December of '97 found us, as usual, in Carmel for the latest of our many Christmas journeys to this storybook village...which is particularly enchanting when the boughs are decked for the holidays!  This year we tried yet another of the wide variety of B&Bs available from which to chose; selecting our lodging for each visit is sort of like rummaging through a box of chocolates and coming up with another treat (how very Forrest-Gumpish)!!   Our goody for this year was the Tally Ho Inn, which is conveniently located just off of bustling Ocean Blvd. (with its abundance of galleries, shops and restaurants), only a short stroll away from Carmel Bay and its dazzling white sand beach. As we approached the entrance, we could see though the cozy lobby - past the patio embellished with bright flowers - out over the breathtaking oceanscape....and we knew this experience would be yet another Carmel memory-maker!

The lobby was decorated with a bit of a British accent, an appropriate accompaniment to the name Tally Ho.  An expanded continental breakfast is laid out there each morning (granola, breakfast breads and pastries, fruit etc.), and brandy is available in the evenings.  The Tally Ho is affiliated with the historic Pine Inn (across the street) and room service may be ordered from that small hotel's excellent Il Fornaio restaurant. We wound our way through the rear courtyard and up the wooden stairs (which are situated to allow for the trees...as happens throughout Carmel, where trees receive top billing!), to reach our room on the top floor.   Colorful blossoms accentuated the profusion of plants which surrounded small sitting areas and terraced gardens.  One table was snuggled in front of a rustic outdoor fireplace, which lent its glow during cool mornings and brisk nights (a lovely spot to enjoy the twilight brandy). Several of the rooms have private decks with marvelous views of both the village and the Pacific.

The brilliant colors from the courtyard continued into our light and airy room, with its cheerful decorating scheme of pinks and greens.  Though not vast in size, it was pleasantly furnished with a king-sized bed, two comfy armchairs, a writing desk, small breakfast table & chairs, and an armoire with TV (some rooms also have fireplaces; ours didn't).  The bathroom was a luxurious surprise.  Obviously renovated recently, it was tastefully done in green and white marble and contained a large vanity area (with TV) and a 2-person Jacuzzi tub and separate glass-enclosed shower.   Our roomy deck made up for the lack of a fireplace, and we spent a lot of time relaxing in the sun as we reveled in the picturesque Carmel street-scenes below us and the spectacular vista of ocean and bay stretching to the horizon.  We had the extra-special treat of watching several California gray whales cruise down the coastline.  In fact we saw numerous whales this year, more than in the past.  I wonder if this was the one-and-only good benefit from that bully, El Niņo!!  After toasting the whales with champagne, we lingered on our deck to fold ourselves into the splendid sunset...what a delight!!

From our many memorable trips to Carmel-by-the-Sea, we've accumulated lots of "favorites"....dining, shopping, activities, special locales etc.  You'll find a full account of our tips and suggestions in our two previous "Jan's Journeys" Carmel entries: The Sunset House and La Playa Hotel, so I won't repeat myself here.  We did discover another choice restaurant during this stay...the Flying Fish in Carmel Plaza.  It was recommended to us by Dennis Fike, owner of the Sunset House, and we were very impressed with the wonderful Japanese-and-seafood cuisine; add it to the list!!  There are many photos in our other two Carmel reviews...so please follow the links above if you haven't already seen those webpages; they also contain information on other nearby destinations on the fabulous Monterey Peninsula. I'll include just a few new Carmel images here, as a small taste of what awaits in this most scenic little hamlet!!  As always, during this visit we returned again and again to the incredible beauty of the beach on Carmel Bay...drawn by its unsurpassed panorama. No further words are needed; the rotating photo series below conveys the magnificence.

So here's one more option to consider when making your selection from that delicious box of candy which represents lodging choices in Carmel!!  If you'd like more information about the Tally Ho Inn, you may call them at (831) 624-2232, send an e-mail to info@tallyho-inn.com, or visit their website at http://www.tallyho-inn.com/.  Be sure to visit the other two "Jan's Journeys" Carmel pages, The Sunset House and La Playa Hotel, if you'd like to peek at some of our recommendations for making your own special memories in this remarkable area.  Once you arrive, wherever you stay, take some time to savor the sunsets!!!

Copyright © 1998 - 2008: Jan Hight
All photos are the property of Jan & John Hight and may not be copied or used in any way without our written permission.

Published -- February 28, 1998
Last Revision -- Sunday, 13-Aug-2006 03:29:30 GMT