carmel birthday

fresh air vibes

date: Jan 2-3, 2026
location: Carmel
camera:
Leica Q2 + LeicaLUX app

Bubbles, Pizza, Rainbows, and Birthdays

We celebrated my husband's birthday with an overnight escape to Carmel—a rare treat since we're so close but never stay. The drive down began with lunch at the Earthbound Farms stand, dining amongst the gardens before a little browsing. We checked into Le Petit Pali, the most adorable quaint French-themed renovated motel, where we were greeted with a welcome glass of bubbles. After settling in, we strolled around town visiting favorite shops before returning to find a birthday bottle of champagne left by my husband's family. We savored it by the fire pit on the patio as the evening settled in.

Dinner at our beloved La Bicyclette was perfection—great wine, delicious pizza, and the kind of effortless atmosphere that makes you linger. The next morning brought a champagne breakfast with all local ingredients, a leisurely start before the rain began. We headed home under skies streaked with vivid rainbows—perhaps some good luck for the new year ahead.