Anush and I recently celebrated 10 years of being married! We both still can’t believe how the time has flown by and its already a decade since our beautiful wedding in India. We usually plan a trip around this time of year to celebrate our anniversary. But this year we had a very busy Feb and March with travels so we wanted to stay local for our anniversary. And especially since this is our first anniversary with having Lola at home, we wanted to include her on our special day so a staycation was the perfect choice for a getaway.

Big Sur is one of my favorite places in California ( and even the world if I might say! ) and any chance to head up there we’ll jump on it! Anush and I had always wanted to stay at the luxurious Alila Ventana Big Sur and this couldn’t have been a more perfect choice for a special occasion. Bonus points – its dog friendly too! We were so excited to bring Lola along to Big Sur to enjoy a few days in the beautiful outdoors and the beach – both her favorites!

Tucked among the redwood forests in one of the most iconic and dramatic landscapes on earth, the location of Ventana is beyond spectacular! It is luxurious, rustic, tranquil and romantic offering an unmatched blend of privacy, serenity and room to explore. The 59 rooms and suites are set among the meadows and redwoods making you feel so in one with nature which is what I loved most about the property. They also have their own campgrounds and glamping tents (63 campsites and 15 glamping sites) too if you are interested in a more rustic style of accommodation.

We stayed in a beautiful Big Sur Spa suite. This luxurious suite had a king bed, dining area, fireplace with cozy seating, spacious bathroom and a stunning patio with our own hot tub, hammock and lounge chairs. Waking up to the view of the redwoods and the sounds of nature was simply so soothing – the best start to our mornings here.

Our beautiful private deck

Welcome goodies

Another thing that we loved about the resort is that it is all inclusive! The all inclusive plan covers breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks (including mini bar food and nightly s’mores) and some non alcoholic drinks. The Sur House is the main restaurant on property and its location is spectacular! If you choose to sit outdoors, you will be treated to views for days of the unending Pacific. You choose to dine in the restaurant or order the same food in the room and enjoy it on your private deck. Every single meal we had here was fantastic. Using ingredients from their own organic garden, the culinary team takes their inspiration from this rich and fertile region, showcasing Big Sur’s seasonal bounty through modern American cuisine.

Lunch at the Sur House

They even had their own “doggie dining” menu! With so many delicious gourmet dog bowls to choose from, Ventana sure knows how to pamper their furry guests too.

This property is utterly beautiful and truly felt like a tranquil outdoorsy retreat. The location of the resort is what makes it so special. The resort is built into a redwood forested hill and overlooks the Pacific Ocean. Every corner offers spectacular views for days which left me saying “wow” and not putting my camera down.

In and around the beautiful property

The resort offers plenty of avenues for relaxation and tons of things to do both in and out of the property. It has a spa, 2 beautiful outdoor heated pools, an infinity hot tub, Japanese  baths, a gym, hiking trails and more. If you plan to go hiking, Ventana Big Sur allows its guests complimentary access to the Excursion Outpost which features a wide selection of complimentary equipment and amenities to help you make the most of your adventures.

The property can also arrange incredible experiences from stargazing, meditation, photography tours, yoga, redwoods picnic, classic car tour along highway 1 and so much more. We went on a short hike around the property with Lola and she loved it so much! Our favorite spot in the entire property is this magical circle of 100 year old redwoods, the energy and vibe of this place is something so special – you need to experience it for yourself!

Magical 100 year old redwoods

We also loved this scenic Redwood cathedral spot – how magnificent are these trees?!

At the Redwood Cathedral

There were 2 main pools in the resort. The Meadow Pool and the Mountain Pool. My fave was this epic infinity hot tub – I mean look at that view!

Infinity hot tub (above) and Mountain pool (below)

Anush and I also had a relaxing spa afternoon at the Alila Spa where we had a tub soak and couples massage. The views from our spa cabana were so dreamy and we left the session feeling super rejuvenated.

Spa with a view

Ventana is a destination in itself, offering so much to do its in 160 acre property. Having been to Big Sur a bunch in the past this time we decided to just stay in the property. But if you want to go out and explore, Ventana is a great base and all the attractions in Big Sur – the scenic drives, hikes and other popular locations are so close by to drive and explore.

Bixby Bridge

Carmel Beach – our fave off leash dog beach in Monterey County!

Garrapatta State Park is another fave area in Big Sur!

The iconic Mc way Falls

Overall we had such a wonderful time at Ventana Big Sur and highly recommend it if you are visiting magical Big Sur! Also check out my travel guide to Big Sur for more tips.

Cheers to an amazing staycation in Big Sur!

Thanks for stopping by! xoxo

Jyo

 

Disclaimer : This stay was in collaboration with Alila Ventana Big Sur, but all thoughts and opinions are my own.