Congratulations to the winner #65, Ann! Random.org selected your comment. Enjoy your trip!

On Friday, Esther shared her family’s heavenly experience at the recently renovated Carmel Valley Ranch and probably stirred up some vacation envy in quite a few of us (myself included). The entire Monterey Peninsula is stunning and a wonderful destination for families, but when you add in the large suites and luxury camp atmosphere of the Carmel Valley Ranch, it takes vacation to a whole other level.

Read about family friendly activities around Monterey Bay.

According to Esther, “The Carmel Valley Ranch likens itself to a camp because of its many complimentary activities. From guided hikes to the iconic tree swings to pilates to S’mores at night, there’s no shortage of things to enjoy at this resort. ” Her son’s favorite experience was the unique Bee Experience in the apiary.  Perhaps your kids will love the golf, tennis, “Ranch Hand” kids club, guided hikes, River Ranch pool and athletic complex, or the iconic tree swings the best.  Maybe mom will find her bliss at the spa. Regardless, it sounds like there is something on this large and diverse property that will appeal to everyone.

Missed Esther’s post on Friday? Then click on over and read it to get the full scoop on the Carmel Valley Ranch.

Are you dreaming about a stay at the Carmel Valley Ranch with your family? Then we have a great deal and steal for you!

The Deal: Enjoy a great family stay with the Ranch Hands Family Package !

Package Includes:

• Overnight accommodations in a spacious suite suitable for a family of 4
• Upgrade to next suite type at time of booking, subject to availability
• 2 hours complimentary childcare, once during your stay
• Nightly turndown amenity for the children
• Take-home signature tree swing

Suite types begin with the Ranch Suite category.  Sleeping accommodations for 4 include use of the pullout queen-size sofabed in the living room.  Complimentary 2 hour childcare is available in the mornings at the River Ranch Children’s Activity Cottage.  Childcare is available for children 2-8 years old.

The Steal: Win a 2 night stay at the Carmel Valley Ranch!

• 2 night stay in a Ranch Suite at the Carmel Valley Ranch

Valued at approximately $870

HOW TO ENTER TO WIN:

Step 1: Share this giveaway using the Facebook by clicking the FB “Like” button at the top of the page

Step 2: Leave a blog comment below letting us know that you did.

Get extra entries by repeating steps 1 and 2 once a day.  But be sure to leave a new comment each time.

Get even more additional entries:

Feel free to do any or all of the following actions.  Each action counts as an extra entry but be sure to LEAVE A SEPARATE COMMENT FOR EACH ONE or the entry will not be counted.

• 
• Like Trekaroo on Facebook
  
• Tweet a link to this Monday Mad Steal via @Trekaroo using the Twitter share button at the top of the page.

• Subscribe to the Trekaroo Blog

• Follow Trekaroo on Twitter
• Post this giveaway on your blog

Rules and guidelines:

• 18 years of age or older
• US Residents only

Deadline to enter: Sunday, October 30, 2011 at 11:59PM PST

What is Monday Madness?

Every Monday, Trekaroo announces on our blog, either a fantastic giveaway or an incredible deal.  It could be a green water bottle, a hotel stay on Maui or theme park tickets. Return every Monday to the Talking Trekaroo Blog for the details. Want a reminder? Become a Trekaroo member or follow us on facebook or twitter.

Thanks to Contest for Moms, Online Sweepstakes, CashNet Sweepstakes, and Sweepstakes Advantage and Contest Girl.

- – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

Sharlene Earnshaw is the blog editor  for Trekaroo.

Travel with kids to: CA |CO | DC | FL | HI | IL |MA | NC | NY | OR | PA | TN | TX | VA | WA

After a $35M renovation, the Carmel Valley Ranch is truly a divine getaway for families. With nearly 500 acres of land, “The Ranch” offers more activities than we were able to pack into our 2-night stay. The new owners of The Ranch have taken great care to create a relaxing and unique experience for the whole family, including youngsters like our 4-year-old son.

Activities

The Carmel Valley Ranch likens itself to a camp because of its many complimentary activities. From guided hikes to the iconic tree swings to pilates to S’mores at night, there’s no shortage of things to enjoy at this resort. Our son’s favorite experience was the unique Bee Experience in the apiary. He was excited to wear a “spacesuit” for the adventure, watching as the bee-keeper opened the hives. In fact, he was so excited that he patiently listened to a 45-minute bee tutorial on how these bees would gather nectar from the lavender plants on the Ranch before we even entered the apiary. I was amazed! My favorite part was getting a taste of the lavender honey from these busy bees. Delicious.

We also loved the River Ranch. It’s a huge, kid-friendly fitness complex that includes a swimming pool, splash area for little ones, bocce ball court, basketball court, tennis courts, and fitness center. The Kids camp and childcare facilities are also located here, which is convenient if you’re trying to fit in a work-out. It’s a great place to find some playmates for your kids too.

And of course, my husband’s favorite… the GOLF COURSE! If you like the golf, you’ll love staying here. Not only do they have a fantastic course, but also they often offer complimentary golf clinics during the summer busy season.

If you’d like to explore the surrounding areas, The Ranch is also conveniently located just 15 minutes from Carmel Beach and the beautiful Point Lobos State Reserve, and 20 minutes from Monterey and the aquarium.

Rooms

The rooms are all HUGE, one-bedroom suites. We stayed in the Garland Suite, which was a better lay-out for us compared to the Ranch Suite where we stayed during our last visit. This time the bathroom was located in a hallway between the living room area and the bedroom (versus being connected to the bedroom) and there was no tiptoeing past any sleeping babies – a nice touch!

The beds, including the sofa bed, were comfortable, and a large leather coffee table is certainly kid-friendly for cruisers or new walkers.

Dining

There are three eating options on-site: The Lodge Restaurant, the River Ranch Café, and the restaurant at the golf club. The food at the Lodge was excellent, with an eight-item children’s menu with favorites from mac-n-cheese to healthier options like grilled chicken with veggies. The portions are large for both adults and kids, so come hungry.

The River Ranch Café is located at the River Ranch and has a variety of salads, sandwiches and burgers. The food was tasty, but be mindful of the 20% service tax that is charged even if you’re just taking the food to-go.

We didn’t get a chance to try the food at the golf course, but the views from the club are stunning.

BOTTOMLINE:

We’ll be back. The Carmel Valley Ranch is a 5-star stay that caters to every member of the family.

STAY TUNED FOR AN UPCOMING CARMEL VALLEY RANCH GIVEAWAY ON TREKAROO!

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Esther Lee is a contributing editor at Trekaroo.

Disclosure: This review is based on a complimentary stay at the Carmel Valley Ranch in order to complete an unbiased review. The hotel did not request that any specific opinions be expressed.

Travel with kids to: CA |CO | DC | FL | HI | IL |MA | NC | NY | OR | PA | TN | TX | VA | WA

Let the fall festivities begin…

Pumpkin hurling? Oh yes! Where?  In New Jersey at the Flying Pumpkin Festival , and Suffolk County Farm in New York.  All over the US, kids are having a blast picking apples and pumpkins, catching an old fashioned hay ride or getting lost in a corn maze. Here are some of the best farms and festivals from Lydie at Trekaroo mom and keeper for Travel Is More Fun With Kids.

Pumpkin Patches:

• Pumpkin Patches that Kids Love in an Francisco
• The Best Pumpkin Patches Near Seattle
• The Most Popular Pumpkin Patches in the Tri-state Area (New York, New Jersey and Connecticut)

Harvest Festivals:

• Harvest Festivals and Oktoberfest Celebrations From San Francisco to Monterey/Carmel
  
• Fall Time Harvest Festivals in Washington State
• Popular Harvest Festivals in Manhattan and New York State
• Best Harvest Festivals for Kids in New Jersey
• Top Harvest Festivals for Kids in Connecticut

Photo by: www.flickr.com/photos/micahtaylor/1690423641
LiLing Pang is a contributing author on Trekaroo – a reviews site dedicated to exploring and traveling with kids.
Travel with kids to: CA | FL | HI | MA | NY | PA | TX | VA