A Seaside Getaway

It had been years since we’d had the chance to get together, just the sisters. My boys are grown and on their own, and my two younger sisters are at stages in motherhood where they can comfortably leave their kids alone with their dads. So, after talking about a sister getaway for eons, we finally decided to Make. Things. Happen. For moms, it is a Big Deal when Arrangements have to be made so that we can Make. Things. Happen. Granted, I didn’t have to do a thing. I’m pretty sure my son, who recently moved back home, didn’t even notice I was gone. But still.

So once the Arrangements had been made, we were on our way to Monterey for a couple of days by the ocean, and where else to better stay than the Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa. This property sits not just ocean-side, but quite literally on the ocean with magnificent views of the bay. And there’s a spa, essential for a Sister Seaside Getaway.

To kick off our first evening, we dined at Coastal Kitchen, the hotel’s on-site restaurant. Once you enter the dining room, you know you’re in for a special evening. The view from every table is spectacular. And  the food we, as we were about to discover, is incredible. To begin, there was a beautiful plate of four delectable starters: a cauliflower tart topped with a delicate quail egg, a fresh oyster flavored with shiso and beurre blanc, a crispy bite or fried calamari topped with a swirl of avocado cream, and a gorgeous sashimi of fresh Monterey halibut with kiwi and pickled ginger, crowned with a jewel of bright purple daikon. And that was just the beginning. Next came white asparagus with almonds and avocado, roasted black cod with yam and chorizo, duck with preserved fennel, vanilla, and limequat, tender short ribs braised for 48 hours(!), ending with a beautiful concoction of spring rhubarb with strawberry and pistachio topped with meringue. A stunning meal, made with impeccable local ingredients, all beautifully presented. Impossible to improve upon except for the wine pairings thoughtfully selected by our expert server. From the view, the food, the wine, and the service, dinner was absolutely perfect. One of my sisters is vegan and she enjoyed an entirely different meal which surpassed her expectations. (More on this meal in an upcoming issue!) Even if you’re not staying at the hotel as an overnight guest, I highly recommend dining at Coastal Kitchen.

The following day, we took our time waking up before heading to Schooners for another meal with a view. We enjoyed the breakfast sandwich – a buttery croissant loaded with scrambled eggs, bacon, cheese, and caramelized onion, drizzled with a spicy chipotle aioli, and a simple avocado toast – seven-grain bread topped with radish, cucumber and zatar. With coffee and orange juice, it was a satisfying breakfast and we were ready to start our day.

We had a few hours to kill before our spa appointments (what is a sister getaway without a trip to the spa?). The hotel is perfectly located for strolling around Cannery Row. There are tons of cute shops, restaurants, wine bars, and other amusements. We popped in and out of the shops, took notes on restaurants and possible wine tasting/breweries/cocktail lounges to visit later if time and our appetites permitted.

Before we knew it, it was time to head back to the hotel for our spa appointments at the hotel’s Vista Blue Spa. My sisters hit the fitness center before their massages. The treadmill and the elliptical are more fun when there’s a nice view of the ocean, but even the view couldn’t tempt me to workout. There’s a reason why my sisters are in way better shape than I am. I had an appointment in the spa suite for a soothing aromatherapy and Himalayan salt bath before my massage. For 45 minutes, I floated blissfully in the deep tub nibbling on fruit while admiring the ocean view over the bath bubbles.  Time flies when you’re having fun. Before I knew it, it was time for my massage. I don’t remember too much about it, which is how I know it was good. My sisters enjoyed their treatments as well. We wanted to spend some time enjoying the steam room and the rooftop hot tubs after our spa treatments, but we had plans. We decided to make sure to schedule time to come back before we checked out.

We headed out for cocktails and appetizers at Roy’s at Pebble Beach, which is located on the hotel grounds at the swanky Inn at Spanish Bay which sits along the scenic 17-Mile Drive. We sipped our fancy cocktails and nibbled on French fries and a shared Chinese chicken salad while we enjoyed the spectacular ocean views. Just as the sun began to set, a kilt-clad bagpiper wowed us with a hauntingly beautiful rendition of Amazing Grace.

For dinner, we made our way to Pangaea Grill, an Asian/Continental European fusion restaurant in Carmel, where we feasted on our own custom buffet consisting of Beet Salad, Caprese, Thai Coconut Curry, and Dumpling Soup. This is our favorite way of eating – order everything that strikes our fancy at the moment. Of course, cocktails were involved – the libations at Pangaea Grill are fantastic. This was one of the very few times when we had to skip dessert.

The following morning, we woke up bright and early so we could hit the rooftop hot tub and the steam room before checking out of the hotel. The rooftop spa area has a big fireplace and awesome views and  we contemplated ordering breakfast and dining al fresco, but with the time we had left, we decided to sit in the hot tub and relish the splendid view one last time. And if you ask us, it was the perfect way to end a perfect seaside sister getaway.