Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
Explore Carmel-by-the-Sea, California! Charming village with art galleries, fairytale cottages, & beautiful beaches. Relax, wine taste, & discover world-class golf courses. Perfect getaway for couples, artists, & beach lovers.
by Celeste Lipford and Terry Lipford - last updated on 7/23/2024
I’d heard about Carmel-by-the-Sea from my mother and father when they visited there years ago. My Dad was a golfer and they toured the Pebble Beach area and Carmel-by-the-Sea with my aunt and uncle sometime in the 1990s and came back raving about it. My mother fell in love with the area and it’s picturesque village of storybook homes and dramatic rocky coastline. After we visited it, I can see why she fell in love. The coastline is reminiscent of the coastline in Maine which my mother loved and the storybook cottages and beautiful shops and stores depict the perfect storybook life.
Carmel-by-the-Sea Fairytale Cottages
The Carmel storybook theme started when a man named Hugh Comstock built a home for his wife, Mayotta. She was a doll maker and needed a place that would be appropriate to display her collection of dolls for her business. He fashioned the homes in a whimsical style with hand made frequently imperfect details. This unique style in this village that was full of writers and artists became very popular and numerous cottages were built. Today this fairy tale style makes up a good portion of the village shops, restaurants and art galleries in the area and it makes you feel like you are living in a storybook fairy tale.
This cottage image is the Tuck Box eatery in Carmel-by-the-Sea, California and it is the only commercial property Hugh Comstock ever created.
Image Info: image is the property of Trevor B. via Yelp.
Carmel-by-the-Sea Fairy Tale Houses
Please note that since Carmel does not utilize "addresses" all of the following links will take you to a Google Images display. Please also note that the following is not a "complete list", it is some of the more well known fairy tale cottages. Click here to view a Google Search Results list of Fairy Tale Cottages in Carmel.
Interesting facts about Carmel-by-the-Sea Map
- There are no street addresses because the founding fathers opted for a centralized Post Office instead. Today most people that live in Carmel by the Sea use P.O boxes. The city is now being urged to change it due to the implementation of the Homeland Security “Real ID” program which requires a unique verifiable address.
- As of 2019, 3,830 people live in Carmel-by-the-Sea City limits.
- According to Zillow in 2021 the typical home price in Carmel-by-the-Sea is $2,242,862.
- The temperatures in Carmel-by-the-Sea remain incredibly consistent throughout the year. In December and January the temperature ranges from 44 to 64 degrees and in August it ranges from 53 to 69 degrees.
- Clint Eastwood was elected mayor of Carmel-by-the-Sea for one term in 1986.
- There are other unusual rules or laws in Carmel-by-the-Sea, take a look at this list.
- The village of Carmel-by-the-Sea has 42 inns offering a sum total of about 1,000 rooms.
- Carmel-by-the-Sea was voted one of the 50 Most Beautiful Small Towns in the World by Conde Nast Traveller, 2023.
- Carmel-by-the-Sea was voted one of the 25 Best Beaches in the U.S., Travel + Leisure, 2021.
- Rated one of the top dog-friendly towns in America, Carmel is a world-class pet destination. Hotels, shops, and restaurants roll out the red carpet, plus the City offers numerous beaches and trails where dogs can frolic, leash-free.
- There are 41+ courtyards and passageways throughout Carmel. The first debuted nearly 100 years ago, when architect Hugh Comstock began building fairytale houses and shops. Self-guided maps are available at the Carmel Visitor Center and at most inns.
- There are no chain or fast-food restaurants nor national coffee shops in Carmel.
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Click the above video poster image to watch our California road trip overview, that allows you to get a glimpse of San Francisco, Muir Woods, Sausalito, Napa and Sonoma, Yosemite, Santa Monica, Santa Barbara, Pacific Coast Highway, Monterey, Carmel by the Sea... We did this short video to inspire others to try it out.
17 Mile Drive Map
The 17-Mile Drive is a scenic coastal route renowned for its breathtaking beauty and iconic landmarks. This picturesque drive winds along the rugged coastline of the Monterey Peninsula, offering stunning vistas of pristine beaches, dramatic cliffs, and majestic Cypress trees. Along the way, you will encounter renowned landmarks such as the Lone Cypress, a symbol of resilience perched on a rocky outcrop, and the famous Pebble Beach Golf Links. Scenic viewpoints provide opportunities for whale watching and bird spotting, while historic sites like Spanish Bay offer glimpses into the region's past. The 17-Mile Drive is an unforgettable journey through nature's grandeur.
These images were taken at Moss Beach & China Rock Vista Point as we drove towards Carmel from Monterey. This portion of the drive was filled with beautiful ocean views & rocky beaches.
You must pay a fee (currently $10.50 per car) to drive on it and note that motorcycles are not allowed. The per-car fee gets you in, and you'll get a driving guide to take along with you. The gate fee is reimbursed with a purchase of $35 or more at all Pebble Beach Resorts restaurants, excluding Pebble Beach Market. Bicycles can enter for free if they enter through the Pacific Grove gate.
There are quite a few turnouts or vistas on the 17 Mile Drive, each with a different view of the coastline and Pacific Ocean. We stopped frequently to capture images and video. We came through that area early in the morning, which gave us the luxury of no traffic and we could park anywhere we stopped.
See the link below to read the Wikipedia Article on the 17 Mile Drive area, it has an interesting history.
More Info for the 17-Mile Drive
- 17-Mile Drive Wikipedia Article:
- 17-Mile Drive Google Images Set:
- Google Reviews for 17-Mile Drive: oogle Reviews
Image Credits:
All of the above images are the property of Just Traveling Thru, LLC.
Carmel Beach Map
We entered Carmel via the "Carmel Gate" on 17 Mile Drive and drove to Ocean Avenue to look for parking so we could get some images of Carmel Beach. One advantage of getting there early in the morning was that there was quite a bit of parking available.
As you can see, Carmel Beach is pretty and a number of residents were out walking their dogs on the beach (this is a dog friendly beach by city law). Once we had enjoyed the beach view, we started driving again along Scenic Road, which is lined with beautiful homes all the way down to Carmel Point.
There is a free small parking lot on Ocean Avenue as well as free, on-street parking on Camino Real and along Scenic Road which parallels the Beach. Restrooms are located at the foot of Ocean Avenue and on Scenic Road at Santa Lucia Avenue.
More Info for Carmel Beach
- Carmel Beach Wikipedia Article:
- Carmel Beach Google Images Set:
- Google Reviews for Carmel Beach: oogle Reviews
Image Credits:
All of the above images are the property of Just Traveling Thru, LLC.
Downtown Carmel
Carmel's downtown area is small but very diverse with numerous shops, boutiques, restaurants and other places of interest, we explored most of the downtown area, and went into several shops. Masks are required in most stores (during the Pandemic), so you should plan on bringing your mask or you will be asked to not enter.
We stopped for a snack at Carmel Bakery (Ocean Avenue between Dolores St. & Lincoln St.) for a pastry & espresso before we drove to Point Lobos. This is a great bakery, and they have a wide variety of items; Brownies, Muffins, Scottish shortbread, English scones, Italian biscotti and giant soft Bavarian pretzels. Deli-style sandwiches, house made soups and fresh salads are also available. We decided to be decadent and eat bakery items for lunch. Celeste had a croissant and I ate a brownie and we both had iced coffees. We were having a fairytale afternoon after all. What could be better than eating croissants and brownies for lunch. We sat at tables outside on the sidewalk with our goodies, soaking up the sun on a beautiful afternoon, munching away and escaping reality …. our little bit of heaven.
More Info for Downtown Carmel-by-the-Sea
Shopping in Carmel: this Carmel California Website will assist you in locating shops in Carmel-by-the-Sea.
Carmel Village Shops & Restaurants: this Google Map Link will assist you in locating Carmel's restaurants, shops and art galleries.
Carmel Bakery Google Images: this is a link to the Google Images set.
Where to eat in Carmel-by-the-Sea
Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, boasts a thriving dining scene with over 50 restaurants offering a variety of cuisines. From fine dining establishments to casual spots, Carmel's restaurant variety includes Italian, French, seafood, and global-inspired menus. Highlights include Mission Ranch Restaurant, owned by Clint Eastwood, La Balena for rustic Italian, and Seventh & Dolores Steakhouse for modern steakhouse fare. The town is known for both high-end dining experiences and cozy local eateries that reflect the charm of the Monterey Peninsula
The simplest way to start a "where do we eat in Carmel" bit of research, is to start with a Google Search Results list of restaurants in Carmel.
Google Search Results for the highest rated restaurants in Carmel:
Google Search Results for the highest rated French restaurants in Carmel:
You may have noticed that Google Search is doing all the work, if I change a "search option" then Google Search changes the list to fit my new search option criteria. It is a very powerful feature, one that you should become familiar with.
Where to park in Downtown Carmel-by-the-Sea
Parking in downtown Carmel can be challenging due to its small size and popularity with visitors. The town does not have parking meters, but most street parking in the downtown area is limited to 2 hours between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. to encourage turnover for shoppers and diners. Some streets offer free, unrestricted parking further from the central business district.
There are a few public parking lots available for longer stays, such as the Sunset Center lot and Carmel Plaza garage, where visitors can park for several hours. However, availability in these lots may be limited during peak tourist seasons. Many visitors opt to park in nearby residential streets or outside the downtown core and walk into the area, as Carmel is compact and pedestrian-friendly.
If you're visiting for a longer period or during busy weekends, it's advisable to arrive early or consider using public transportation to avoid the hassle of finding parking.
Here is a Google Map link displaying all of the public parking locations in the Carmel area:
Point Lobos State Reserve Map
Point Lobos State Natural Reserve is a great place to visit for a number of reasons, ie; sights are incredible, photography opportunities in every direction, nature studies, picnicking, SCUBA diving, hiking, and jogging. We obviously drove past here on our way north to Monterey, which prompted us to read more about it later - and what we read convinced us that we needed to visit this park.
For those of you who understand Spanish, you might think that "Point Lobos" might mean that the park contains wolves. No, the name came from the offshore rocks at Punta de los Lobos Marinos ("Point of the Sea Wolves") where the sound of the sea lions carries inland (sea lions make sounds that sound like dogs or wolves barking).
See those dark colored birds in image # 6 above? They were playing in the surf, and they would ride the surf until it brought them back to the rocks at which point they would hop out of the water onto the rocks. They did it over & over again, and it was obvious to us that they were having fun!
There are several parking lots inside the park, and there is additional parking allowed along California SR-1 outside the park. The State Park Service is currently limiting cars inside the park until there is parking space available - so you may find that when you arrive that you will be turned away until other people leave the park.
There are a number of hiking trails, we selected the trail to Coal Chute Point, which sits on the north side of Whaler's Cove. Not a long hike, but the payoff is the beautiful area surrounding Whaler's Cove.
More Info for Point Lobos
- Point Lobos Wikipedia Article:
- Point Lobos Google Images Set:
- Point Lobos Hiking Trails list on the "All Trails" Website:
- Google Reviews for Point Lobos: oogle Reviews
Image Credits:
All of the above images are the property of Just Traveling Thru, LLC.
Carmel History
Carmel-by-the-Sea, commonly known as Carmel, has a rich history as a coastal town known for its artistic heritage, natural beauty, and distinctive charm. Founded in 1902, Carmel quickly became a haven for artists, writers, and intellectuals drawn by its stunning landscapes and bohemian culture.
Before European settlement, the area was home to the Ohlone people, who lived off the land and sea for thousands of years. In 1771, Spanish missionaries, led by Father Junípero Serra, established Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo, one of California’s most important missions and a cornerstone of early Carmel history.
Carmel's modern history began in the late 19th and early 20th centuries when it attracted a community of artists and writers, including Jack London, Mary Austin, and Robinson Jeffers, who built his famous stone house, Tor House, in Carmel. The town became a colony for those seeking creative freedom and a retreat from urban life. By the 1920s, Carmel was widely known as an artist's enclave.
In 1916, Carmel introduced unique local laws, including banning street addresses, which preserved the town's quaint and rustic character. Residents and businesses still rely on post office boxes instead of home delivery.
Father Junipero Serra founded the second California mission ("Mission Carmel") in 1771, which still stands on the edge of present day Carmel-by-the-Sea. This Mission and this area became Junipero Serra's favorite and he made this Mission his California headquarters. When he passed away in 1784, he was buried beneath the chapel floor. In 1834 the mission buildings and lands were removed from Catholic Church control by the Mexican government.
The City of Carmel was incorporated on October 31, 1916.
More Info for Carmel-by-the-Sea
- Carmel-by-the-Sea Wikipedia Article:
- Carmel-by-the-Sea Google Images Set:
- Google Reviews for Carmel-by-the-Sea: oogle Reviews
Image Credits:
- Above image is the property of Pimpinellus via Wikimedia Commons using the CC BY-SA 4.0 license.
- All other images, unless otherwise noted, are the property of Just Traveling Thru, LLC.
Some Useful Links for Carmel
- Just Traveling Thru Travel Planning Tips
- History of Carmel on the Britannica Website
- Google search results list for "Accommodations in Carmel"
- Google search results list for "Restaurants in Carmel"
- Amazon Search Results list for "Carmel California"
- Carmel Wine Tasting & Walking Tour from "Get Your Guide"
- Visit our Youtube Channel
- Our Image Gallery for Carmel
- Wikipedia Article for Carmel
- Google Image Gallery for Carmel
- Google Reviews for Carmel-by-the-Sea
Trip Itinerary & Overview Map
As you can see in this static map, we had a number of destinations (as well as a number of side trips) that would require a considerable amount of driving. Each of the itinerary stops is linked to our content (or page) to allow you to view our content.
Locations / Start & End points are both San Francisco International Airport
- San Francisco Hilton Financial District.
- Bonita Point Lighthouse and Fort Baker area.
- Sausalito, CA.
- Santa Rosa, CA in the heart of the Sonoma County Wine District.
- Salida, CA - overnight rest stop along the way to Yosemite.
- Yosemite National Park, CA where we stayed at the Rush Creek Lodge.
- Frontieres Underground Garden Fresno, CA - this was an entertainment side stop, as we had read about this place and also wanted to get lunch.
- Santa Barbara, CA
- Morro Bay, CA.
- Monterey Bay, CA to explore the Monterey Bay and Carmel by the Sea areas.
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Note: All images on this page are the property of Just Traveling Thru, LLC unless otherwise noted.
Note: If you are interested, click here to view our European Travel Tips & Warnings. Or to take a look at our methods for planning, click here to view our Trip Planning Page..
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