Whenever we're in Carmel, we do a hike at Point Lobos - it's so gorgeous. We'd recommend the Bird Island trail if you want to walk along the coast and see seals and birds, but you really can't go wrong with any of the park's trails. If you head here on a weekend, plan to come early to get parking!
Elkhorn Slough is a natural waterway just north of Monterey where you can kayak with seals, otters, and birds. Last time we were up here, we had seals and otters come right up to our kayak!
The 17 Mile Drive is a stunning coastal road that's, you guessed it, 17 miles long. It has various viewpoints and short trails, so we'd recommend making a day out of this one! If you're going around sunset, watching the sun go down at the Lone Cypress can't be beat.