Any suggestions of things to do/see in Carmel? What about the walking tours and wine tasting tours I have seen advertised on the internet?

I'll be driving the PCH from San Francisco to Santa Barbara and planning to stop in Carmel! So I have this topic watched now.

If you like hiking definitely go to Point Lobos State Natural Reserve.

Edit: it's not super hikey, but a gorgeous area to check out.

Nah. Do point lobos. Was there in sept. Eat well. Drink well. Enjoy it.

following. I live ~2 hours south and have been meaning to get up there to visit a buddy who is probably moving this summer. Planning on hitting the aquarium but looking for other family friendly stuff to check out.

Point Lobos is amazing, definitely do that but plan to get there when it opens or the lots will get full. Pebble Beach and the 17 mile drive is next door and worth it especially if you are a golf fan - have a cocktail on the clubhouse balconey overlooking the 18th hole. The Monterey aquarium is one of the best in the country if you like things like that. Otherwise, make the drive down to McWay Falls in Big Sur to experience the most awe aspiring coast line in the continental US.

In Carmel, I suggest eating at Mission Ranch. Owned by Clint Eastwood. Really nice place.

Besides Pebble Beach, I would also go to the Monterrey Bay Aquarium. Big Sur isn't far and is worth a trip. Recommend eating at Nepenthe or Post Ranch Inn. Both have excellent views.

Carmel is one of my favorite places in the U.S. You are getting great recs here. Make sure you take lots of pics along 17 mile drive (Carmel is basically the southern end of it). Point Lobos gives you great views of the Monterey peninsula. Make sure you see the 18th at Pebble and if possible check out the bagpipe player at The Inn at Spanish Bay. He plays as the sun is going down, you can go out on the back patio with a jacket and enjoy an aperitif. The entire coastline is beautiful as you head down the Pacific Coast. Nepenthe has an absolutely stunning view of the coastline, but it can be a pretty good hike to get down to from Carmel, especially if there is any road construction work going on. The last time I went, a couple of years ago, we took a detour to see the Hurst mansion in San Simeon, which was worth seeing. Once. Will try to dig up some of my fotos.

View from Point Lobos

Obligatory Lone Cypress along 17 mile drive

My friends enjoying the sunset at The Inn at Spanish Bay

Par 3 Pebble

Cement pond at Hurst Mansion

Random stop along Pacific Coast Hwy between Big Sur and San Simeon

Hurst castle is definitely cool but I think they're still closed.

Sunset at Spanish Bay is awesome! They have the bagpiper that walks that area of the course come by and play for sunset. You can sit out on their huge patio that has firepits (like in Kool's pic) and have drinks & apps. Just park in the main hotel parking lot and walk right through the lobby straight back to outside.

We always make the very scenic trip south on Highway 1 to eat at Nepenthe on each trip there. Great views. Good food.

Jock 07 said:

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following. I live ~2 hours south and have been meaning to get up there to visit a buddy who is probably moving this summer. Planning on hitting the aquarium but looking for other family friendly stuff to check out.

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You live in SLO?

We lived in Pacific Grove for 2 years, almost 10 years ago. Beautiful place.

Aquarium is nice, but expensive. We use to have annual passes that includes 2 guest passes that we would loan out. If you happen to know any one living there, wouldn't hurt to ask.

Cannery Row is a tourist trap. Don't eat there. If you want sea food in a formal setting, Fisherman's Wharf has plenty. Fisherman's Grotto is pry the best, but do not go if you have small kids. They have a no strollers sign posted and would pry kick out crying kids. Up in Marina, Phil's always was worth the drive.

Big Sur is a must. Point Lobos is nice, but can get crowded. California state parks charge by the car, so you will see a lot of cars parked on 1 and they walk in. Beaches, I like sand dollar best, but it's a good 1.5 hours south. Pfeiffer is popular and has a cool arch and purple sand.



Garrapata is a popular beach and pretty close to Carmel.

Julia Pfeiffer Burns state park is a must. But again, park on the highway and don't pay the parking fee. Check out the waterfall into the ocean and the remains of an old house.

You will likely see whales and dolphins. I saw them on a daily basis just walking along Monterey Bay. You can take whale watching trips year round. Seals are always on the beach at Ocean View and 1st in PG. Sea Lions always on the floating platform at the wharf. Otters in the kelp bed along the bay or go to the Elkhorn Slough and see the huge raft that's usually there.

Beautiful place. Enjoy!

Sorry had my timing off, should've said ~3 hrs south. I'm at Vandenberg.

I'll be spending 3 weeks there starting Sunday.

Just booked my hotel for the night I'm staying in Monterrey. Really look forward to spending some time there. One question, I want to get my brother (big golfer) some Pebble Beach swag, is there a pro shop or place to pick up souvenirs??

Thanks for all the helpful tips!

There is a Pebble Beach outlet store on Cannery Row in Monterey or you can go to the proshop at the actual golf course.

Yeah, I'd definitely want to stop into the actual Pro Shop.

Pirate04 said:

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Yeah, I'd definitely want to stop into the actual Pro Shop.

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Bring your wallet.
And if you can, please pick up another blue cap for me, as seen in the last of my fotos. Or green, whatever you think is best for me.
There is a nice breakfast spot in the building above the big Rolex Pebble Beach clock. It has a nice outdoor balcony to watch people blowing wads of cash, near the "tee-off" spot for the first hole, etc. And you can get a nice lunch in the area next to the 18th green and watch people coming in after their round.
Cheers

19th hole Pebble Beach. Oh yes, it's a very nice

Point Lobos is freaking awesome.
We were there in April one year & the seals had just calved. Little seal pups nursing on the beach was a sight I'll never forget!

We have been to Carmel many times and finally took a whale watching trip. It was awesome. Those go out of Monterrey. Do eat at Mission Ranch and if possible eat their Sunday brunch (if they still have it). It is the best we have ever had and is very reasonable, especially for California.

If you want something to do at night, go back to Mission Ranch. They have a piano bar--kind of. It is just a piano over to the left of the bar. Not much seating. But the musical talent there is unbelievable. The nights we have been there, the pianist is a classically trained pianist from Russia. The people sitting around the piano all had great voices. It was a pleasure to hear them sing. Since there is not enough tequila in Texas to make my voice sound good, even to me, I just sat there and took it all in.

There are great places to eat in Carmel, especially Italian food. But one of our favorite places is The Corner Cafe. Nothing in Carmel is low brow nor cheap, but this place has a wide variety of dishes and is even open for breakfast. Eat outside by the firepit and watch the people go by.

Pirate04 said:

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Yeah, I'd definitely want to stop into the actual Pro Shop.

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They have a couple shops there at the course and the shop that is tied to the pro shop next to #1 tee box is the most expensive. There is a couple shops in the building next to it by the putting green that has better pricing.

Driving down Hwy 1 today and tomorrow. Best road trip ever.

Be sure to take layers of clothes, as it gets pretty chilly there, any time of year. The wind can have a wee bite to it, as well. It's our favourite place to visit in the U.S.

Take some time just to drive along Scenic Drive and through the Golden Rectangle. The homes in Carmel are really unusual, and the small gardens are beautiful. 17 Mile Drive through Pebble Beach is a must, as previously mentioned.

Sundown cocktails at the Inn at Spanish Bay, with the piper piping down the sun from behind the dunes is neat, as is dinner at the Mission Ranch. Point Lobos is as advertised. I'll second the recs for the Monterey Aquarium, also.

If you like visiting wineries, Carmel Valley has a bunch of 'em. It's been a while since we were there, but there used to be quite a few tasting rooms right in Carmel, as well. There were a lot of neat, small restaurants, too.

Enjoy your visit! There are quite a few great recs above, and I can vouch for many of them.

Great place. We stayed at Carmel Valley Ranch when we went which is a little inland from Carmel by the Sea. It's a resort with a golf course. If you are going to spend time in both Carmel and Carmel Valley Village it's right in between and a good spot. Really nice place and the restaurant onsite is really good.

If you like wine and specifically Pinot Noir, don't miss out on spending a day or two in Carmel Valley Village which is on Carmel Valley Road in the hills east of Carmel by the Sea.

The food out there. Good lawd. Places we ate:

Lucia at Bernardus Lodge and Spa
Il Fornaio
Grasing's
Aubergine at L'Auberge
Le Bicyclette - awesome lunch place in Carmel. Eat here. We looked up and saw Nancy Silverton sitting next to us and knew we had chosen well.

Testarossa Winery makes a fantastic Pinot and Chardonnay. It's in Carmel Village.

Pirate04 said:

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Driving down Hwy 1 today and tomorrow. Best road trip ever.

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Fotos or it didn't happen??

Kool said:

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Pirate04 said:

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Driving down Hwy 1 today and tomorrow. Best road trip ever.

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Fotos or it didn't happen??

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Here ya go!

Is the cocktail at Nepenthe? It's just so breathtaking there.

Yes it is! I couldn't pass it up. I got really lucky with parking and a table. I just stopped for the one drink and ended up sharing the table with another 36 yo woman who was also traveling solo.

Pirate04 said:

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Yes it is! I couldn't pass it up. I got really lucky with parking and a table. I just stopped for the one drink and ended up sharing the table with another 36 yo woman who was also traveling solo.

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Where are y'all staying tonight?

I was just driving down. I'm in Lompoc for the next two weeks then back to FL.

Thanks! Great to see you're having fun. Soak it in. The Carmel pics bring back memories of my first trip out there - quite a place for a young and impressionable Texas boy to visit. Gelato in the grassy park in the middle of town (your dessert store photo brought that memory back) while a few puffy white clouds go by. There may have even been a not unattractive female involved. Makes me want to get back there again. Such a beautiful part of our country.
Edit: Nice Bokeh effect on the libation. Respite - Respite and Nepenthe

That stretch of highway in Big Sur is a top 3 most beautiful place in the States.

Pirate04 said:

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I was just driving down. I'm in Lompoc for the next two weeks then back to FL.

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What in the world are you doing for 2 weeks in Lompoc?

I take it Hwy 1 is open all the way through Big Sur then? It's been closed down two different times in the past few years due to mudslides washing out the road.

There are a couple places down to one lane but mostly open as of this past weekend.