A Father-Daughter Trip to Monterey
I recently visited Central California for a father-daughter trip to Monterey. We decided to drive up the coast from Los Angeles, which is something we’ve done together since I was young. We love making stops along the way to visit some of our favorite places, like San Ysidro Ranch in Montecito, Nepenthe Big Sur, and Pebble Beach. We were in Monterey to attend one of our favorite events of the year, the Velocity Invitational as guests of our dear friends and favorite racing team, McLaren. It was so nice to revisit the beautiful Central California coast again with my father to enjoy a weekend of something we both love, which is cars.
We stayed at the Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa, which is conveniently located in the heart of Cannery Row, Monterey’s most well-known area. The hotel is built over the water, which offers incredible views of the Pacific Ocean and picturesque Monterey Bay. It was really convenient to the Laguna Seca racetrack, which is where we were spending most of our time that weekend.
The hotel has a classic, coastal flair with 290 luxury rooms and suites, beautifully designed with comfortable traditional furnishings. We stayed in the Cannery Row Suite, which had a spacious layout of over 1,500 square feet, complete with a beautiful view of the famous Cannery Row and Pacific Ocean. I loved how comfortable the room was, with two fireplaces, a huge soaking tub, and full wet bar. I slept with the windows open so I could hear the waves crashing underneath the hotel and feel the fresh ocean breeze, which was incredible.
The sundeck on the top floor of the hotel is a beautiful place to watch the unbeatable Monterey sunsets, with an outdoor fireplace and two jacuzzis. In addition to the sundeck, there is a high-end fitness center complete with Peloton bikes, and the rooftop Vista Blue Spa with treatments to indulge in like facials and massages.
If you want some adventure during your stay, the helpful concierge team can arrange sailing, scuba diving, kayaking, biking, whale watching and much more to really soak in the Central Coast.The Monterey Plaza Hotel is also home to Schooners Monterey, an upscale restaurant with a delicious surf-and-turf menu with the beautiful Monterey Bay as a backdrop— don’t miss the fresh oysters and braised short ribs!
I definitely recommend booking a father/daughter trip if you are fortunate enough to have your father (or daughter) in your life. These trips are so special to me, and I plan to continue taking them with him as long as I can.
