Fairy tale cottages, Scenic Route, Peaceful Beaches, Wineries, Artists, and Creativity are some less adjectives to define the beauty and atmosphere of this beautiful city, Carmel by the Sea. According to the residents of the Carmel, August through October is the best time to visit Carmel. The flowers are in bloom and the weather is perfectly good for So Cal residents as we don’t like much cold. We planned our trip during the last week of September and as described by the city’s residents, the weather was in such a great mood. As Scandinavians say, “there’s no such thing as bad weather.” I truly believe in that phrase! So, I plan my trips with an utmost attention to the weather details. Through beautiful Santa Barbara and Pacific Highway 1, we landed in the Carmel after a good 8-hour drive. Started the drive with a Starbucks tall Café Mocha. That has been now my tradition. I love Café Mocha, but I love it even more when I head to long drives. Breakfast stop at Santa Barbara: Savoy Café & Deli, Santa Barbara- Don’t be just fooled by the lovely architecture and the beautiful setup of the restaurant, their food is incredible too. The cuteness of this café will amaze you. Yellow walls, beautiful infrastructure, modern décor and ample light in the café made our experience even better. We love their Protein Plates but this place also has locally manufactured coffee and wine, gourmet chips, fresh cookies, and what not! Where to eat in Carmel By the Sea: Dametra Café, Carmel by The Sea: Dametra is a very unique restaurant and one of the highest rated food places in the town. So, I had to check out. Rich in culture and heritage, their food was authentic and ambience was great. You can expect the owner come and greet you and give you free baklava towards the end of your meal. Little Napoli, Carmel by the sea: Founded in 1990, Little Napoli is one of the iconic restaurants of the Carmel city. With its unique and historic atmosphere, Little Napoli is a sweet Italian charm that will take you to a quick Italian food tour. Amidst the city chaos, if you need a little escapism to the world of wine, then Little Napoli is a must visit. And hey, don’t forget to try their Cannelonni Tricolore. The Shadowbrook Restaurant, Capitola: With a setting, that blow your mind away, this restaurant was built in 1947 and have a unique ‘Tram’ lift also known as cable car, that you will find nowhere else. Rich in craftsmanship, the place is known for ‘romance in dining.’ If you want to get an English vibe in California, this place is for you. This Restaurant is not an ordinary restaurant, it is a unique find and each wall in the restaurant has a story. They offer a complimentary ride service within the 3-mile radius of the restaurant and click a picture for you if you are celebrating a special occasion. Wave Street Café, Monterey: This European style restaurant featuring American brunch is situated in the heart of Monterey. Wave street is a super comfortable and stylist little café that is generally very busy and be ready to wait for 45mins- 1 hour, if you haven’t made a reservation. The food is great, and the vibe is phenomenal. 100% recommended. Stay: Carmel is a hub of vintage cottages and cute hotels. Even yet, we decided to stay in an Airbnb as I think they provide with utmost level of comfort and you feel like home. And for some of us, that feeling is very important. Right? We stayed at a beautiful El Nido apartment. It is about 30 minutes away from the Carmel and Monterey and is located in a very nice and calm neighborhood in Aptos. The host has decorated the house with an ultimate perfection. To be honest, this place so far has been my best Airbnb stay. From the cleanliness to the bathroom essentials, everything is on the top of the deal. However, if you want to stay in the city of Carmel, here are few of my suggestions: Budget Friendly: The Carmel Inn & Suites We are talking about one of the finest inns of the Carmel Valley. It’s vintage aesthetic and European style furniture are most important characteristics of this place. The geographical location of the Carmel Inn is an absolute merit as it is situated in the heart of the Carmel village. Normandy Inn Pink charming flowers lurking on this blue and white property is an angelic call to this Inn. Situated exactly in the downtown, Normandy Inn serves complimentary breakfast daily. DAILY! This French Country style Inn has several options of accommodations. From a standard room to the family cottages, you can avail as many options that best suits your convenience. However, if you have a doggy, then this place is not for you. Luxury Deal: La Playa Carmel La Playa Carmel is my dream place to stay in the Carmel valley. This hotel is absolutely stunning in all dimensions. Newly Renovated, this hotel has the best galleries and restaurants. Constructed on the absolute spectacular place of Carmel, this hotel has amazing views of pebble beach and Carmel bay. Activities to do in Carmel: Take a stroll around the Carmel By the Sea. – Carmel by the Sea has one of a kind specialty boutique that can be only find in the Carmel. Each street has a whole lot of variety to offer. I heard a lot about Fairy Tale Cottages of Carmel and I was mesmerized. I definitely recommend you to explore and define your own experience. I loved the architecture of the town. From food to shopping, there is availability of tons of options to decide for. Picnic at Carmel Beach- Stretched horizons with stunning white sand, this beach is just paradise. It has a unique element of peace and calm. Not just for humans, this beach is one of the world’s best beach for dogs too. On the beautiful shoreline are some big heavy trees which provides a perfect place to celebrate a brunch or lunch picnic with your family members or with your sweetheart. There are various shops in Carmel Downtown who can set you up a perfect light picnic basket. I got mine from The Cheese Shop since I am a cheese and wine aficionado. 17-mile drive- You must have heard a lot about it. It’s a beautiful drive with a blue vast ocean one hand and dense heavy mountains on the other. The mother nature has done absolute justice to this place. Art Exhibitions:
Carmel has so many art galleries, art events, art tours and workshops, and art organizations. If you are an artist, a photographer, a blogger, an influencer, a writer, this place is doubtlessly made for you! Bike Ride: Mad Dogs & Englishmen has bikes ranging from the vintage style to one of the most popular models. Their specialty is their best bikes which cannot be found in any other shop. You can check out their bikes online and be prepared to book in advance, otherwise you may lose the chance to have a wonderful bike experience.
15 Comments
Khushdeep Brar
3/11/2020 09:49:58 pm
Carmel city is a must visit.
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Kiran
3/13/2020 12:50:15 pm
Thankyou so much for reading :)
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Gurpreet Grewal
3/11/2020 11:07:07 pm
Beautiful
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Kiran
3/13/2020 12:54:05 pm
Me or the blog? haha
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Reet Gugga
3/11/2020 11:12:59 pm
It is really beautiful and thanks for sharing all the trip details.
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Kiran
3/13/2020 12:53:21 pm
Thankyou so much! Thankyou for reading :)
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Mirshad Sherief
3/12/2020 01:55:40 am
Honestly, You are Beautiful 👌🥰
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Kiran
3/13/2020 12:52:53 pm
Thankyou :)
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Rachel
3/12/2020 07:52:46 pm
This trip sounds absolutely amazing! We made this drive when we lived in California and it is beautiful!
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Kiran
3/13/2020 12:52:24 pm
It is indeed very beautiful! Thanks for reading babe:)
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Rattanjot
3/12/2020 11:19:54 pm
I was planning to visit carmel from so long but couldn’t figure out certain things and girl after going through your blog, its all clear now. Thankyou !!
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Kiran
3/13/2020 12:51:46 pm
Aren't you the best? Come back and we will go together :)
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Mandy
3/13/2020 11:10:29 am
Omg! You made me feel like I was there. Looking forward to visiting this place. 💞
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Kiran
3/13/2020 12:51:15 pm
Thanks babe! I look forward to visiting this place together :)
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3/27/2020 03:12:06 pm
Aw super cute photos. I love the look of the restaurants you visited/recommend. I totally think the weather can add to your little vacation (or staycation). I think it's important to factor that in to ensure a smooth trip and fun activities. Thanks for sharing your weekend with us doll!
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