Famous seaside town and artist colony with storybook houses, quaint little shops, delicious bakeries, many fine art galleries, and gorgeous white sand beaches to explore! About 5 miles from The Holly Farm, and where all of our recommended hotels are!

Inland valley with a small, village feel. Take an “herb walk” with a local chef at Earthbound Organic Farm, visit one of many wineries or wine tasting rooms, indulge in spa services at one of Carmel Valley’s 5-star luxury resorts, or take in the Santa Lucia Mountains on horseback. Unlike the coast, Carmel Valley boasts comfortable weather year-round. Numerous hiking and bicycle trails, and plenty of golf courses to walk as well!

~20 minutes from Holly Farm, Monterey is home to some of the best tourism spots on the California coast. The Monterey Bay Aquarium is home to a number of Sea Otters and an incredible conservation program. It sits on the south end of the famous Cannery Row, once a hub of sardine canning and the subject of John Steinbeck's 1945 novel by the same name, and now home to many delicious restaurants and sweets shops.

If you'd rather try your luck at seeing seals, sea otters, and whales in the wild, the Point Lobos Nature Reserve has amazing hiking trails.

And if you're looking for birdies and eagles, try to get a tee time at the famous Pebble Beach Golf Course, which is also a great spot to grab lunch (the clubhouse is open to the public).

Adjacent to Monterey (you can walk from the Aquarium), Pacific Grove was home to John Steinbeck and still boasts many antique shops, rocky Lover’s Point, native monarch butterflies, and countless Victorian bed & breakfasts.

For fans of Big Little Lies and/or gorgeous ocean views, there's no better spot than Big Sur. Drive ~45 minutes down the Pacific Coast Highway ("PCH", or US-1) to one of the many scenic beaches, vistas, or restaurants.

Just over 2 hours south of Carmel is the coastal town of San Simeon, home of Hearst Castle and Elephant Seal Beach, where you can (as you may have guessed from the name) find hundreds of elephant seals in their natural habitat.

Looking to extend your stay and explore the beautiful coast? Take a 2-hour drive up to San Francisco, or venture another 2 hours past that through Muir Woods to Sonoma and Napa Counties.

Or, drive south to Paso Robles (~2 hours) to visit some of our favorite wineries on your way to Santa Barbara (~4 hours)! The options are endless!