Breakdown
So Carmel is basically 3 areas: Downtown, the Valley, and the Highlands.
Downtown (or Carmel-by-the-Sea) is probably the most recognizable of the three parts of Carmel. Typical of many beach towns, Ocean Avenue runs down the center and is surrounded by a diverse population of restaurants, shops, theatres, and art galleries. This is an iconic part of Carmel and is easily accessed right off of Highway 1. The best part about it, is the road leads right down to the beach, so as you take a leisurely stroll to the beach make sure to do some window shopping along the way!
The Valley is inland of Carmel and offers a different type of Carmel experience. Carmel Valley Road is the entrance right off of Highway 1. This road, with many twists and turns (be careful!), will take you past countless hikes, golf courses, and wineries. Because it's nestled right into the Santa Lucia Valley, it's not only warmer, but offers some spectacular views of the Santa Lucia Mountain Range. The Valley is really the place to go when the famous Carmel fog has taken over the downtown area.
The Highlands are basically the entrance to Big Sur, but Big Sur has so much more to explore that it needs a separate guide! The Highlands are mainly made up of houses, but there are some beaches and a few restaurants that are too important to pass by!
On a final note, all the places I mention (if applicable) have links to their website embedded. Although these are my suggestions, always explore new places and try things that look good/fun to you! If you do find a hidden gem, make sure to let me know in the form at the end of this guide. I love hearing about new places, and will make sure to add them to the guide so others can take advantage of your amazing find!
Now that we've got that covered, let's get on with what you should be doing in all of these places!
Places to Stay
If you don’t feel like dropping $100 a night on hotel rooms, camping would be the way to go in this area. While there aren’t a ton of free ones, Laguna seca near the airport and the parks in Big Sur offer spots for around $30-$40. Just make your reservations in advance…especially in Summer. Stealth camping is a thing in Big Sur, but I’ll write some more on that in a seperate piece. While I haven't stayed in an Airbnb in Carmel before, the amount of people with vacation houses there leads me to believe that this would be a better (and cheaper) option than a hotel. (P.S. If you do this and stay somewhere awesome please let me know so I can publish it and let others know about your great find! See the form at the bottom for instructions.)
If camping is not for you, think about the plethora of hotels in Carmel-by-the-Sea. It's right in the middle of everything and really gives you easy access to all three areas.
The Carmel Mission Inn ⋆⋆⋆ 3665 Rio Rd.
The Carmel Mission Inn has been recently remodeled and is one of the more modern hotels in Carmel. It's right across from the supermarket near the entrances to all 3 areas of Carmel. Across the street are many shops and fooderies at The Crossroads! Check out the Yellow Brick Road & ASPCA Thrift Stores located in The Barnyard Shopping Village right behind the hotel. This area isn't really Carmel-by-the-Sea, Carmel Valley, or the Highlands, but it is a great little area to explore.
Mission Ranch Hotel ⋆⋆⋆⋆ 26270 Dolores St.
The Mission Ranch Hotel is owned and "operated" by the infamous Carmel star, Clint Eastwood. It's a lovely, quaint hotel with tennis courts, a wonderful bar and restaurant, ocean views, and SHEEP! It's a great place to stay, but also a great place to sit out on the deck (when it's not too cold) and watch the sunset with a cocktail and snacks.
One last tip: If you're looking for a less expensive option, try looking at Seaside or Monterey. They're about a 15 min drive from Carmel and give a much different feel, but it will be a hell of a lot cheaper.
Places to Eat
Carmel-by-the-Sea
Bruno's Market and Deli $ Junipero & 6th Ave.
Bruno's is a great place to grab a meal on the way to the beach or to eat outside in Devendorf Park (right across the street!). They are mainly a market, but their made-to-order sandwiches are the way to go.
A.W. Shucks $$ Ocean Ave. between San Carlos & Dolores
A.W. Shucks is a quaint, laid-back bar type of place. Great for Lunch or Dinner, but make sure to go put your name down because it's often busy. They're known for their cocktails, oysters, seafood, and sandwiches.
Dametra Cafe $$ Corner of Ocean Ave. and Lincoln
Dametra is one of my favorite places, but it is ALWAYS packed. It's incredibly fun with live entertainment by the staff on most nights. They serve traditional mediterranean food, and they have an excellent wine selection. A "must-eat" for Carmel.
Cottage of Sweets $$$ Ocean Ave. between Lincoln and Monte Verde
The Cottage of Sweets is a great place to go for any kind of chocolate, candy, sweet thang, you can think of. The cottage itself has been there since 1959 and it's ADORABLE. They don't sell food per se, but it's definitely worth a look.
Carmel Valley
Cafe Rustica $$ 10 Del Fino Pl.
Cafe Rustica is a great place to go in the Valley. I have only been there for dinner once, but I would strongly recommend them for lunch. They serve a crazy variety of flatbreads and great sandwiches. On a nice day, you can sit out on the patio in the sun and enjoy your meal with a glass (or bottle) from their excellent wine menu.
Kathy's Little Kitchen $ 13 W. Carmel Valley Rd.
Kathy's is AWESOME. I love Kathy's. It's not an actual restaurant, but they have some tables outside, and even if you have to eat in your car, it is well worth it. It's mainly mexican food, but they offer some other options. Their burritos (breakfast or not) are fantastic though. Please go there... you won't regret it.
Carmel Highlands
Pacific's Edge $$$ 120 Highlands Dr.
Pacific's Edge (and California Market $$) are both located at the Hyatt Inn. They're basically the same restaurant but open separately for dinner and lunch. It's rather expensive and the food is pretty good, but the main reason you go there is for the views of the legendary Big Sur Coast. If you're looking for an upscale place, this would definitely be the place to go.
Places to See
Carmel-by-the-Sea
The PacRep Theatre Company is a place where I personally performed in shows throughout my childhood/teenagehood...? It's a great company which performs all types of shows throughout the year. The Golden Bough Theatre is their main headquarters and where you can get tickets for all of their shows. They perform there as well, but also at the historic Outdoor Forest Theatre. The forest theatre was closed when I left for college, but I believe that it will be open late 2016. Definitely check out a performance and support the local community performing arts, and be sure to let me know how you liked it!
The Beach! Duh...
Carmel Beach is definitely a place to check out. You can walk for miles, sit and have lunch, or surf if you feel so inclined. It's one of the main beaches in Carmel (the other being River Beach a little farther East) and is a great place to be when the weather is nice. Unfortunately you can't have bonfires anymore, but definitely keep an eye out for otters or seals swimming out in the water!
Carmel Valley
Garland Ranch Regional Park 700 W. Carmel Valley Rd.
Garland is a great place. With miles and miles of hiking trails, the variety of views you can see is well worth it. It's about a 10-15 minute drive into Carmel Valley, and is completely free to the public! It's a great place to hike and you can choose from a variety of difficulties depending on how you feel. It's close to many of the restaurants that I mention in Carmel Valley, but it's also a great place to have a picnic too!
Carmel Highlands
Ribera Beach
Ribera Beach is kind of a hidden oasis I was introduced to during high school. It's kind of hard to get to so pay attention. You're going to drive down Highway 1 towards Big Sur. On the right, after you pass the Waste Water Treatment Facility (ew I know), and the bridge, you're going to see a sign for Ribera Rd. Turn onto it... If you get to Point Lobos, you've gone too far. Ribera Rd is basically a housing complex, but if you keep going around the corner to the left, and go to the very end of the road, that's the parking( only 2 spots I think...) and entrance to Ribera Beach. There's a lot of stairs, so make sure you don't leave anything in the car. This is the one beach in Carmel where you can have a bonfire which is why it's worth mentioning. So pick up some wood, kindling, and s'mores supplies at CVS (6 The Crossroads, Carmel CA 93923) and head out for a great evening.
Point Lobos 62 CA-1
Point Lobos is one of mine and my mother's favorite places. It's absolutely breathtaking and is a wonderful place to see all kinds of nature. You can drive in for about $10 (senior and disability discounts apply) and it is well worth it. Make sure to get/download a map ($1 at the entrance) and explore all areas of the park. You can easily spend a whole day there, and if you're lucky you might even see some otters, seals, and even whales!
Surrounding Areas
There are so many other attractions that are within 15 min of Carmel that I definitely feel are worth mentioning. I probably won't do a full section on the towns themselves for a while, but I want to make sure y'all are aware of these great places. For more information on them just Google them... they're pretty straightforward tourist attractions.
Monterey Bay Aquarium 886 Cannery Row, Monterey, CA 93940
Cannery Row Cannery Row and Wave Streets, Monterey, CA 93940
Fisherman's Wharf 1 Fisherman's Wharf, Monterey, CA 93940
Monarch Grove Butterfly Sanctuary 250 Ridge Rd. Pacific Grove, CA 93950
17 Mile Drive Pebble Beach, CA
Carmel and its surrounding areas are truly a beautiful place to go. As always, if you use this guide on your trip please let me know (below)! What you did, what you saw, what you did that I didn't mention. I love hearing about other's trips and any suggestions or new places are always welcome.
Happy Traveling!