Visit Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA

I’d heard about Carmel-by-the-Sea from my mother and father when they visited there years ago. My Dad was a golfer and they toured the Pebble Beach area and Carmel-by-the-Sea with my aunt and uncle sometime in the 1990s and came back raving about it. My mother fell in love with the area and it’s picturesque village of storybook homes and dramatic rocky coastline. After we visited it, I can see why she fell in love. The coastline is reminiscent of the coastline in Maine which my mother loved and the storybook cottages and beautiful shops and stores depict the perfect storybook life.

The Carmel storybook theme started when a man named Hugh Comstock built a home for his wife, Mayotta. She was a doll maker and needed a place that would be appropriate to display her collection of dolls for her business. He fashioned the homes in a whimsical style with hand made frequently imperfect details. This unique style in this village that was full of writers and artists became very popular and numerous cottages were built. Today this fairy tale style makes up a good portion of the village shops, restaurants and art galleries in the area and it makes you feel like you are living in a storybook fairy tale.

This cottage image is the Tuck Box eatery in Carmel-by-the-Sea, California and it is the only commercial property Hugh Comstock ever created.

Image Info: image is the property of Trevor B. via Yelp.

Carmel-by-the-Sea Fairy Tale Houses

Please note that since Carmel does not utilize "addresses" all of the following links will take you to a Google Images display. Please also note that the following is not a "complete list", it is some of the more well known fairy tale cottages. Click here to view a Google Search Results list of Fairy Tale Cottages in Carmel.

 The “Hansel & Gretal” Cottages

 The Tuck Box Tea House

 Forge in the Forest Restaurant

Click the above video poster image to watch our California road trip overview, that allows you to get a glimpse of San Francisco, Muir Woods, Sausalito, Napa and Sonoma, Yosemite, Santa Monica, Santa Barbara, Pacific Coast Highway, Monterey, Carmel by the Sea... We did this short video to inspire others to try it out.

The 17-Mile Drive is a scenic coastal route renowned for its breathtaking beauty and iconic landmarks. This picturesque drive winds along the rugged coastline of the Monterey Peninsula, offering stunning vistas of pristine beaches, dramatic cliffs, and majestic Cypress trees. Along the way, you will encounter renowned landmarks such as the Lone Cypress, a symbol of resilience perched on a rocky outcrop, and the famous Pebble Beach Golf Links. Scenic viewpoints provide opportunities for whale watching and bird spotting, while historic sites like Spanish Bay offer glimpses into the region's past. The 17-Mile Drive is an unforgettable journey through nature's grandeur.

We entered Carmel via the "Carmel Gate" on 17 Mile Drive and drove to Ocean Avenue to look for parking so we could get some images of Carmel Beach. One advantage of getting there early in the morning was that there was quite a bit of parking available.

Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, boasts a thriving dining scene with over 50 restaurants offering a variety of cuisines. From fine dining establishments to casual spots, Carmel's restaurant variety includes Italian, French, seafood, and global-inspired menus. Highlights include Mission Ranch Restaurant, owned by Clint Eastwood, La Balena for rustic Italian, and Seventh & Dolores Steakhouse for modern steakhouse fare. The town is known for both high-end dining experiences and cozy local eateries that reflect the charm of the Monterey Peninsula

The simplest way to start a "where do we eat in Carmel" bit of research, is to start with a Google Search Results list of restaurants in Carmel.

 Google Search Results for the highest rated restaurants in Carmel:

 Google Search Results for the highest rated French restaurants in Carmel:

You may have noticed that Google Search is doing all the work, if I change a "search option" then Google Search changes the list to fit my new search option criteria. It is a very powerful feature, one that you should become familiar with.

Parking in downtown Carmel can be challenging due to its small size and popularity with visitors. The town does not have parking meters, but most street parking in the downtown area is limited to 2 hours between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. to encourage turnover for shoppers and diners. Some streets offer free, unrestricted parking further from the central business district.

There are a few public parking lots available for longer stays, such as the Sunset Center lot and Carmel Plaza garage, where visitors can park for several hours. However, availability in these lots may be limited during peak tourist seasons. Many visitors opt to park in nearby residential streets or outside the downtown core and walk into the area, as Carmel is compact and pedestrian-friendly.

If you're visiting for a longer period or during busy weekends, it's advisable to arrive early or consider using public transportation to avoid the hassle of finding parking​.

Here is a Google Map link displaying all of the public parking locations in the Carmel area:

Carmel-by-the-Sea, commonly known as Carmel, has a rich history as a coastal town known for its artistic heritage, natural beauty, and distinctive charm. Founded in 1902, Carmel quickly became a haven for artists, writers, and intellectuals drawn by its stunning landscapes and bohemian culture.

Before European settlement, the area was home to the Ohlone people, who lived off the land and sea for thousands of years. In 1771, Spanish missionaries, led by Father Junípero Serra, established Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo, one of California’s most important missions and a cornerstone of early Carmel history.

Carmel's modern history began in the late 19th and early 20th centuries when it attracted a community of artists and writers, including Jack London, Mary Austin, and Robinson Jeffers, who built his famous stone house, Tor House, in Carmel. The town became a colony for those seeking creative freedom and a retreat from urban life. By the 1920s, Carmel was widely known as an artist's enclave.

In 1916, Carmel introduced unique local laws, including banning street addresses, which preserved the town's quaint and rustic character. Residents and businesses still rely on post office boxes instead of home delivery.

Father Junipero Serra founded the second California mission ("Mission Carmel") in 1771, which still stands on the edge of present day Carmel-by-the-Sea. This Mission and this area became Junipero Serra's favorite and he made this Mission his California headquarters. When he passed away in 1784, he was buried beneath the chapel floor. In 1834 the mission buildings and lands were removed from Catholic Church control by the Mexican government.

The City of Carmel was incorporated on October 31, 1916.

• Just Traveling Thru Travel Planning Tips
• History of Carmel on the Britannica Website
• Google search results list for "Accommodations in Carmel"
• Google search results list for "Restaurants in Carmel"
• Amazon Search Results list for "Carmel California"
• Carmel Wine Tasting & Walking Tour from "Get Your Guide"
• Visit our Youtube Channel
• Our Image Gallery for Carmel
• Wikipedia Article for Carmel
• Google Image Gallery for Carmel
• Google Reviews for Carmel-by-the-Sea

As you can see in this static map, we had a number of destinations (as well as a number of side trips) that would require a considerable amount of driving. Each of the itinerary stops is linked to our content (or page) to allow you to view our content.

Locations / Start & End points are both San Francisco International Airport

1. San Francisco Hilton Financial District.
2. Bonita Point Lighthouse and Fort Baker area.
3. Sausalito, CA.
4. Santa Rosa, CA in the heart of the Sonoma County Wine District.
5. Salida, CA - overnight rest stop along the way to Yosemite.
6. Yosemite National Park, CA where we stayed at the Rush Creek Lodge.
7. Frontieres Underground Garden Fresno, CA - this was an entertainment side stop, as we had read about this place and also wanted to get lunch.
8. Santa Barbara, CA
9. Morro Bay, CA.
10. Monterey Bay, CA to explore the Monterey Bay and Carmel by the Sea areas.