Tor House
Tor House
5
About
The historic home of the poet Robinson Jeffers is open to the public for group tours Fridays and Saturdays. First Tour at 10AM, last tour at 3PM. Tours last about 1 hr 20 minutes. Docents describe the life and times of Robinson and Una Jeffers, his poetry, philosophy, and accomplishments of building his home of sea-tossed granite. Wear walking shoes to cope with uneven ground and steep stairs. No photography during tours. Special events annually are the Spring Garden Party held the first Sunday in May when photography is permitted in Tor House and Hawk Tower. Jeffers Fall Festival is held the first weekend of October and includes discussions and presentations on Jeffers' poetry and his life in Carmel. Both are paid events. Check the Tor House web site for details near the time of event.
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5.0
188 reviews
Excellent
154
Very good
23
Average
9
Poor
2
Terrible
0
707Laura37
Napa Valley, CA68 contributions
Jul 2021
This tour was one of the very best activities we did in Carmel. I'm a literature teacher and my husband loves architecture, and we both love a really great story! Elliot, our tour guide and docent for this historic landmark, was absolutely outstanding. His passion for the Tor House and knowledge of the poet's work was exhibited in his poetry recitations, his sharing of stories of the past, made more lively by his invitations to those on the tour to really feel a part of the home, tower, and grounds. COVID protocols were followed by all six tourists who wore masks inside both the house and tower tours. Love poetry? Go on the tour! Love house building? Rocks? Local color? A really good love story? The sound of the ocean? Go on this tour! You'll love it.
Written 26 July 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Paula K
2 contributions
Jul 2022
Such an amazing home and grounds nestled on the Carmel coast. The structures are awe inspiring and built…by…hand. Listening to the history of Robinson Jeffers and his family’s travels are fascinating. Our guide, Susan, was knowledgeable and the way she read short passages were spellbinding. To see the home, preserved just how they lived was stunning. I highly recommend going and learning a little bit about a fascinating poet, how he lived his life and loved his family.
Written 20 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
storyteller59
Northern California7 contributions
Feb 2020
This remarkable tour introduced us to one of California's premier poets,Robinson Jeffers. Through discussion and poem, we came to know Jeffers' relationships to his wife, to Spirit, and to the natural world, relationships that he carved into the stone of his house and tower. More than just a description of the poet, we dropped into Robin's world and came away the richer for it. Thank you for this unexpected treasure.
Written 2 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Chris McCrum
1 contribution
Jun 2022
The Tor house is a must do for anyone with an interest in literature, architecture, or early Carmel. It is fascinating on several levels: the history of the family and times, how Jeffers' poetry was influenced by the site their house stands on, and its relationship with the ocean, and the home-grown yet extremely accomplished architecture and building process. The house exterior and interior are perfectly preserved, and gives you an amazing sense of what it was like to live in this funky, gorgeous jewel box of a house, so much of it built by their own hands. Our tour guide (Ron H) was a gem; informative, and highly sympathetic to Jeffers as a poet. Highly recommended.
Written 12 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
BAWHR
13 contributions
Feb 2020
We drove to Carmel specifically to tour the Tour House. Our adult son loves to tour historical homes and this was only a couple of hours away. We read on the website that the house was owned by a poet but knew nothing about Robinson Jeffers nor were we familiar with his poetry. Our guide enlightened us about the poet, his family, his friends (including a close relationship with Ansel Adams), and his home and tower. Very interesting and a gorgeous garden and view of Point Lobos. If you like poetry, history, or touring homes, go. BTW- you must be able to stand and walk the entire 1 hour tour.
Written 4 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
stacey w
Santa Barbara, CA43 contributions
Feb 2020
If you are planning a trip to Carmel-by-the Sea, be sure to book a reservation to see Tor House Foundation, the property owned by Robinson Jeffers and his wife. Our guide was full of information about the poet, the family and the property. He took his time and led our group on a very thorough tour. Fascinating and fun.
Written 6 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
valuetraveler57
San Francisco, CA32 contributions
Jun 2021 • Friends
Our group of five spent a wonderful 1.5 hours learning about the house and family of the poet R, Jeffers. Our tour guide Elliot was wonderful. Highly recommended as a break from the downtown busyness.
Written 27 June 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
getagrip2016
Carlsbad, CA8 contributions
Sept 2021
I will say that we were all unfamiliar with Robinson Jeffers prior to this visit. But, what an amazing story and the tour guide we had read some of Jeffers' poetry and made this experience come alive. The tour is not accessible for those unable to walk uneven paths and stairs so you should be aware. We thoroughly enjoyed this tour; just make sure you make reservations. This is not a walk-up and get in place. It was absolutely a wonderful experience
Written 20 September 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bonnie Belle
Sacramento, CA186 contributions
Sept 2021 • Couples
What a wonderful tour! Very well priced, informative guide. So inspiring to be in the home of Robinson & Una Jeffers— hand built with local granite. Such peaceful afternoon. Book the last tour— guide can tell more stories & read more poems
Written 12 September 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Robin B
Phoenix, AZ1,486 contributions
Apr 2021
We booked this tour months in advance, and I was disappointed to learn we wouldn’t be able to go inside. Because of Covid, the tour was limited to our “pod”, my husband and me. However, Doug was an excellent docent and passionate about the house and Robinson Jeffers. He made the tour interesting and we learned a lot about a poet who we had not known much about before. We were able to look into various portions of the house and wander the grounds which have breathtaking views of the Carmel coastline. Overall, it was well worth visiting.
Written 2 May 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi, no this is not a good place to bring a dog. They would not allow you to bring the dog inside or even on the grounds.
Written 30 August 2018
Can I view the site and the buildings during the week when there are no tours?
Written 28 January 2016
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