Upper Coast House Tree & Ocean View Room

This room combines ocean views with a quiet woodland setting, so you get the Big Sur coastline alongside the trees. Post Ranch Inn sits on cliffs about 1,200 feet above the Pacific, and guests are encouraged to look for California condors and, in season, whales from their rooms.

The room has one king bed with a pillowtop mattress and premium bedding. It sleeps two guests. Every room at Post Ranch Inn is limited to two people because each has a single king bed.

The private bathroom has a deep soaking bathtub and a shower/bathtub combination. It is stocked with designer toiletries, bathrobes, slippers, a hair dryer, soap, shampoo and towels. Turndown service is part of the stay.

A fireplace warms the room. You also have a coffee/tea maker with an electric kettle, free bottled water, a stocked minibar, champagne service, an iPod dock, a tablet computer, free WiFi, free local calls and limited-hours room service. Post Ranch Inn guestrooms do not have televisions or alarm clocks, which suits the unplugged, restorative feel of the property.

The rate includes daily breakfast at Sierra Mar, the in-room minibar, valet or self-parking, access to the pools and 24-hour fitness center, and complimentary resort activities. These include daily yoga and meditation, guided nature walks and garden tours. Guests may also use the inn's Lexus vehicles. There is no separate resort fee.

Post Ranch Inn is an adults-only retreat for guests 18 and older. This king room is made for couples, with a maximum of two guests. A two-night minimum stay applies, which suits the unhurried pace here. Families with children will need to look elsewhere.

Sierra Mar is the on-site restaurant. Complimentary breakfast for overnight guests runs 7:30 to 10:30 AM, and the patio is a good place to watch for whales. The inn has two cliffside heated infinity pools, kept around 104°F, plus a separate lap pool, all open 24 hours. The Post Ranch Spa is on property, and many treatments can be given in your room or on your private deck.

The inn is at 47900 Highway 1, Big Sur, in a remote spot where a car is essential. Monterey Regional Airport is the nearest, roughly an hour away. Rideshare apps are unreliable in Big Sur, so arrange private transport in advance if you are not driving. Highway 1 can close after landslides, so check road conditions before you set out. Check-in is at 4:00 p.m. and check-out at noon.

On property, you can walk Billy's Trail, join guided hikes, or book the falconry experience. Hawthorne Gallery is within walking distance. Pfeiffer Beach is about a 10-minute drive, and McWay Falls is roughly half an hour south. Bixby Bridge is about 23 minutes north.