BEST WEEKEND TRAVEL GUIDE TO CARMEL, CALIFORNIA

We have been to Carmel a handful of times over the years with our kids, family and as a romantic weekend trip prior to kids. Neighboring Big Sur and Monterey, Carmel is a great spot to stay and explore the rest of Monterey County from beaches, golfing, wine tasting, shopping to whale watching.

Tucked in Monterey County, Carmel is known as one of the most quaint, charming towns in California to visit and a favorite road trip destination for the Bay area. Full of unique cuisine, upscale boutique shops, and chateau style architecture by the beach with a laid back California vibe, Carmel offers the best location to sightsee the Monterey peninsula.

IN A GLANCE

Duration: 2 days
Getting around: by car
Best time to visit: year round
spring (March-May) is beautiful for wildflower blooms
sunniest season to visit is during fall (September-November)
Summer (June-August) most crowded, and the coastal fog picks up during this time of the year
Winter (December-February) the least crowded with some rainy days
Weather: moderate climate with 55°-65°F temperatures most of the year
Airports: Monterey Regional Airport (10-minute drive from Carmel)
San Jose Airport and San Francisco Airport are the other airports (1-2 hour drive)

where to stay

Carmel has three main areas: Carmel-by-the-Sea, Carmel Valley, and Carmel Highlands. Majority of the restaurants and shops are located in Carmel-by-the-Sea which is the actual town right by the beach that is pretty much walkable everywhere. Carmel Valley, was where we stayed this time which is only a 10 minute drive from the town and beach, but a totally different vibe. It has a more quite, wine country feel, with views of the beautiful hills and wineries.
Then there is Carmel Highlands which is a few minutes south of Carmel-by-the-Sea, with quaint cabins and amazing views of the ocean. They all have different vibes and would be great to stay in any of those places.

• Hotel Carmel : ($$) boutique hotel in downtown Carmel, daily complimentary happy hour featuring local wine.

• Cypress Inn : ($$) downtown Carmel, luxury boutique hotel

• Bernardus Lodge & Spa: ($$$) top rated luxury resort in Carmel Valley

• Carmel Valley Ranch: ($$$$) 500 acres of land, perfect luxury family resort with amazing views and plenty of activities offered

• L’Auberge carmel: ($$$) Excellent location, blocks away from beaceh, full-service Relais & Châteaux property, historic hotel

where to eat in carmel-by-the-sea

• Stationaery
  Charming brunch spot nestled in a courtyard with specialty coffee - more of a cafe vibe than a restaurant, so the food is still pretty light + the service is quick

• Vesuvio
  Authentic Italian with both indoor and rooftop seating.

• Alvarado Street Brewery & Bistro
  Grab a burger and a beer at this modern space with both indoor and outdoor seating.

• La Bicyclette
  Cute French bistro - Famous for their pizzas. (Note, they don’t take reservations, so plan to arrive about an hour before you want to eat to put your name down). There are tons of boutiques and tasting rooms around the area to walk around to pass your time in until your table is ready! Also another great option is to grab their to go breakfast or lunch and go hang out at the beach.

• Little Napoli
  Authentic Italian Food, cozy setting next to the fireplace

• The Restaurant at Folktale Winery
  We love the setting of the property here with amazing food and wine. The atmosphere, property and decor are all so enchanting and felt like we were in Europe. They serve brunch on weekends and the option to dine while wine tasting is just a plus!

• Carmel Bakery
  Lots of sweet options from ice-cream, cookies, scones and their specialty pretzels.

what to do and places to go

• Explore downtown - Go in to town for a meal, stroll around the alleyways where you will find pretty gardens in every corner, wine tasting rooms, art galleries and boutique shops.

• Hike Point Lobos State Reserve - Take in the beautiful ocean views and spot otters, sea lions and whales. It’s more of a simple walking path which is doable with kids too.

• Mission Basilica - Historical landmark built in 1797 is the only basilica in California with its original bell and bell tower that still stands. The mission is still an active place of worship where mass and special events are held in the courtyard. Visitors can learn more about its history inside the museums.

• Day trip to Big Sur/Monterey - Carmel is a great middle point to explore the rest of Monterey County. Big Sur is easily accessible by car for the most incredible views and hikes. Visit Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park and McWay Falls. Visit Monterey to explore the famous 17-Mile drive and whale watching at Cannery Row.

• Golf courses - some top choices are Quail Lodge & golf club, The Preserve Golf Club and Carmel Valley Ranch

• Beach day - Grab a picnic mat, some sandwiches and coffee to enjoy at the beach near downtown.

• Wineries - one of our favorite places to go wine tasting is in Carmel Valley. Boasting some of California's best wine tasting rooms in Carmel, the wine tasting scene is not to be missed!

Wine tasting in Carmel Valley

Carmel Valley is a great area to experience wine tasting as it has many wine tasting rooms in one convenient location which is all within walking distance!

• Holman Ranch
  600 acre vineyard situated in Carmel Valley and all of their grapes are hand picked as well as hand crafted. They pride themselves on being the only one hundred percent, single-estate producer of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in Carmel Valley.
  
  

• Bernardus Vineyards and Winery

  Focuses on making wines that stimulate the palate as well as the imagination. With a variety of wines that focus on artistry, Bernardus is the place to go for wine lovers of all kinds. In keeping with the true French Bordeaux winemaking tradition, Bernardus uses very large custom-made French oak tanks for blending and sometimes storing the wine without picking up any oaky characteristics.
  
  

• I. Brand

  family owned and operated tasting room located in the heart of Carmel Valley Village.
  Wine maker Ian Brand, SF Chronicle's Winemaker of the Year in 2018, is hyper focused on finding unique and historic vineyard sites throughout Monterey, Santa Cruz and San Benito Counties.
  
  

• Folktale Winery

  Set in a beautiful chateau and alongside its vineyards, Folktale Winery is a quintessential experience to Carmel Valley. With the option to dine in while wine tasting makes it all the more pleasurable. The food and wine here is exceptional.

---

Save Pin for later