Our favorite stay in nearby Carmel-by-the-Sea! (Just 15 minutes away from our venue.) Abby was once gifted a night here by a dear friend, and she considered it the height of beach town luxury after a long week of teaching. Clean rooms with a flair for design—and, make time for a splash in the warmest pool in town.

Take a hike in the sun overlooking the clear blue waters of Point Lobos! Check out the historic whaling village and stroll among both flora and fauna. Keep an eye out for Nathan and Abby's special spot! (Hint: it may or may not be over a fence...)

While Cooper Molera is widely known as the historic residence of an American sea captain who settled in Monterey during Mexican rule, it's even better known as our wedding venue. Welcome! Drop by early for a browse of the local museum or drink in the blooms on the property gardens. Mum's the word if you chance upon the bride!

Even if you don't consider yourself spa-going folk, you have to spend a morning at the Refuge. Take a dip in the hot tubs before an icy plunge, or curl up by the fire pits with your favorite issue of Magnolia magazine. (Speaking from personal experience.) Stay 'till nightfall to see the landscape come alive with light!

No need to be hangry at our wedding ceremony—Nathan would want you to be late if it meant a slice of cake from Alta Bakery! This historic spot is quaint and rustic...but, don't be deceived: the food is spot-on-trend. Hang out for a bit if you happen to arrive early, as the bakery is just adjacent to our venue. (But please, send Nathan to the wedding if you find him here.)

It wouldn't be a trip to Carmel if you didn't cruise down the 17-Mile Drive. Home to the famed Pebble Beach golf course, it's also where you'll find some of the most scenic views in California. Pop on your shades and take an afternoon to spot a seal...the ten dollars is well worth the memory, and it's every bit as good as the 'gram.

No paid advertising here...but, the bride can't resist sharing a few of her favorite shops downtown. Drop by ElizabethW for local craft perfumes, or hop next door for Marbles's favorite spot at Diggidy Dog. Nathan recommends any number of gourmet chocolatiers and candy spots—Carmel seems to be the only place that one can get a proper box of Smarties outside the Commonwealth.

You made the flight, you made the drive, and now you're here: Bixby Bridge. One of the most iconic views in California, this 1930's original is perhaps the focal point of the hopelessly gorgeous Big Sur coastline. Drive up and down the winding highway for breathtaking cliffs and cinematic sunsets. You didn't come all this way to miss it!

Every weekend getaway needs that perfect touch of rustique, as they say. And, La Bicyclette has it in spades! Boasting oodles of charm in a vintage interior, this restaurant is the culinary equivalent of that flawless French girl hairdo: unfussy, unpretentious, but oh-so-stylish, organic, and chic. Order the gnocchi and let your heart melt!

Nothing like a sun-drenched beach day to start your summer! Enjoy beach access just "down the hill" from the shops in Carmel, with street-side parking all around. Wiggle your toes in the sand or walk along the beautiful properties overlooking the coastline...the beach has plenty of space to spread out and revel!

Unexpectedly hip for storybook Carmel, Stationaery is the place to go if you're feeling (for lack of a better word) mood. It's a millennial haven garnished with fiddle leaf figs, mimosas, and trendy latte art—but, those aren't even the main course. Order the smoky-sweet chilaquiles for a morning that's truly eggceptional, as Nathan would say. (Abby, for her part, needs another rose-encrusted latte.)

For those in search of cozier accommodations, Saddle Mountain is more than worth a Google! Whether you're interested in a bunk house, a campsite, or if glamping is more your style, this Carmel hideaway has a bed for every head, for groups small and large. Gather around for a rousing game of ping pong and horseshoes before you hit the hay!

Seriously: who can resist that face? Visit downtown to pass a few hours at the Monterey Bay Aquarium: it's just blocks away from our venue, but is literally world-renowned! Take the little ones to giggle together at the sea otters, or go alone and pause to ponder the miraculous jellyfish. The aquarium has enough childlike wonder for us all!

Second to Disney World, this little state park is easily Nathan's Happiest Place on Earth. Get lost in the redwoods and rest your back on the towering trees. Or, buy a ticket for the steam train excursion to be towed up the mountain in style! Nathan would be quick to recommend the hole-in-the-wall taqueria around the corner...a little authentic Mexican might be fun for our Northern visitors!

It would be romantic to think that Abby's first thought on her wedding day would be about a lifetime of marital bliss...but, in reality, she'll likely be wondering what time the Dutch Door Donuts will arrive. Hot and fried fresh in gourmet flavors like rosemary raspberry and orange cardamom, these darling delicacies are best washed down with a quick trip to the neighboring Anthropologie.

This idyllic property was preserved and restored by a former Carmel Mayor: the one and only Clint Eastwood! But, you don't have to be a guest at the hotel's quaint cottages to enjoy the psalmic views. Hitch your horses out front and pull up an Adirondack for coffee and dessert, or take the tots out and about to practice their "baa." If nothing else, do it for Marbles! Our little sheep dog's greatest wish is to roam, untethered, on these verdant beachside lawns.