"Big Sur is the edge of the world," wrote John Steinbeck. "The place where the ocean has been rubbing up against the continent for centuries, creating a coastline as erotic as the folds of a velvet gown," mused Anaïs Nin. One of the best road trips in the U.S. leads to California's most breathtaking getaway. Set on the striking cliffs of the central coast and beloved for its rugged bluffs, towering forests, marine fog, and winding roads, Big Sur is a legendary destination for romantics, and Post
Ranch Inn, perched high above the Pacific, is arguably Big Sur's most sumptuous stop. This coastal-luxury gem sprawls across 100 acres and features 40 decadent rooms with luxury amenities, pools, spa, a garden that supplies its on-site restaurant, and a falconry program -- truly, elevated opulence. The only things most rooms lack are televisions and alarm clocks -- but that's intentional. The inn is featured on many "best of" lists, and in 2024, earned three Michelin Keys, the prestigious award's highest hospitality honor for "outstanding stays."
Post Ranch Inn describes itself as a "sanctuary for the soul." The adults-only resort is nestled among native foliage, 30 miles south of Carmel-by-the-Sea, a historic, European-inspired beach town famous for charming boutiques. The inn has long embraced sustainability, installing nearly 1,000 solar panels in 2009, eliminating single-use plastics, and utilizing hybrid vehicles for on-site transport to mitigate air and noise pollution.
Post Ranch Inn is located about 36 miles south of Monterey Regional Airport and 100 miles south of San Jose. For the full experience, road trip the scenic route along Highway 1 from Los Angeles, about 300 miles. Check road conditions beforehand, as mudslides may lead to road closures and detours to Highway 101.
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Organic, Environment-First Designs Offer A Dreamy Escape And Jaw-Dropping Rooms
Post Ranch Inn, one of only a few hotels in Big Sur, was designed by Mickey Muennig, "the man who built Big Sur," who trained under a contemporary of Frank Lloyd Wright and shared Wright's love for "organic architecture", blending structures into their environments. He fell in love with Big Sur during the free-spirited 1970s, and in 1992, built Post Ranch Inn -- his only hotel -- into the trees and cliffside ranch land once home to cattle raised by Big Sur's early settler family, the Posts. Integrated design and structures covered with sod and wildflowers completely hide the resort from Highway 1. The landscaping features drought-resistant native plants, fostering habitats for endangered species like Smith's Blue Butterfly and the California Condor, deepening the sense of connection to the environment.
"If you've ever dreamed of sleeping among the trees, these enchanting rooms are for you," says Post Ranch Inn about its Treehouses. Elevated on stilts built around trees, they're a "Swiss Family Robinson" fantasy, complete with stargazing skylight over a King bed. Elsewhere, Ocean House rooms have private decks with an outdoor tub, or an indoor tub plus a walk-in shower. Lofted Cliff Houses have glass-walled bedrooms looking out to the ocean. The "winged" Butterfly building is a unique structure with overlapping roof elements: Each of its three floors is a private room with its own entrance, fireplace, and deck. The Post House will make you feel like you're the emperor of Big Sur, the Peak House slips the script, emphasizing the secluded mountains. Each stay includes signature Post Ranch Inn amenities: Complimentary breakfast and minibar, organic toiletries, Sonos sound, walking sticks, binoculars, notable spa, pools, spa, and activities. Rooms start at $1,925 per night, as of this writing.
Enjoy Meals With Spectacular Views And An Itinerary Of Indulgent Experiences
Sierra Mar is arguably the property's pièce de résistance. The inn's Michelin Guide restaurant is perched 1,200 feet off the cliff over the Pacific Ocean and enclosed in floor-to-ceiling glass walls, offering views rivaling Italy's cliffside Cinque Terre. Glass ceiling windows allow a near-360 view even if you're not on the outdoor patio.
Sierra Mar has long championed farm-to-table dining, cultivating many of its own crops on-site in a regenerative Chef's Garden, and sourcing local goods to serve alongside an array of cocktails and award-winning wine list, with selections ranging from Blancs to Burgundies. While the prix fixe menus rotate seasonally, lunch might include dishes like Bavette steak, roasted Lion's Mane mushroom, and fresh caviar from America's caviar capital in Sacramento, located north of Big Sur. Dinner will be a thoughtfully curated tasting menu, which might start with "gifts from the garden" and "gifts from the sea," and spin off anywhere from there. The restaurant also donates 1% of food revenue to Zero Foodprint, a nonprofit helping combat climate change through regenerative agricultural practices. It also helped found nonprofit Regenerative California, developing a farm in Monterey while building an agricultural system for responsible production to service area eateries. Sierra Mar is open to the public for lunch and dinner, and advance reservations are suggested.
Guided nature walks, art walks, yoga classes, edible garden tours, and guided meditations are all part of Post Ranch Inn's complimentary experiences. Add-on options nclude Shamanic sessions led by the resident Shaman, and a falconry program. You can also arrange custom, seven-day itineraries curated for relaxation, adventure, or both. It's no wonder Post Ranch Inn's been a favorite of celebrities and wedding planners.
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