Along with the nearby Monterey Bay Aquarium and nature-friendly Point Lobos, there's a world of fun for kid’s right here in Carmel-by-the-Sea. Outdoors or in, a host of activities keep young visitors happily occupied from morning 'til bedtime.

Here are our favorite family friendly activities:

Explore Carmel's beautiful white sand beach and adjacent tide pools.

Take a hike through Forest Hill Park and Mission Trail Park. 

Attend surf school. Drop by the Carmel Youth Center.

Rent bikes.  The Hofsas House Hotel concierge can you help you coordinate. 

Take in 9 holes or a golf lessons for kids at the Peter Hay Golf Course at Pebble Beach.

Picnic and hike at Point Lobos!

Rent a family kayak from Adventures by the Sea.

Young artists can make their own creations at Glazes Studio, a colorful, fun, and playful place for kids of all ages.

See a show like The Wizard of Oz at the outdoor Forest Theater.

And be sure to visit the very cool Carmel Children's Library.

For more information check out the website at the Carmel Chamber of Commerce.  http://www.carmelcalifornia.org/things-to-do/Family_Friendly.aspx

Our staff is frequently asked what they like to do with their families.  Here are our staffs Family Friendly Picks … drumroll please.

Mission San Carlos Borromeo del Rio Carmelo

The beautifully restored Carmel Mission. Still a working church and school, take time to explore the park-like grounds.  Even young ones will appreciate the quietness of the Basilica, even if for just a few minutes. Direct your kids to the nativity scene in the back left-corner of the Basilica. According to volunteers it’s like no other in the world, because of something tastefully hidden in it’s midst. Challenge your kids (and yourself) to figure out what “it” is. (I don’t want to give away the surprise.) Check it out, if you’re stumped, grab a volunteer to help in the search.

Ocean Avenue

Tree-lined Ocean Avenue is a shopper’s dream. Start in the park across the street from Tiffany and Co. Once the kids have rolled around in the grass for a bit, start window shopping your way to the waves. Kids don’t like to shop? No worries. Have them count the dogs. Trust me, there’s so many, they’ll lose count more than once. Even better, have your kids hunt for the numerous water bowls hidden among the flowers for thirsty hounds out on the town. Dogs dig Carmel.

Get Sandy

Carmel-by-the-Sea has one of the most beautiful beaches. Just keep heading down Ocean Drive, and you’ll be rewarded. The beach is leash-free, so dogs and kids run freely in the sand.   Ask for a free Frisbee to take with you to the beach.

Share your favorite family friendly activities to do in Carmel-by-the-Sea on our Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/hofsashousehotel.

Summer is almost here.  How will you plan your family’s summer get away?

Family, heritage and relative connections are of utmost importance to all of us. At the Hofsas House Hotel our family understands this only too well, and our team is now pleased to offer a special Celebrate Family package. With it, you can now bring your relatives together for a living “family tree.”

Celebrating family is easy at the Hofsas House! The Theis family has been running the Hofsas House for more than 60 years! Offering affordable lodging options, close proximity to Monterey Airport and year-round activities, there is something to keep everyone happy. The Celebrate Family package provides groups rates for rooms (with 5 or more rooms booked with a two night minimum), complimentary continental breakfast, wine and cheese upon arrival, and much more.

Families can enjoy our poolside meeting facility and share an evening of laughter, games and shared memories. The meeting facility offers a comfortable setting for up to 40 people depending on the configuration of the room.

By utilizing the six round tables, a sit down dinner for 30 can be accomplished very easily by either having it catered by a local restaurant or preparing it in the complete kitchen that contains an oven, stove, microwave and refrigerator. Share your memories around the wood burning fireplace. Make memories to last a lifetime.

Let the Hofsas House Celebrate Family package help you celebrate your very special bonds with those you care about most. Call us today and let the Hofsas House family help plan the perfect getaway at a price that will make everyone happy.

Hofsas House Family Reunion Package includes

·Group Rates on Guests Rooms (starting at $ 135 .00 per night, excluding tax when 5 or more rooms are booked for a two night minimum)

·Welcome wine with cheese and cracker tray upon arrival

·Complimentary Continental Breakfast

·Discounted Price On Use of Poolside Meeting Facility ($75.00)

·One complimentary family portrait session on the beach by certified professional photographers; also receive a free 8x10 photograph. The photo image and additional photos can be purchased directly from the photographer.

Offer does not apply to existing groups and are subject to availability. Offer is subject to change without notice and some blackout dates may apply. Minimum night stay required.

Call Hofsas House Owner and General Manager, Carrie Theis, personally to make reservation.

Experience the Hofsas House and all Carmel-by-the-Sea has to Offer!

The Hofsas House offers you the suggestions for a perfect weekend in Carmel-by-the-Sea! Spend your weekend exploring the arts, culture, cuisine, pubs, and spas that make Carmel one of the Pacific Coast’s brightest vacation spots.

Start the day with a brisk walk along spectacular Scenic Road where Carmel’s trademark ocean views take your breath away — followed by coffee and a croissant at a local coffee house or bakery.

Get a great overview of our village’s “open-air art museum” at the Carmel Art Association, a showcase for renowned California artists since 1927, when it became the first art association west of the Mississippi. Then, sample 100 A-List galleries tucked into a square mile of quaint streets and alleyways. Visit www.carmelart.org for details.

Enjoy a wide range of casually elegant cuisine, including a number of Wine Spectator-awarded restaurants. From sushi to Italian to hearty pub fare, Carmel has the best of everything.Enjoy Mundaka Restaurant, Flaherty’s Restaurant, Grasing’s, Carmel Cheese Shop and so many more!

Experience the charming history of our famed art colony with a self-guided walking tour that starts at Carmel Heritage Society’s First Murphy House, a 1902 legacy of Carmel’s charming history, and Comstock House. Visit www.CarmelHeritage.org for details.

Sample cheeses and other gourmet treats from around the world at The Cheese Shop, a Carmel landmark for three decades, located at Carmel Plaza. Visit www.CarmelPlaza.com for details.

Sip local and international wines at Galante Vineyards, Southern Latitude Wines, and La Bicyclette, among many others. Enjoy the new Carmel-by-the-Sea Wine Walk.

Enjoy a casually exquisite dinner at one of Carmel’s dozens of top-drawer restaurants, followed by a live performance at the Golden Bough Playhouse, home of Pacific Repertory Theatre; the landmark Sunset Center, the Monterey Peninsula’s leading venue for top national and global performers of all kinds; or the Forest Theater, the nation’s first outdoor live theater west of the Rockies.   

Toast to the day’s adventures in the authentic pub atmosphere of popular spots like Jack London’s Bar & Grill, Brophy’s or the Hog’s Breath Inn, once owned by Clint Eastwood.

Top off the evening with a beach fire and s’mores on captivating Carmel Beach, rated one of America’s cleanest and prettiest.

Contact the Hofsas House today and let us help you plan your perfect weekend in Carmel-By-The-Sea!

Monterey County Named The 10 Best Wine Travel Destinations of 2013 By Wine Enthusiast

Check out Carmel’s new Wine Walk by-The- Sea currently features 7 wine tasting venues. The Carmel Wine Walk by-the-Sea™ is also pleased to offer the Wine Tasting Passport and added value to sweep visitors away to seven different tasting rooms. The $50 Passport, a $70 value, provides tasters with one $10 flight at each of the seven tasting rooms of Caraccioli Cellars, Coastview Vineyards, Figge Cellars, Galante Vineyards, Manzoni Cellars, Scheid Vineyards, Wrath and Vino Napoli.

The Carmel Wine Walk by-the-Sea™ Wine Tasting Passport allows guests the ability to taste the distinct flavors of each tasting room all in one day or to spread the tastings out over a weekend, several weeks, or even months. The Wine Tasting Passport is available for purchase at the Carmel Chamber of Commerce Visitors Center on San Carlos between 5th & 6th in Carmel-by-the-Sea.

Stay at the Hofsas House Hotel and enjoy our special wine and cheese package for $30 . Enjoy a bottle of Ventana Wines and cheese from the Cheese Shop … a Carmel cheese lover’s heaven!

Spend the morning walking on Carmel beach, wine taste in the afternoon and have dinner at a local restaurant with an award-winning wine cellar – all without getting in your car. Or drive to Carmel Valley for wine tasting in charming country settings. You can say you’ve been here when Monterey County becomes the new Napa.

Wine Enthusiast Names Monterey County Wine Region The 10 Best In The World!

http://lajollamom.com/2013/01/10-best-wine-travel-destinations/

Stay, Watch & Play! Come and stay at the Hofsas House Hotel in Carmel-by-the-Sea to go to a practice round of the AT&T Golf Tournament. The practice rounds are less crowded and cameras are allowed! Then go play a round of golf at the Quail Lodge Resort and Golf Club. Stay, Watch & Play package starts at $300 and includes a one night stay for two people, one bed, at the Hofsas House, two rounds of 18 holes of golf and cart at Quail Lodge and a continental breakfast. Pricing is good for Sunday, February 3 thru Wednesday, February 6th and is based on availability and does not include taxes. Call today to make your room reservation and we will take care of your tee time: 1-800-221-2548.  www.hofsashouse.com

It's time to bid aideu to 2012 and welcome New Year 2013 with great fun and enthusiasm. As the New Year dawns, everyone is getting in the spirit of grand celebrations. The team at the Hofsas House in Carmel-By-The-Sea wishes you a warm and heartfelt New Year to your loved ones.

Start the New Year with preserving those memories that you cherish so much!  Did you know?  The Hofsas House offers the perfect crafters getaway! Think of the Hofsas House as a girls get away for quilting, knitting, scrapbooking, sewing, cross stitching, stamping, and more. Bring a group to Carmel and utilize the hotels spacious, secure and well lit poolside meeting room with full kitchen and fireplace.

The Hofsas House Hotel installs special lighting to add to the natural light that comes into the room. Groups can also make use of the hotels kitchen.  Learn more about our special offer click here.

Happy New Year!

May the Christmas season

fill your home with joy,

your heart with love

and your life with laughter.

Every holiday season our family has traditions.  This year we want to share what makes our holidays sparkle.  We hope you enjoy!

1.  Walking the streets of Carmel-by-the-Sea to look at Christmas lights.  Take a stroll and soak it all in!

2.  Christmas Movie Night!  Celebrate Xmas with Clark Griswold, Charlie Brown and The Grinch. What is your favorite holiday movie?

3.   Buying and picking out the family Christmas Tree and decorating.  Ahhh the memories.  Stop by and check out the Hofsas House lobby tree!

4.   Putting out Santa's cookies and milk.  Don't let Santa leave on an empty stomach.

5.   Baking Christmas cookies.  Home baked cookies all the way.

6.   Hanging the Christmas lights.  You don't have to go all out, but a little color is a must.

7.   And our favorite Theis Family tradition is … Christmas Dinner.  Christmas traditions start at the dinner table.

Try Carrie's favorite holiday cookie recipe at home.  The cookie is the Sugar Zwieback.

Ingredients

Recipe makes 4 dozen

·    1 cup milk

·    4 tablespoons butter, cut into pieces

·    1/4 cup honey

·    1/2 teaspoon salt

·    2/3 cup white sugar

·    1 (.25 ounce) package active dry yeast

·    1/4 cup warm water

·    1 egg

·    4 cups all-purpose flour

·    1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg

Directions

1.  Heat milk in a small saucepan until just starting to bubble. Remove from heat; stir in butter, honey and salt. Set aside and let cool. Set aside 2 teaspoons sugar. Stir remaining sugar into milk mixture. Let cool to room temp.

2.  In a large bowl, combine yeast and lukewarm water. Set aside 5 minutes for yeast to soften. Beat cooled milk mixture, egg, 4 cups flour, and nutmeg into yeast mixture.

3.  Knead dough in a bowl, adding up to 1/2 cup more flour if necessary, until a smooth, soft dough forms. Divide dough into 8 balls 3 inches in diameter. Place balls 4 inches apart on lightly greased cookie sheets; pat into 4 inch rounds. Brush tops of rounds with water and    sprinkle with reserved sugar. Set aside, lightly covered with kitchen towels, about 1 hour, or until doubled in size.

4.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C). Bake raised rounds 30 minutes, or until golden brown. Remove from oven; leave oven on. Let cool on sheets 10-15 minutes, or until cool enough to handle.

5.  With a serrated knife, cut each round into six 1/2-inch slices. Place slices, cut sides down, on cookie sheets and return to oven for 5 minutes. Turn slices and bake 5 to 7 minutes longer, or until golden on both sides. Turn off heat and leave in unopened oven until cool, about 45 minutes. Store in tightly covered container.

Hofsas House has one of the most pet friendly hotels around, and you'll realize it from the moment you and your pet check in. All pets receive their own gifts including a Frisbee and special treat to start their vacation. Carmel comfort for you and your furry friends! For the month of November 2012, dogs stay free! You also receive a complementary doggie welcome package upon arrival!

Everybody needs a break, including your four-legged friend! Bring your pet for a one-night stay at the pet friendly Hofsas House and chase your blues away. Hofsas House makes it easy with a great rate, an in-room bed for your furry friend and a special Frisbee to take to beautiful Carmel Beach! Make your pet the first on the block to have a Hofsas House getaway!

Don’t forget to meet our Pet Concierge Cajun!   He is featured in the November issue of Carmel Magazine.

Hofsas House in Carmel- by- the- Sea , offers Holiday ’s Are Where the Heart Is package! Stay at the Hofsas House any date in November and December 2012 and enjoy rate discounts and family fun!

Kids will enjoy ginger bread houses to decorate in-room while adults sip award winning local wines. Whether you are visiting family or just looking for that special holiday getaway, Hofsas House will help make your holidays memorable.

Accommodations start at $179 for a spacious room with two queen beds or for a two bedroom family suite (king with two queen beds, two bathrooms) $239 per night plus taxes. (This includes one Gingerbread making kit, a bottle of award winning Ventana Vineyards Wines and a cheese tray in room upon arrival. Holidays Are Where The Heart Is package must be ordered 72 hours in advance and subject to availability)

Package can be booked through the Hofsas House concierge. Offer valid with a minimum of a 1 night stay at the Hofsas House. Expires December 31 2012. Booking Code: HHHoliday.

The team at the Hofsas House in Carmel-By-The-Sea loves the great outdoors and exploring the Coast.  We offer the perfect European ambiance for hikers! Within minutes of the hotel, you can experience hikes in Pebble Beach, Carmel Valley and Big Sur hiking trails ranging from tranquil walks along a coastal waterfall to miles-long ascents through the redwoods and into the rugged wilderness. After a day of hiking, relax your tired muscles in the hotel’s heated swimming pool or European dry saunas.

This September we invite you to try two new hikes we have found and love!

Bird Rock to Indian Village – Pebble Beach

This casual day hike is a great break from the usual 17-mile Drive for those who want to explore the Del Monte forest that reaches into Pebble Beach.  Start at Bird Rock on the coast and begin a stroll up the coast to Seal Rock before venturing across the sand dunes inland through Monterey pines towards Indian Village.  After one mile you will arrive at a grassy picnic area with a log cabin, named Indian Village for as it was thought to be used by the Costanoan Indians as a spa before the Spanish missionaries arrived in the 1700s.

Duration: 1 hour

Length: 1.5 miles

Difficulty: Beginner/ Casual

Buckeye Nature Trail – Garland Ranch Regional Park, Carmel Valley

Named for its shady Buckeye Trees, take the Buckeye Nature Trail at Garland Ranch Regional Park in Carmel Valley for a moderate hike any time of the year.  Hike along the trial and stop frequently to learn more about the flora that reside in the Carmel area, as well as how natives and settlers used the plants as medicines and foods.  Make sure to grab a map of Garland Ranch at the visitor’s center so you can continue the exploration of the favorite local hiking spot!

Duration: 2 hours

Length: 2 miles

Difficulty: Moderate

From September 1 - 30, 2012 the Hofsas House explores nature with its special Hiking Package. Mention this Hiking Packing when reserving a minimum of two nights and receive a $25 gift certificate to 5th Avenue Deli, the perfect place to get your picnic for the hike. 5th Avenue Deli is located only 2.5 blocks from the hotel. When booking online, indicate HHNature to receive this gift certificate upon arrival. This offer is not valid with any other discounts or promotions.

At the Hofsas House in Carmel-By-The-Sea, family, heritage and relative connections are of utmost importance to all of us. Our family understands this only too well, and our team is now pleased to offer a special Celebrate Family package. With it, you can now bring your relatives together for a living “family tree.”

Celebrating family is easy at the Hofsas House! The Theis family has been running the Hofsas House for more than 60 years! Offering affordable lodging options, close proximity to Monterey Airport and year-round activities, there is something to keep everyone happy. The Celebrate Family package provides groups rates for rooms (with 5 or more rooms booked with a two night minimum), complimentary continental breakfast, wine and cheese upon arrival, and much more.

Families can enjoy our poolside meeting facility and share an evening of laughter, games and shared memories. The meeting facility offers a comfortable setting for up to 40 people depending on the configuration of the room.

By utilizing the six round tables, a sit down dinner for 30 can be accomplished very easily by either having it catered by a local restaurant or preparing it in the complete kitchen that contains an oven, stove, microwave and refrigerator. Share your memories around the wood-burning fireplace. Make memories to last a lifetime.

Let the Hofsas House Celebrate Family package help you celebrate your very special bonds with those you care about most. Call us today at 831-624-2745 and let the Hofsas House family help plan the perfect getaway at a price that will make everyone happy.

Hofsas House Family Reunion Package includes:

-Group Rates on Guests Rooms (starting at $125.00 per night, excluding tax when 5 or more rooms are booked for a two night minimum)

-Complimentary Continental Breakfast

-Discounted Price On Use of Poolside Meeting Facility ($75.00)

-One complimentary family portrait session on the beach by one of our certified professional photographers, also receive a free 8x10 photograph. The photo image and additional photos can be purchased directly from the photographer.

Offer does not apply to existing groups and are subject to availability. Offer is subject to change without notice and some blackout dates may apply. Minimum night stay required. The Hofsas House Family Reunion Package is available from May 1, 2012 – December 31, 2012.  Contact us or email at info@hofsashouse.com for additional information.

The Hofsas House in Carmel- by- the-Sea, offers a Sunset Beach Package June - October 2012. What could be better than enjoying a sunset fire and s’mores at the beach? Enjoy watching the sunset while lounging on the deep white sands of Carmel Beach with views of Point Lobos and Pebble Beach . The Hofsas House invites guests to order a hotel canvas bag and wood bundle with all the fixings for s’mores and head down to the beach (south of 10^thAvenue ) at their leisure. Four legged friends and a bottle of wine are also permitted on Carmel Beach .

The Hofsas House Sunset Beach package Includes:

• Wood and starter for a 3 x 3 foot beach fire
• Comfy oversized beach blankets to relax upon 
• All the fixings for s'mores including marshmallows, Hershey bars, graham crackers and long handled roasting sticks (for 10 people)
• Safety Flashlight

Total cost is $60. Beach fire must be ordered from the Hofsas House 24 hours in advance and subject to availability.

Package can be booked through the Hofsas House concierge or if reserving online use Booking Code: HHSunset.

Hofsas House Hotel is located on San Carlos Street, north of Fourth Avenue in Carmel-by-the-Sea. For more information, call (831) 624-2745 or visit www.hofsashouse.com. Like us on Facebook.

The sun is shining.  Check out Carmel ’s new Wine Walk By-The- Sea  currently features 7 wine tasting venues. The Carmel Wine Walk by-the-Sea™ is also pleased to offer the Wine Tasting Passport and added value to sweep visitors away to seven different tasting rooms. The $70 value provides tasters with one $10 flight at each of the seven tasting rooms of Caraccioli Cellars, Coastview Vineyards, Figge Cellars, Galante Vineyards, Mazoni Cellars, Scheid Vineyards, Wrath and Vino Napoli.

The Carmel Wine Walk by-the-Sea™ Wine Tasting Passport allows guests the ability to taste the distinct flavors of each tasting room all in one day or to spread the tastings out over a weekend, several weeks, or even months. The Wine Tasting Passport is available for purchase at the Carmel Chamber of Commerce Visitors Center on San Carlos between 5th & 6th in Carmel-by-the-Sea.

Stay at the Hofsas House  and enjoy our special wine and cheese package.  Enjoy a bottle of Ventana Wines  and cheese from the Cheese Shop  … a Carmel cheese lover’s heaven!

Spend the morning walking on Carmel beach, wine taste in the afternoon and have dinner at a local restaurant with an award-winning wine cellar – all without getting in your car. Or drive to Carmel Valley for wine tasting in charming country settings. You can say you’ve been here when Monterey County becomes the new Napa.