstone and Chanticleer.

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