Post Ranch Inn Getaway ⋆ Growing Up Cali

For our anniversary this year, my husband booked a surprise trip for us to the Post Ranch Inn in Big Sur, California. Despite growing up in Northern California, I had never been to this gorgeous hotel. It did not disappoint! It’s the perfect spot of romance, relaxing and outdoor adventuring.

Before I fill you in on our trip, I have to fess up that I broke my camera somewhere between home and Big Sur. So you will just have to take my word for it. This spot is even more gorgeous than it appears in these photos taken on my old iPhone!

We flew into San Jose airport and rented a car for the drive south. We got lucky. Highway 1 south of Carmel has been closed for months due to a slide that took out part of the road. Guests had been required to take a helicopter to get to the hotel. Although my husband was a bit disappointed to miss the ride in a helicopter, the road opened just a before our visit. We stopped in Carmel for a leisurely lunch at the yummy and adorable La Bicyclette before driving to the resort.

The Post Ranch Inn Resort

There are several options for accommodations at the 39-room resort, many of which are perched on the cliffs 1,200 feet above the ocean. We opted for one of these treehouse cabins nestled in the redwoods with views of the mountains and a peek of the ocean through the trees. Our room was so quiet and peaceful. The only sound we could hear was the wind rustling through the tree branches and rain (it stormed on our second night there).

We spent our trip at the resort in full R&R mode! We hiked the 100-acre property, checked out the chef’s garden and the wild turkey roaming the property, and we watched the sun set from one of the two infinity hot tubs. And we ate at the restaurant, Sierra Mar, overlooking the surf below and saw dolphins, otters and humpback whales playing in the water (with the help of some binoculars). The staff could not have been more helpful or friendly.

Hiking at McWay Falls

We also ventured down the coast to do some hiking at the Julia Pfieffer Burns State Park and the gorgeous McWay Falls. The park is about a 20-minute drive south from the resort. And it’s an easy walk from the highway to the falls. Located just off the trail are the ruins of a home that once stood on the cliff. It was torn down in the 1960s. I can’t imagine what it would have been like to have a view of those falls from your bedroom!

We were also planning to check out the restaurant, Nepenthe, located just down the road. We’d heard great things about it but when we drove by it was crowded. So we headed back to the Post Ranch Inn to enjoy afternoon drinks on the outdoor deck.