June 24th, 2021

Carmel-by-the-Sea & Big Sur, California, USA

Carmel-by-the-Sea & Big Sur,
California, USA
(6/8-11/2021)

Carmel-By-The-Sea &Amp; Big Sur, California, Usa &Raquo; Carmelbytheseaoceanavenue

Beautiful Charming Carmel-by-the-Sea

Carmel-by-the-Sea is one of the loveliest seaside
towns in America with its storybook cottage-style homes, quaint Bed and
Breakfasts, unique boutique stores and good restaurants with warm decor, Victorian
buildings and tree-shaded streets, and stunning gardens everywhere. Joy for the
soul!

Carmel-By-The-Sea &Amp; Big Sur, California, Usa &Raquo; Carmelfairtytalehouse

Charming Fairytale Architecture

Located about
150 miles south of San Francisco along California’s Central Coast, picturesque Carmel-by-the-Sea
radiates charm and sophistication with causal elegance. Beautiful architecture
with flowers and gardens everywhere makes Carmel one of the most romantic towns
we have visited (see photos). One thing Carmel is not is a party town – come
here to relax in causal romantic elegance.

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Carmel-By-The-Sea &Amp; Big Sur, California, Usa &Raquo; Carmelcourtyard

42 Beautiful Courtyards – Camel-by-the-Sea

Downtown Carmel-by-the-Sea
and Carmel Beach are all very walkable. Ocean
Avenue is Carmel’s main street
and any visit should also include wandering around the streets that radiate out
from it – from East to West the streets are: Junipero, Mission, San Carlos,
Dolores, Lincoln, Monte Verde, Casanova, and then down to Carmel Beach. Along
the way, do not miss the joyful experience of exploring Carmel’s 42 courtyards
– one more beautiful after another (see photo). Causal attire is appropriate everywhere in
Carmel. Parking in Carmel-by-the-Sea
can become difficult during peak times so check out the nearby public parking
at San Carlos and 8^th Avenue.

Carmel-By-The-Sea &Amp; Big Sur, California, Usa &Raquo; Carmelbytheseabeachx

Stunning Carmel Beach

For beach lovers,
a visit to Carmel Beach is
delightful – a long stretch of beautiful soft sandy beach in a 1-mile crescent bay
(see photo). Ocean water temperature at Carmel Beach is chilly year round
although surfers in wet suits enjoy the waves. Modest parking is available at
the end of Ocean Avenue and along Scenic Road that parallels Carmel Beach. Just
above Carmel Beach, the Scenic Bluff
Path is a well-maintained gravel pathway that parallels Scenic Road – a wonderful
walk. A drive along Scenic Road south
of Ocean Avenue is a must when visiting Carmel-by-the-Sea – so beautiful!

Carmel-By-The-Sea &Amp; Big Sur, California, Usa &Raquo; Carmelcassanova

Highly Recommended Casanova Restaurant

Carmel-by-the-Sea
has outstanding restaurants –
reservations should be made at popular ones. Some we enjoy include Dametra Cafe (Ocean & Lincoln) for
the good healthy Mediterranean food and the staff gets up and plays lively
music providing a special dining experience. Casanova (Mission – see photo) is highly recommended by locals with good reason
– wonderful menu with fantastic wine list – sit in the lovely back courtyard. Hog’s Breath (San Carlos) is former Carmel
Mayor Clint Eastwood’s bar/restaurant with a nice relaxed setting. Bruno’s Market & Deli (Junipero) is
a great place to pick up good sandwiches and other items for picnics or
affordable lunch.

Carmel-By-The-Sea &Amp; Big Sur, California, Usa &Raquo; Carmelbytheseatuckhouse

Tuck Box

Do check out the unique Tuck
Box (Dolores) and maybe try breakfast or lunch (see photo). Don’t miss Anton and Michel in the Court of the
Fountains (Mission) for the great food in a beautiful setting – nice for lunch.

Carmel-By-The-Sea &Amp; Big Sur, California, Usa &Raquo; Carmelbytheseagardenhome

Delightful Garden Homes

Fairytale houses and home gardens also make Carmel-by-the-Sea a uniquely
delightful city. To view some beautiful examples you can drive south on Lincoln
from Ocean Avenue (see photo). Plenty more are located on other streets for
those who want to see more. Carmel-by-the-Sea has 18 wine tasting rooms open
for indoor and outside wine tastings as well as for retail purchases.
For wine lovers, experiencing different wines of the region can be highlight of
your time in Carmel!

Carmel-By-The-Sea &Amp; Big Sur, California, Usa &Raquo; Carmelbeach

Beautiful Carmel Beach

To be able
to appreciate Carmel-by-the-Sea even more, we recommend taking a walking tour. Carmel Walks offers a fun and interesting 2-hour nicely paced
walking tour showcasing special charms of Carmel through secret pathways,
hidden courtyards, beautiful gardens, and enchanting storybook cottages.


Anton and Michel Courtyard of the Fountains

Some quirky
things make Carmel-by-the-Sea unique like there are no

Big Sur

Pat at Big Sur River Inn

Located
just south of Carmel-by-the-Sea, Big Sur
is one of the most dramatically beautiful drives in the United States!
Exceptionally beautiful rugged ocean coastline, amazing ancient redwood
forests, and interesting attractions make for an unforgettable experience.
Along the way, you should pull over at the parking areas and enjoy the
incredible views.

Carmel-By-The-Sea &Amp; Big Sur, California, Usa &Raquo; Carmelmap

Map of Carmel, Big Sur, & Monterey

We highly
recommend the approximately hour drive south of Carmel-by-the-Sea along Highway
1 to McWay Falls. Of course, you should plan to spend more time to enjoy the
views, hikes, and interesting attractions. First stop driving south in Big Sur
for lovers of ocean hikes should be Point
Lobos State Natural Reserve along the Pacific Ocean coastline. You can see
California sea lions at Sea Lion Point and maybe some sea otters. Continue to
drive past the first parking lot to enjoy the beautiful coastline along the
South Shore Trail (several parking lots along the way). There is a flat 6.7-mile
loop with shorter hikes available.

Carmel-By-The-Sea &Amp; Big Sur, California, Usa &Raquo;

Famous Bixby Bridge – Big Sur

Famous Bixby Bridge is great stop to enjoy Big
Sur’s incredible beauty – park on north side in the parking area to witness
this beautiful site (see photo).

Big Sur Coast Gallery & Café

We love stopping at the Big Sur River Inn located on a fantastically beautiful river
setting where you can sit in the river surrounded by a forest – not to be missed
(see photo). Food is served on the patio overlooking the river.

We enjoyed the Big Sur Coast Gallery & Café (see photo) – an
elegant gallery and gift shop with a nice café with a sitting area looking out
to the Pacific Ocean – well worth a stop.

McWay Falls

Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park is a great place to enjoy wonderful
hikes through amazing Redwood forests. Also, the short hike to beautiful McWay Falls in Julia Pfeiffer Burns
State Park is a great way to enjoy your Big Sur experience (see photo).

Monterey

Monterey is a fun jewel just 15 minutes
north of Carmel-by-the-Sea.

17-Mile Drive

Better yet
take scenic route through the incredible 17-Mile Drive from Carmel-by-the-Sea to Monterey. This famous drive includes Pebble
Beach Golf Course and incredible beauty so you will want to take your time
driving through this gorgeous area. It should take about three hours depending if
you stop for lunch. At the entrance, after you pay a nominal fee, you will get
a map with the 17 notable stops mapped out. Definitely stop at the famous Lone
Cypress, Ghost Tree, and Bird Rock.

Monterey Bay Aquarium

Sitting at
the end of Cannery Row, the fascinating family-friendly Monterey Bay Aquarium is a fantastic opportunity to enjoy exhibits
including recreations of the Californian ocean kelp forests, stingray touch
pools, tanks with black tip reef sharks, and inlets filled with rare sea
otters. Just outside you can marvel at the rowdy barking California sea lions. Cannery Row is filled with funky
restaurants and hotels.

Carmel-By-The-Sea &Amp; Big Sur, California, Usa &Raquo; Fishermen%2527Swharfmonterey

Old Fisherman’s Wharf

Monterey’s Old Fisherman’s Wharf is a fun medley
of cafes and crab shacks (see photo). Try the clam chowder best served in a sourdough bread
bowl. Nearby Lovers Point State Marine
Reserve is a small charming cove to explore.

Click on these links to see our other 12 posts on beautiful California:

Santa Barbara, California

San Francisco & Berkley, California

Hearst Castle – San Simeon, California

Laguna Beach, California

Mammoth Lakes, California

California Driving Trip of the Redwoods – Avenue of the Giants & Redwood National and State Park

California
Driving Trip Los Angeles to Santa Barbara – Highway 101, Santa Monica,
Santa Barbara, Solvang, El Capitan Canyon, & Glamping

California Driving Trip of the Central Coast – Highway 101, Big Sur, Carmel, Monterey, & Santa Barbara

California Driving Trip of the Northern Coast and Wine Country – Highway 101, Napa, Sonoma, & Mendocino

Hollywood Walk of Fame – Hollywood, California

Del Mar & Torrey Pines, California (Our Home Town)

Idyllwild, California

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Originally Published on https://unhooknow.blogspot.com/

Wayne Dunlap Plan Your Escape

Wayne Dunlap is an Experienced world traveler (106 countries as well as 48 U.S. states), Award-winning travel blogger with over 225,000 social media followers, Featured speaker at large travel shows, and Author of 5-star rated travel book Plan Your Escape®, Secrets of Traveling the World for Less Than the Cost of Living at Home.

Chosen by TripAdvisor Top 25 Travel Blogger to Follow. Also, Top Couple & Best Boomer Travel Blogger to Follow. Articles in Wall Street Journal, US News & World Report, Entrepreneur Magazine and many others.

Retired now, Wayne was a business owner, executive of high-tech companies, and an Economic professor after his PhD program at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD).

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