There is a certain breed of tennis player who cannot be stopped by the weather, and the debate over winter tennis in Florida vs. summer tennis in New England resorts is one they live rather than argue.
From the prominent Coachella Valley to the breezy coastlines of San Diego and Santa Barbara, this guide covers seven standout properties that have made California one of the most celebrated tennis destinations in the world.
Kiawah Island Golf Resort has been serving unforgettable match moments from the time its first guests stepped onto the tennis courts in 1976. Fifty years later, that legacy continues to rally. In late 2025, the acclaimed Roy Barth Tennis Center added two new padel courts to its award-winning lineup.
There is a certain breed of tennis player who cannot be stopped by the weather, and the debate over winter tennis in Florida vs. summer tennis in New England resorts is one they live rather than argue.
From the prominent Coachella Valley to the breezy coastlines of San Diego and Santa Barbara, this guide covers seven standout properties that have made California one of the most celebrated tennis destinations in the world.
This guide covers six padel resorts in Italy, from a family-friendly all-inclusive village on the Calabrian coast to a five-star lakeside retreat in Veneto.Â
This 500-acre, pet-friendly property trails along an inland valley in the wooded Santa Lucia Mountains, above the fog that sometimes blankets the coast.
Its all-suite lodging, each of them with a fireplace and terrace, perches high in the hills, where it has views of the valley or trees and easy access to the lodge and an excellent restaurant, Valley Kitchen. Adjacent to the lodge is the 10,000-square-foot Aiyana Spa and an adult pool with a rimless hot tub. In the valley below lies an area called River Ranch, an activity zone that includes tennis and pickleball courts, a junior Olympic pool, a kids’ splash pool, and a second wellness adult pool, a 5,200-square-foot fitness center (whose extensive roster of classes are all complimentary), a bocce court, and a cafe serving light fare for golfers and tennis players in what was originally an 1890s farmhouse.
Tennis Director, Galina Bykova, directs the racquet-sports programming. A native of St. Petersburg, Russia, Galina is internationally known for her talent and success in tennis starting as a junior in her home country. As a junior she was ranked in the top 50 and at 18 joined the St. Petersburg team which went on to win the Russian Team Championship, from which she was awarded the title of Master of Sports of Russia (equivalent of National Champion). She went on to play Division I tennis in the US on a full scholarship before joining the Cliff Drysdale Tennis and Peter Burwash International teams. Galina has held successful leadership and coaching positions in Florida and California before making the move to Carmel Valley Ranch.
Much of the programming he oversees at Carmel Valley Ranch is geared to the needs of the resort’s substantial local membership. That has benefited guests by ensuring greater participation in the solid roster of weekly activities, among them one or more clinics daily, multiple Liveball sessions a week, and weekly doubles mixers. Together with the clinics and round robins, they provide not only instruction and workouts but also help guests meet compatible people for later matches, though the staff will otherwise help to put games together. Carmel Valley Ranch has also capitalized on the popularity of pickleball and installed four permanent courts for that growing racquet sport. The staff offers beginner lessons and stages community play several times a week and a complimentary doubles tennis mixer every month.
Court Complex: The Ranch has seven hard courts and four permanent pickleball courts.
Off Court
Golf Course: Pete Dye designed the resort’s 18-hole course in 1981 and it was redesigned in 2010. The front nine meanders along the Carmel River, but the back nine climbs into the forested upland, where holes 10 to 14 cling precariously to the hillsides and induce vertigo with drops as much as 350 feet from tee to green. To makes matters worse, heavy underbrush guard the margins of these back fairways. Length: 6,055-6,515 yards.
Spa & Fitness Center: The 10,500-square-foot Spa Aiyana, adjacent to the Lodge, takes its cue from the gardens by incorporating fresh herbs, botanical extracts, and various oils into its treatments. There is a gaslog fireplace in the waiting area and another in the couples treatment room. There are actually two fitness centers: a small one near the lodge and accessible to guests 24/7 using their room key card; and the larger one at River Ranch, which in addition to having a full suite of workout equipment offers Pilates, yoga, spinning, body sculpting, guided hikes, and more, all of them complimentary for guests.
Hiking trails lead into the Santa Lucia Mountains and horseback rides start nearby.
Children's programs: The resort now offers a variety of child-friendly programs, including a visit to the Ranch’s Ranch, where they tend to our farm animals and learn what it takes to care for the herds of goats, chickens, deer, alpacas, cows, and even bees. This traditional experience feature livestock education, lasso lessons, and even an introduction to ranch chores.
Dining: The Valley Kitchen restaurant has a well-established reputation for serving superb California cuisine inspired by the produce of Carmel Valley itself, including ingredients from the resort’s organic garden, wine from its own vineyard, olive oil from its trees, fresh eggs from its chickens, and honey from its apiary. It serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Otherwise, there is light fare—sandwiches, salads, smoothies—at the River Ranch Cafe and the Market Cafe & Creamery, and salads, sandwiches, tacos, and quesadillas at the Clubhouse Grill.
Accommodations
The Ranch suites range from studios to four bedrooms in sizes from 650 to 1,200 square feet. Spacious and well appointed, they all have living areas with travertine fireplaces, separate living rooms (except for studios), complimentary WiFi, flat-screen televisions, mini fridges, and bath amenities made with fresh-pressed lavender harvested on property. One set of rooms, which are larger and somewhat more private, trail along winding paths through stands of oak trees, which may somewhat obstruct their views of the valley; the other set, while somewhat smaller, occupy terraces on an open hillside that gives them more expansive views. Either way, these are some of the most supremely comfortable rooms anywhere.
Getting there
Seasons: Year-round though the best time to visit is from March through November.
Travel Instructions: By Air: The nearest major airports are San Jose International (SJC), 80 miles to the north and San Francisco International (SFO), 117 miles north. There is also a small regional gateway in Monterey Regional Airport (MRY), 13 miles from the resort.
Galina brings a lot of energy to the CVR Sunday tennis mixer making this my favorite tennis venue. She pairs up the players very well, keeps the action going and everyone seems to think that she is the perfect pro for the tennis mixer!
NP
My wife and I knew Galina for several years now and really enjoyed her energy and tennis knowledge she brings in her lessons. We were excited to reunite during our recent trip up the coast that included the stay at CVR. Galina’s lesson was as full of energy and insightful as always and we are better tennis players because of her feedback. CVR tennis courts are beautiful and a fabulous place to play.
EM
Wonderful coaches!
KM
CVR makes me feel like I am on vacation in my own home town. The tennis clinics with Galina and Marietta are so much fun. I leave feeling like I learned something new every time. The friends I have made and keep making at CVR have made this facility so worth joining!! The adult pool is a dream! Oh and my kids absolutely love the pool, pickle ball, golf and the food!!
AB
Galina and Marietta, the new pros at CVR, are great, both individually and as a team. I hope CVR can keep them. CVR has had a ton of turnover since my five years of living here, which is bad for members. CVR must do whatever it can to ensure that these two pros stay.
SM
Galina and Marietta are great! Their clinics are high energy and always fun and they both are super knowledgeable and experienced tennis coaches who will elevate your game, no matter your level!
ST
Galina and Marietta are amazing!!! We learned so much, while being inspired by their fun and energy!!!
JF
Galina and Maretha are two of the best pros I’ve seen at CVR in a long time. Their clinics are fun and challenging and you can tell they enjoy what they’re doing. A refreshing change from past pros. Love them!
MS
We love love love Galina! So awesome to have a great pro encouraging us to take our game to the next level.
KP
A group of four of us did a three night tennis camp at Carmel Valley Ranch this January and loved every minute. The resort is gorgeous, and the tennis was top notch. We booked through Experience Travel and we will be using them again. Historically, we attended the Nike tennis camps in Palm Springs, but the level of attention we got from Maretha was unparalleled. We would book again!
JS
Carmel valley ranch has an amazing tennis program. The main tennis coach and her team are phenomenal instructors. My tennis game has improved immensely from the private lessons and I am super appreciate of the positive feedback and fun I have on the court.
AR
My entire experience at the Ranch has been 10/10.
I loved playing tennis there – there are many courts, all of which are well maintained and with incredible views of the mountains and a vineyard!
The tennis instruction was also top notch. Galena and Mareta squeezed a lot of quality instruction in, and always made it fun.
The hotel and amenities are top notch as well. I highly recommend the Ranch!
KT
The tennis program at Carmel Valley Ranch is fantastic! Galina and Marietta are wonderful to work with — they’re incredibly knowledgeable, bring great energy, and make every practice and clinic so much fun. As a member of the C team, I always look forward to our sessions. The courts are beautiful, and the overall atmosphere is just perfect for playing tennis and pickleball!
KM
Very Friendly staff and very knowledgeable tennis pros. The tennis clinics are great! Very active and fun, and the pros give such great advice, I improve at each and every lesson! Clean locker rooms and tasty food!
TT
CVR and the whole experience was amazing. We did a couple days of tennis lessons and I love love love Galina coaching. I had fun and improved my tennis as the same time! Who says you can’t teach an old dog new tricks? I can’t wait to Come back. I also loved my time at with the animals! Mini donkeys and goats are so well loved and cared for it was an extra bonus to play with these beautiful creatures!! Everyone here at the ranch was friendly and cares. We will be back soon for sure
AB
CVR is a great spot. Galina gave me some valuable coaching, and a good work out. Thanks so much.
SE
I was at CVR for about a week and played a lot of tennis! The facility was great (the courts and the lodge). The staff was even better, from the front desk to the tennis pros. The lessons and clinics were fun and helpful. I wouldn’t have changed a thing and I’ll be back as soon as I can.
CJ
Our trip to CVR, first time with our children, was another successful one!
As a traveler who travels with my tennis racket, I couldn’t wait to return to the courts at CVR. I found a new friendly face. CVR’s new Tennis Director – Galina. She was an Amazing pro who made myself and the other participants (who were members) enjoy ourselves with specific direction and enthusiastic encouragement! She has a warm energy that made me stay for the next clinic! I played as many times as I could during my visit and it was A+++ , especially due to Galina and the warm welcome by the members in my groups. Can’t wait to return!
LK
Our stay and tennis experience at CVR exceeded expectations. Galina was an excellent instructor! No video taping needed thanx to her quick and expert eye to observe, correct and improve our tennis. Looking forward to returning!!!
FK
We were so pleased that we selected Carmel Valley Ranch to experience four fantastic days on court with Galina. She created a perfect schedule for us with morning and afternoon sessions. Five minutes into the first drills we were ready make plans to return next year.
Galina kept us moving with fast, effective drills and quickly showed her excellent ability at seeing where our problems were, with clear direction and quick fixes. Her vibrant personality and boundless energy made our time on the court super fun and fully engaging.
She is a beautiful player, coach, and consummate pro! Looking forward to our return. We couldn’t be happier with our tennis experience at Carmel Valley Ranch.
CL
Galina was the best. Great coach, taught us a lot of practical skills during play. She’s technically perfect; has a keen eye and is astute at assessing each player but doesn’t bog things down with a lot of technical discussion. Focuses on key areas to improve. Kept things moving with excellent drills and point play. She’s a ton of fun. Great personality. I’ll be coming back.
CL
Galina was a wonderful instructor, great feedback and very positive. It can be tricky to run a clinic with varying levels of ability and she kept us all moving and made drills that worked for everyone.
WJ
Judy and I had a wonderful time. We especially liked the instructors who were top notch!!
RM
What made this clinic were the instructors/pros. Very welcoming, fun, and lots of great tips. The resort is excellent, but pricey. But would go again just for the teaching experience!
MC
We truly enjoyed the atmosphere, the community and most of all, the tennis coaches. They are truly amazing with the kids and positive. This resort is our go to where each experience is better than the prior and best!!
GF
This was our fourth trip to Carmel Valley Ranch. I played tennis for four consecutive days: 1st day: Hitting session with Chris Myrold on Har-Tru clay court. 2nd day: ‘Daily drill’ was cancelled due to wet courts after an overnight shower. Ben Gottenberg was gracious and arranged for a hitting session with a resident member. 3rd day: ‘Live Ball’ doubles drills with Chris Myrold. Excellent opportunity for game-like, situational doubles practice. 4th day: Intermediate drills with Ben Gottenberg. Like the Live Ball session, excellent drills and covered groundstrokes, volleys, serves and a great 5-ball, Touch the Fence drill. Top notch instruction and a great assortment of clinics and drill programs. My only regret was that I was not able stay longer on our departure date to participate in the Round Robin Doubles Mixer. Yes, we will be back !!
CW
Chris and Ben were gems in tennis instruction. We’ve visited CVR 4 times in the past year, each time bringing new families and their kids with us. We had a mix of beginner adults taking tennis lessons, 3.5 NTRP players doing clinics, LiveBall, and doubles mixers, and 7-8 year old kids participating in clinics and private group lessons. The coaches were amazing in adjusting their instruction to the kids and adults and the level of play. Everyone learned something and was super-engaged. The tennis was a key highlight to our stays and continues to be one of the main draws. Our kids take private clinics at home, and all of them have stated that their favorite experiences were at Carmel Valley Ranch — they make it fun and instructive for them.
MW
Carmel Valley Ranch was an outstanding vacation for our entire family. The highlight of the trip however was the private instruction my 5 yr old son had with Coach Ben. Coach Ben made for an unforgettable experience for our son. Within 4 lessons had had him volleying and serving with confidence. More importantly, he took our son’s excitement to a new level with his excellent motivational coaching style. Everyday, our son looked forward to the next lesson! We will definitely be back next year for more of the same. Thanks Coach Ben!
TO
Carmel Valley Ranch was a highlight of our travels during Covid. What an unexpected and pleasant surprise as the resort and rooms are beautiful. We are tennis players and golfers and had opportunities to play both everyday. The golf course was in fabulous condition and a joy to play. The tennis community was one of the nicest places we’ve been. The staff and tennis pros are genuine, fun and invited us to play with other hotel guests that played at our level. There are multiple clinics and levels for anyone any age. We loved the community so much, we are spending next summer in the community.
TS
The coaches are positive and diplomatic at all times, making it a fun place for all!!
DM
We went for a long weekend and essentially dropped in for a tennis clinic and stayed for a mixed doubles round robin. We ended up playing again with another couple we met at the round robin. The pro, Ben, was great. Friendly, energetic and super responsive.
PS
The kids had private tennis lesson at Carmel Valley Ranch with coach Ben. They had the best time at the court. So much laughing and learning! Really recommend!
GO
I visited The Carmel Valley Ranch for 5 days. I called ahead and shared that I would be there and would love some tennis. Pro Ben called me THAT evening and shared programming options. Signed me up on the spot for a doubles round robin! While there, he also texted me possible hitting partners and got me signed up for a clinic he conducted. It turned out to have just one more person, so it was “two with a pro.” It was an exceptional workout and all the tennis I needed that day! Ben really went out of his way to make my stay there a tennis treat! THANKS, Ben!
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133 Reviews on “Carmel Valley Ranch”
Galina brings a lot of energy to the CVR Sunday tennis mixer making this my favorite tennis venue. She pairs up the players very well, keeps the action going and everyone seems to think that she is the perfect pro for the tennis mixer!
My wife and I knew Galina for several years now and really enjoyed her energy and tennis knowledge she brings in her lessons. We were excited to reunite during our recent trip up the coast that included the stay at CVR. Galina’s lesson was as full of energy and insightful as always and we are better tennis players because of her feedback. CVR tennis courts are beautiful and a fabulous place to play.
Wonderful coaches!
CVR makes me feel like I am on vacation in my own home town. The tennis clinics with Galina and Marietta are so much fun. I leave feeling like I learned something new every time. The friends I have made and keep making at CVR have made this facility so worth joining!! The adult pool is a dream! Oh and my kids absolutely love the pool, pickle ball, golf and the food!!
Galina and Marietta, the new pros at CVR, are great, both individually and as a team. I hope CVR can keep them. CVR has had a ton of turnover since my five years of living here, which is bad for members. CVR must do whatever it can to ensure that these two pros stay.
Galina and Marietta are great! Their clinics are high energy and always fun and they both are super knowledgeable and experienced tennis coaches who will elevate your game, no matter your level!
Galina and Marietta are amazing!!! We learned so much, while being inspired by their fun and energy!!!
Galina and Maretha are two of the best pros I’ve seen at CVR in a long time. Their clinics are fun and challenging and you can tell they enjoy what they’re doing. A refreshing change from past pros. Love them!
We love love love Galina! So awesome to have a great pro encouraging us to take our game to the next level.
A group of four of us did a three night tennis camp at Carmel Valley Ranch this January and loved every minute. The resort is gorgeous, and the tennis was top notch. We booked through Experience Travel and we will be using them again. Historically, we attended the Nike tennis camps in Palm Springs, but the level of attention we got from Maretha was unparalleled. We would book again!
Carmel valley ranch has an amazing tennis program. The main tennis coach and her team are phenomenal instructors. My tennis game has improved immensely from the private lessons and I am super appreciate of the positive feedback and fun I have on the court.
My entire experience at the Ranch has been 10/10.
I loved playing tennis there – there are many courts, all of which are well maintained and with incredible views of the mountains and a vineyard!
The tennis instruction was also top notch. Galena and Mareta squeezed a lot of quality instruction in, and always made it fun.
The hotel and amenities are top notch as well. I highly recommend the Ranch!
The tennis program at Carmel Valley Ranch is fantastic! Galina and Marietta are wonderful to work with — they’re incredibly knowledgeable, bring great energy, and make every practice and clinic so much fun. As a member of the C team, I always look forward to our sessions. The courts are beautiful, and the overall atmosphere is just perfect for playing tennis and pickleball!
Very Friendly staff and very knowledgeable tennis pros. The tennis clinics are great! Very active and fun, and the pros give such great advice, I improve at each and every lesson! Clean locker rooms and tasty food!
CVR and the whole experience was amazing. We did a couple days of tennis lessons and I love love love Galina coaching. I had fun and improved my tennis as the same time! Who says you can’t teach an old dog new tricks? I can’t wait to Come back. I also loved my time at with the animals! Mini donkeys and goats are so well loved and cared for it was an extra bonus to play with these beautiful creatures!! Everyone here at the ranch was friendly and cares. We will be back soon for sure
CVR is a great spot. Galina gave me some valuable coaching, and a good work out. Thanks so much.
I was at CVR for about a week and played a lot of tennis! The facility was great (the courts and the lodge). The staff was even better, from the front desk to the tennis pros. The lessons and clinics were fun and helpful. I wouldn’t have changed a thing and I’ll be back as soon as I can.
Our trip to CVR, first time with our children, was another successful one!
As a traveler who travels with my tennis racket, I couldn’t wait to return to the courts at CVR. I found a new friendly face. CVR’s new Tennis Director – Galina. She was an Amazing pro who made myself and the other participants (who were members) enjoy ourselves with specific direction and enthusiastic encouragement! She has a warm energy that made me stay for the next clinic! I played as many times as I could during my visit and it was A+++ , especially due to Galina and the warm welcome by the members in my groups. Can’t wait to return!
Our stay and tennis experience at CVR exceeded expectations. Galina was an excellent instructor! No video taping needed thanx to her quick and expert eye to observe, correct and improve our tennis. Looking forward to returning!!!
We were so pleased that we selected Carmel Valley Ranch to experience four fantastic days on court with Galina. She created a perfect schedule for us with morning and afternoon sessions. Five minutes into the first drills we were ready make plans to return next year.
Galina kept us moving with fast, effective drills and quickly showed her excellent ability at seeing where our problems were, with clear direction and quick fixes. Her vibrant personality and boundless energy made our time on the court super fun and fully engaging.
She is a beautiful player, coach, and consummate pro! Looking forward to our return. We couldn’t be happier with our tennis experience at Carmel Valley Ranch.
Galina was the best. Great coach, taught us a lot of practical skills during play. She’s technically perfect; has a keen eye and is astute at assessing each player but doesn’t bog things down with a lot of technical discussion. Focuses on key areas to improve. Kept things moving with excellent drills and point play. She’s a ton of fun. Great personality. I’ll be coming back.
Galina was a wonderful instructor, great feedback and very positive. It can be tricky to run a clinic with varying levels of ability and she kept us all moving and made drills that worked for everyone.
Judy and I had a wonderful time. We especially liked the instructors who were top notch!!
What made this clinic were the instructors/pros. Very welcoming, fun, and lots of great tips. The resort is excellent, but pricey. But would go again just for the teaching experience!
We truly enjoyed the atmosphere, the community and most of all, the tennis coaches. They are truly amazing with the kids and positive. This resort is our go to where each experience is better than the prior and best!!
This was our fourth trip to Carmel Valley Ranch. I played tennis for four consecutive days: 1st day: Hitting session with Chris Myrold on Har-Tru clay court. 2nd day: ‘Daily drill’ was cancelled due to wet courts after an overnight shower. Ben Gottenberg was gracious and arranged for a hitting session with a resident member. 3rd day: ‘Live Ball’ doubles drills with Chris Myrold. Excellent opportunity for game-like, situational doubles practice. 4th day: Intermediate drills with Ben Gottenberg. Like the Live Ball session, excellent drills and covered groundstrokes, volleys, serves and a great 5-ball, Touch the Fence drill. Top notch instruction and a great assortment of clinics and drill programs. My only regret was that I was not able stay longer on our departure date to participate in the Round Robin Doubles Mixer. Yes, we will be back !!
Chris and Ben were gems in tennis instruction. We’ve visited CVR 4 times in the past year, each time bringing new families and their kids with us. We had a mix of beginner adults taking tennis lessons, 3.5 NTRP players doing clinics, LiveBall, and doubles mixers, and 7-8 year old kids participating in clinics and private group lessons. The coaches were amazing in adjusting their instruction to the kids and adults and the level of play. Everyone learned something and was super-engaged. The tennis was a key highlight to our stays and continues to be one of the main draws. Our kids take private clinics at home, and all of them have stated that their favorite experiences were at Carmel Valley Ranch — they make it fun and instructive for them.
Carmel Valley Ranch was an outstanding vacation for our entire family. The highlight of the trip however was the private instruction my 5 yr old son had with Coach Ben. Coach Ben made for an unforgettable experience for our son. Within 4 lessons had had him volleying and serving with confidence. More importantly, he took our son’s excitement to a new level with his excellent motivational coaching style. Everyday, our son looked forward to the next lesson! We will definitely be back next year for more of the same. Thanks Coach Ben!
Carmel Valley Ranch was a highlight of our travels during Covid. What an unexpected and pleasant surprise as the resort and rooms are beautiful. We are tennis players and golfers and had opportunities to play both everyday. The golf course was in fabulous condition and a joy to play. The tennis community was one of the nicest places we’ve been. The staff and tennis pros are genuine, fun and invited us to play with other hotel guests that played at our level. There are multiple clinics and levels for anyone any age. We loved the community so much, we are spending next summer in the community.
The coaches are positive and diplomatic at all times, making it a fun place for all!!
We went for a long weekend and essentially dropped in for a tennis clinic and stayed for a mixed doubles round robin. We ended up playing again with another couple we met at the round robin. The pro, Ben, was great. Friendly, energetic and super responsive.
The kids had private tennis lesson at Carmel Valley Ranch with coach Ben. They had the best time at the court. So much laughing and learning! Really recommend!
I visited The Carmel Valley Ranch for 5 days. I called ahead and shared that I would be there and would love some tennis. Pro Ben called me THAT evening and shared programming options. Signed me up on the spot for a doubles round robin! While there, he also texted me possible hitting partners and got me signed up for a clinic he conducted. It turned out to have just one more person, so it was “two with a pro.” It was an exceptional workout and all the tennis I needed that day! Ben really went out of his way to make my stay there a tennis treat! THANKS, Ben!