Travel
The closest major airport is San Jose International (SJC), but San Francisco International (SFO) is only about 30 minutes farther and often has more options and cheaper fares. We suggest checking both airports before booking.
For the most affordable fares and maximal fun to be had, we recommend flying to California on Saturday, driving to Carmel on Sunday morning, participating in the planned activities Sunday - Wednesday, fly home Thursday (or extend your trip!).
There are several shuttle services from SFO and SJC to Monterey county. If you choose to use a shuttle service, please be aware that Uber and Lyft are limited to non-existant in Carmel Valley, making it difficult to get around if you are not in walking distance of Gardener Ranch.
We recommend a rental car as it will give you more flexibility and freedom to eplore all that Monterey county has to offer!