Artists and writers flocked to Carmel-by-the-Sea (aka Carmel), just south of Monterey on California’s Central Coast, in the early 1900s, leaving an indelible impact on the town. Today’s Carmel is an incredibly charming, upscale village with more than a hundred restaurants and galleries and a gazillion shops. It also has 60 courtyards, many with cobblestones — hence the city requires a permit if you wear high heels. Carmel is also one of the dog-friendliest towns in the nation.
The best way to explore Carmel is on foot or bike, and this itinerary starts off with lots of options for doing so. Park near Carmel Plaza and go to the visitor center on the second floor to get your bearings and pick up old-fashioned maps. There are no street addresses — everyone gets around by finding cross streets, for example, “on Junipero, between 4th and 5th,” so it’s helpful to have a visual portrayal of the one-square-mile town that’s bigger than a phone.
Carmel Beach, Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA, USA
Stationæry, San Carlos Street, Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA, USA
Carmel Belle, Ocean Avenue, Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA, USA
Mad Dogs & Englishmen Bike Shop Carmel, CA, Mission Street, Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA, USA
Carmel Walks, Ocean Avenue, Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA, USA
Carmel Food Tours, San Carlos Street, Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA, USA
Carmel Art Tours, between Dolores &, Lincoln Street, Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA, USA
Robinson Jeffers Tor House Foundation, Ocean View Avenue, Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA, USA
Carmel Mission Basilica Museum, Rio Road, Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA, USA
Scheid Vineyards Tasting Room, 7th Avenue, Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA, USA
Casanova, 5th Avenue, Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA, USA
The Pocket, 6th Avenue, Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA, USA
Cypress Inn, Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA, USA
Carmel Garden Inn, 4th Ave and, Torres Street, Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA, USA
Best Places for Breakfast in Monterey Bay, Carmel & Pebble Beach
Best Things To Do in the Morning in Monterey Bay, Carmel & Pebble Beach
Tour Carmel this morning without a car! You have several options for guided tours. In addition to Mad Dogs & Englishmen e-bike tours and Carmel Walks walking tours, both highlighted below, and Carmel Food Tours (see lunch), also consider guided Carmel Art Tours, which take you to four to six of Carmel’s numerous galleries. If you’re there on a Saturday, try to book a tour at the famous Tor House, former home of poet Robinson Jeffers.
Best Places for Lunch in Monterey Bay, Carmel & Pebble Beach
Carmel Food Tours
If you book a spot with Carmel Food Tours, you’re treated to five or six food or drink tastings — enough to sate most folks for lunch. Highly recommend the Classic Food Tour (3 hours), and Bikes, Bites, and Bevs, which combines a 2.5-hour Carmel bike tour of the town and a trek to 17-Mile Drive, followed by a 2-hour food tour in Carmel.
Best Things To Do in the Afternoon in Monterey Bay, Carmel & Pebble Beach
Carmel Mission
Carmel Mission was one of the most important in the entire 21-mission system in California. It was originally founded in 1770 at the presidio in Monterey, but moved here near the Carmel River the next year. It was once headquarters for the entire Alta California mission system, and its museums house many fine pieces of Spanish Colonial art and artifacts, plus California’s first college library. The stone Basilica Church is a national historic landmark. Displays in other galleries tell the stories of mission history and life and the massive mission restoration project completed in 1936. Stroll in the gardens to view California poppies and other native plants.
Best Places for Dinner in Monterey Bay, Carmel & Pebble Beach
Casanova Restaurant
Owned and operated by a family with Belgian roots, romantic Casanova recreates the casual, intimate European bistro experience, where family and friends commune over several courses of fresh, farm-style food (try the spinach gnocchi or duck confit), nurtured by art, music, and a bottle of wine. The restaurant includes an outdoor fountain patio and three dining rooms, including Van Gogh’s Table — the very same table at which Vincent Van Gogh ate his daily meals while living in Auvers Sur-Oise, France. (Call the restaurant for seating availability.)
Best Places to Stay in Monterey Bay, Carmel & Pebble Beach
Cypress Inn
A haven for pooches and humans, Cypress Inn, in a landmark 1929 building, epitomizes upscale, pet-friendly digs for those who consider their furry companions family members who deserve the same treatment (or close) as their parents and siblings. Animal rights supporter and famed actress Doris Day co-owned the lodge for more than 20 years.
