The forecast for Saturday in Carmel is for "abundant sunshine" and highs in the 70s—a perfect September afternoon. Why make the journey? The first-ever Harvest event at Quail Lodge, a two-day celebration organized by the same team that puts on the Pebble Beach Food & Wine extravaganza each spring.

For the ticket price of $85 (or a two-day pass for $150), you'll have all-afternoon access to food prepared by over 50 chefs, some 200 wines poured by over 100 wineries, chef demos (note: Tyler Florence in the house), artisanal cheese classes and tastings, barbecue seminars and gardening lessons from Cynthia Sandberg of Love Apple Farm (the exclusive garden for the Michelin-starred Manresa restaurant). When you're tired of eating and drinking, you can listen to live music on the lawn, pick up some produce at the on-site farmers market, then cap off the day with a tour around 17-mile drive.

Or, you know, you could just stay here in the city and watch the fog roll in. It's up to you.