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Joe and I had a blast visiting Carmel a couple weeks ago. We were hosted by Hofsas House Hotel and had the opportunity to thoroughly explore Carmel By-The-Sea! Carmel is a beautiful little coastal town to visit year round. Below are some my recommendations for your future Carmel getaways. I hope you enjoy this Carmel travel guide!
WHAT TO DO
- Carmel Mission: Stop by this beautiful church and garden; admission is $9.50 for adults and the mission is open daily
- Wine Tasting: There are several great tasting rooms in Carmel. We visited Scheid Vineyards and couldn’t resist bringing home a bottle.
- Shopping on Ocean Ave: This is the best area to wonder around – there are art galleries, vintage shops, amazing food, and tucked away alleys. We really like the magic garden attached to Pilgrims Way Community Bookstore.
- Try Local Goods: Carmel has tons of fun local shops – we visited The Cheese Shop [I think they had around 100 types of cheese!] and Carmel Honey Company [originally started by an 11 year old boy]. Cottage of Sweets is also a good stop.
WHAT TO DO NEARBY
- Big Sur: Joe and I drove about 30 minutes south to check out Big Sur and the Bixby Bridge [iconic and highly photographed]
- Monterey Bay: Hit up the aquarium and walk around Cannery Row
- Pebble Beach: Whether you’re into golf or just want some gorgeous views, Pebble Beach is an excellent place to stop – I recommend doing the 17 mile drive and stopping in Pebble Beach for lunch and drinks at The Bench
WHERE TO EAT
- Carmel Bakery: This scrumptious bakery is right on Ocean Ave (pictured above). Joe and I made two or three stops during our weekend getaway. We picked up fresh pastries, huge soft pretzels and creamy hot chocolates.
- Carmel Belle: Honestly we only stopped here for coffee but the food looked amazing too.
- La Bicyclette: Apparently this is Reese Witherspoon’s favorite restaurant in the area!
- Tuck Box: This quaint little cottage restaurant also looks great for afternoon tea.
WHERE TO DRINK
- Hogs Breath Inn: Clint Eastwood originally owned this famous restaurant and pub. It’s a fun little nightcap!
- Barmel: This is a good late night spot
- Vesuvio: I heard this is a cool rooftop bar
I hope you enjoyed this Carmel travel guide! If you have any more suggestions to add to my list, please leave a comment. I’d love to visit more spots in Carmel!
