We spent a lovely two days in Carmel by the Sea, California this Fall of 2020. The weather was perfect even though there was a chance of bad air quality due to the California fires. But we got very lucky with our short weekend getaway to Carmel in Monterey County.
Carmel-by-the-Sea is the official name of this quaint little coastal town in Northern California. Isn’t that the cutest thing? The town is located in Monterey County and is just slightly under two-hours South of San Francisco. Established in 1902, the adorable little town serves as a haven for artists, retirees and vacationers. The entire city has a fairy tale vibe, especially in the architecture used to build many homes, shops, hotels and other properties. People from all over the country flock to this little town to enjoy the wonderful food, art galleries, the beach, and the storybook cottages, which is my personal favorite. I’ve put together a perfect little guide on things to do if you were to spend two days in Carmel by the Sea. I hope you enjoy this little town as much as I did.
Safe & Responsible Travels
Be a Responsible Traveler during the Covid-19 restrictions. We practiced responsible safety precautions, social distancing, mask-wearing and sanitation during our trip. Note that we avoided flying and drove to our destination. We brought some of our own food and an electric skillet to use in our hotel room to reheat and cook some simple foods in case there was no microwave. The rest of of our meals were ordered as take-out and eaten in our hotel room.
Due to the 2020 Covid-19 restrictions, some locations’ status may vary. Closures and hours of operation may be different from their regular schedule. Please check websites for any of the listed locations for the most up-to-date information. Stay safe, healthy and Happy Travels!
Take a Walking Tour of Carmel’s Fairytale Cottages
One of the most popular attractions of Carmel by the Sea is its collection of fairy tale cottages that make up a lot of the homes, shops, inns and galleries all over the area. This storybook theme sprouted up from the imagination of Hugh Comstock, a builder/toy maker who had a loving wife with a great collection of dolls for her business. He felt inspired to build a whimsical home for his wife to house her dolls and eventually a studio right next door. And the charming storybook theme snowballed from there. Make sure to visit my blog post for Carmel’s Fairytale Cottages and get my free walking-tour map of each cottage location.
Don’t miss Carmel Village Main Street
Carmel by the Sea is a hidden retreat for artists, writers, performing arts and crafts. The main village of Carmel is located on Ocean Avenue, which stretches about 8 blocks East to West, and branches off about 1-2 blocks North and South. And it ends at Carmel Beach to the West. It is full of old historical buildings, some dating over a hundred years old. With incredible art galleries, quaint little shops, delectable gourmet restaurants and cafes, it’s the perfect stop to enjoy a stroll any time of day. Below is a list of my favorite things to do and see in Carmel Village.
Two days in Carmel by the Sea
Shopping in Carmel by the Sea
Visit the Pilgrim’s Way Bookstore & Secret Garden
This little hidden book shop is off on Dolores Street, North of Ocean Avenue. The Pilgrim’s Way is essentially known as a community book store and holds a small collection of best sellers and children’s books. They can order anything else you don’t happen to see in their store. However, the best part of the shop is the Secret Garden located in the back of the shop that is filled with the most magical wonders of a fairy garden. It is full of trinkets for sale, plants, pottery and figurines. Make sure you wander your way to the back of the shop and enjoy the the Secret Fairy Garden, perhaps with a cup of tea.
Another shop to enjoy in Carmel Village is the cutest candy store called Cottage Sweets, housed in the most adorable storybook cottage that is straight out of Disney. And if you enjoy the likes of Jane Austen and old-world English decor and accessories, make sure to visit the Jane Austen at Home shop.
Two days in Carmel by the Sea
Dining at Carmel’s Hugh Comstock Restaurants
Believe it or not, Carmel has several 5-star restaurants. I believe there is even one awarded a Michelin star. Many of the gourmet restaurants are located around the Village center. There are cafes, coffee houses, desserts & candy stores lining the streets amid other shops for clothing, home decor and souvenirs. I’ve put together a quick list of restaurants I highly recommend visiting.
THE FORGE IN THE FOREST is one of Hugh Comstock’s original constructions built around 1944. A Mr. Francis Whitaker owned the forge and was a master blacksmith that fabricated many of the hand-wrought hardware that still adorns many of the historic buildings in Carmel. It was converted into a restaurant and saloon in the 1970s.
THE TUCK BOX is a fairy tale come to life. The building is another one of Hugh Comstock’s original designs built in 1927. It served as an office for himself and his wife’s dolls and was eventually purchased by two sisters from England that started a small tea room which they named The Tuck Box. It changed ownership several times throughout the years and still serves English Tea today, plus the delicious preserves, scone mix, whole grain cereal, tea and other items. Make sure to make reservations in advance.
Additional Carmel Restaurants
PORTABELLA is located directly on the main street Ocean Ave. It essentially serves fine American cuisine with a touch of Italian dishes mixed into their menu. The building that houses the restaurant is another picturesque cottage. I imagine Snow White and her seven dwarfs would love to dine here after a long day working in the mines. And they would pay with the gems from the mines.
FLAHERTY’S SEAFOOD has a great menu full of fresh catch seafood. We had the chance to order take-out from this location and were impressed by our meal. Usually take-out meals are mediocre at best. The restaurant itself is fresh, clean and modern and also located directly on Ocean Avenue. I just wanted to add them to the list because I was really impressed with their food.
Visit the Carmel Mission Basilica Museum
Enjoy a quick visit at the Carmel Basilica Mission. It is a small location in Carmel that still has a functioning Catholic church, museum and shrine. Its grounds house a small garden, cemetery and water fountain. It is also the final resting place of Saint Junípero Serra, a founding father of the state of California. The history of California Missions and their treatment of Native Americans is rife with turmoil so make sure you visit with this history in mind.
Carmel Wineries & Vineyards
I’m not much of a wine drinker since I cannot handle my alcohol. But there are some top Carmel Valley wineries in Monterey County all are along the beautiful Carmel Valley Road. No trip to Carmel or Monterey is complete without a visit to one or more of these small wineries and enjoying a tasting.
Here is a short list of the Top 3 Carmel Wineries to try.
- Heller Estate – 100 percent certified organic, dry-farmed vineyards
- Joullian Vineyards – Delicious estate reds, three styles of Chardonnay
- Talbotts Vineyards – Chardonnay and Pinot Noir specialist
Outdoor Activities in Carmel
Hike the Trails at Point Lobos State Park
Whaler’s Cove
For outdoor enthusiasts who enjoy hiking, I highly recommend the Point Lobos State Park which is only a 10-minute drive out of Carmel’s town center. Entrance fee is only $10 per vehicle.
It’s a beautiful natural preserve with many hiking trails that meander along the coastline. The ocean views are incredible. Our favorite spot was the Whaler’s Cove section of the park. It even has a tiny “Whaler” cabin that serves as a mini museum all about whaling industry back in the day.
There are hiking trails that lead into some dense wooded areas, and then out again to some high rock formations. It is also a popular spot for watching Sea Lions basking on the rocks. And the cove is often used by scuba divers.
Relax at Carmel Beach
If you’re going to spend about two days in Carmel by the Sea, make sure to spent some time at the Carmel Beach. It can get fairly crowded around mid day so I recommend visiting in the mornings before 11am. You can find Carmel Beach at the end of Ocean Avenue with a small parking area. It’s great for a nice stroll on the sand next to the shoreline. There are lots of joggers and dog walkers enjoying their mornings there. It’s a great relaxing spot.
Explore Carmel River State Park
Find the Secret Green Mossy Rock Beach
We were super lucky and stumbled across this quiet lovely spot that is technically part of the Carmel River State Beach Park. It is the only area we found with smooth rounded rocks covered in a layer of bright green sea algae moss. It’s a hidden little spot in the Northwest corner of the beach. You can also reach it from a set of wooden steps that come down from the street which is called Scenic Road. I have marked the spot on a map so you can find it easier. Make sure to visit during low tide and be careful on the rocks, they can be slippery. We visited during the morning around 9am. There was hardly anyone there besides joggers and dog walkers.
Two days in Carmel by the Sea
Drive the Scenic Road of Carmel
If you enjoy taking a drive to enjoy a scenic view, then I highly recommend Carmel’s Scenic Road. Yes, that’s exactly the name of the road. It’s pretty self explanatory. You can also take a walk on it if you enjoy long walks next to the coastline. The road is lined with incredible beach homes and mansions with many that look like fairy tale castles. In fact, a historic landmark home designed by Frank Lloyd Wright can be found on this Scenic Road. The entire stretch of road is quite magical, especially in the morning or evening hours when the mist begins to roll in from the ocean.
To find Scenic Road, start from the Carmel Beach parking lot where the starting point of Scenic Road begins, slightly hidden behind a large tree. The coastline is lined with sandy beaches and cypress trees for a couple of miles, then it gets somewhat rocky for a long stretch until it winds its way to Carmel River State Beach.
Take a Drive to Monterey & Big Sur, California
Both the Big Sur section of the California coastline and the Monterey area are quite close. And they are perfect spots to visit during your two days in Carmel by the Sea. Head on over to my posts for more guides and information on what to do in these beautiful coastal areas.
Gorgeous Places to Stay in Carmel
It’s easy to find a hotel or inn to stay at in Carmel. In fact, there are so many lovely places, including Bed & Breakfasts as well. But my ultimate dream is to stay in a fairy tale cottage in Carmel on my next visit. And I found several gorgeous AirBNB Stays that are absolutely storybook dreamy. I am going to put together this list and share it with you soon! Stay tuned!
If you’re looking for Hotels or Inns, then I highly recommend the CARMEL BAY VIEW INN. This is the location we stayed at during our trip. We booked a Deluxe King Room that had a wonderful balcony with an ocean view. It’s walking distance from Carmel Village and the Hugh Comstock cottages. Pricing was very reasonable under $200/night.
Other Hotel Recommendations:
BRIARWOOD INN CARMEL
CARMEL MISSION INN
MONTE VERDE INN
Pin Now & Save for Later!
Thanks for Sharing!
What an adorable town! Those cottages and stores look like they are straight out of Fantasyland! I would love to visit here one day and spend a weekend. Looks like such a charming and relaxing spot 🙂
Carmel-By-The-Sea looks like such a cute town!! I love the cute downtown area, bookstores, and alleyways! I’m a sucker for a quaint town! I’m excited to add it to my California bucket list and use this helpful guide when planning a trip! 🙂
Such a beautiful town. Great tips. Hopefully one day I could visit. Love the pictures. Thanks for sharing.
Oh my gosh! I moved to Northern California this year and definitely need to check this out!! This looks like the perfect weekend getaway!
Oh wow, it looks like a mixture of European small village and fairytale. I love the look. I would definitely want to visit here, and so lucky you got nice weather considering all California is going through right now. Beautiful place, I’m adding it to my list
What a beautiful town! I drove the PCH a few years ago and just stopped in Carmel-by-the-Sea for lunch. Definitely wish I would have spent more time here. You’ve inspired me to go back!!
Wow! This is a lot of action for 2 days! Thanks for sharing this. I just finished a west Coast road trip and drove through Carmel for a few hours. It was so beautiful, now I want to spend a few days there to see and do everything.
Carmel by the sea looks so charming in autumn, I love all the colors and all those story-like alleys and houses. I would love to visit, it is such a cute little town.
I’ve never heard of this area before but I love the look of those fairytale cottages!