Relax, Revitalize and Refresh your spirit at the Ocean

When life seems to be zipping by and it is time to slow down to relax, refresh and revitalize the body , mind and spirit there is nothing more therapeutic than a trip to the ocean. How fortunate we are in California that it is a short drive away from where we live. Larry and I decided to get away for a weekend retreat to Carmel in our new Hyundai Santa Fe. Time alone with no phones, computers or interruptions to read, walk along the ocean, go wine tasting and eat fantastic food was just what we both needed. The drive to Carmel was just as beautiful with rolling green hills and open countryside. We stayed at a beautiful resort called the Carmel Valley Ranch Inn. Secluded in the hills of Carmel Valley we discovered an area of Carmel that we had not visited before. We ate at a wonderful restaurant in the Carmel Valley Village called the Village Fish House that served fresh seafood in an intimate setting and we sampled wine from a number of wineries in the Carmel Valley region.
We walked along the main streets of downtown Carmel taking in all the cute shops and drinking hot chocolate and chai tea lattes then headed to the beach to breath in the amazing salt air. We drove along the coast were there were just the most adorable storybook cottage like homes - most likely worth millions overlooking the ocean. We then drove to Monterrey for a day of walking on the bike/walking trail along the ocean and taking in the Harbor sea lions basking in the sun and playing in the ocean. What a fantastic sight. On the drive home we stopped at the Old San Juan Bautista which means "Saint John the Baptist". This mission was founded in 1797. The historic town is very quaint. After taking in the mission we stopped at the local bakery for cookies and fresh baked pumpkin and raisin bread to take home.
A short but wonderfully relaxing and refreshing weekend.