Summer & Lucas
Things To Do
Carmel Beach
Relax & recharge on a white sand beach lined with cypress trees. What Northern California's beaches lack in warm water, they certainly make up for in picturesque coastal scenery and cliffside views.
Carmel downtown
Spend an afternoon exploring the charm of Carmel Village, filled with interesting shops, art galleries, and restaurants.
Carmel Bakery
A yummy local bakery. Located between Dolores St. & Lincoln St on Ocean Ave. Grab a pretzel or pastry while you're walking around the downtown Carmel area!
Explore Carmel via Bicycle
Enjoy cycling along stunning Scenic Road which hugs the Carmel coastline. Take in the beauty of turquoise blue waters and white powder sand beaches. The area can be hilly so consider an E-bike! A local bike rental shop: https://maddogsenglishmen.com/carmel-rentals-and-tours
Point Lobos State Natural Reserve
Point Lobos State Natural Reserve has often been called "the crown jewel" of California's 280 state parks. The area is geologically unique and contains a rich and diverse plant and animal life both on shore and in the water. This Scenic coastal area features a variety of sea animals & wildlife, hiking, diving & a whaling museum. The park hosts many easy hiking trails and the entire perimeter of the park can be walked in 2 hours.
Big Sur
A favorite day trip from Carmel, this 40 minute drive along Highway 1 from Carmel to Big Sur is considered one of the most beautiful pieces of coastal highway in the world. Just the drive alone is worth renting a car for stunning cliffside views and an unforgettable trip! Stop at Pfeiffer Beach for the perfect turn-around spot. To access Pfeiffer beach: Pfeiffer Beach is hard to find if you've never been to it before. The trick is locating unmarked Sycamore Canyon Road. Here's a tip - Sycamore Canyon Road is the only paved, ungated road west of Highway One between the Big Sur post office and Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park. Once you find the turnout, make a very sharp turn. Then follow the road for about two miles until it ends.
Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park
Explore and hike in this state park filled with California redwoods and costal views located 26 miles south of Carmel. Check out AllTrails for some hikes in the park: https://www.alltrails.com/parks/us/california/pfeiffer-big-sur-state-park. Pfeiffer Falls Trail offers sweeping views of the Big Sur River Valley, Pt. Sur, and Pfeiffer Falls.
Monterey Bay Aquarium
This nonprofit aquarium and sanctuary focuses on marine conservation, habitat preservation, and education. It holds 35,000 plants and animals representing 623 species. Sea life on exhibit includes stingrays, jellyfish, sea otters, and numerous other native marine species, which can be viewed above and below the waterline.
Carmel Mission
This one is for the history buffs! Mission San Carlos Borromeo del Rio Carmelo was the second of the nine missions founded by Father Junipero Serra. The building exhibits classic Mission-style, fortress-like architecture, with thick, bougainvillea-covered adobe walls, a central courtyard, and a moorish-style bell tower contains nine bells and is open to the public.