Carmel Beach Travel Guide

Carmel Beach Travel Guide

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Beach Destinations Near Carmel

Travel Guides Near Carmel

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Sunrise over Carmel Beach in Monterey County, California
Carmel Beach (courtesy, Monterey County Convention and Visitors Bureau)
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Carmel Beach Travel Tips

By Ludmilla Alexander

  • Head down Ocean Avenue in the quaint town of Carmel-by-the-Sea to one of California's most spectacular white-sand beaches.
  • Stay until evening for a blazing sunset—if the fog cooperates.
  • Check out the shops, restaurants, and art galleries located in picturesque gingerbread-style cottages.
  • Cruise 17-Mile Drive (for a fee) to see superb views, stately mansions, and the famous Pebble Beach golf courses.
  • Taste locally bottled wines on Carmel Valley Road.

Carmel-by-the-Sea Travel Guide

Carmel began as a seaside artists' colony that attracted luminaries such as Sinclair Lewis, Robert Louis Stevenson, and Ansel Adams. Residents resisted assigned street numbers and lighting and carried lanterns, which they considered more romantic. The town is still intimate enough that addresses remain unnumbered—Carmel's inns, restaurants, boutiques, and galleries identify their locations by cross streets—but that ragtag bohemian village is a thing of yesteryear. Carmel is now a tourist hot spot, weekend traffic can be intolerable, and lodging rates are grossly inflated. But thousands of annual visitors are taken nonetheless with its eclectic dwellings, quaint cafes, majestic cypresses, and silky white beaches. Read More

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Hotels

from: $169

L Auberge Carmel

Monte Verde and 7th Avenue
Carmel, CA 93921 Map

Distance: 0.2 mi.
(from destination center)

Hotel Class: 5 class stars

expert favorite hotel
Expert Rated & Recommended
5.0
from: $139

Seascape Resort Monterey Bay

One Seascape Resort Drive
Aptos, CA 95003 Map

Distance: 27.5 mi.
(from destination center)

Hotel Class: 3 class stars

expert favorite hotel
Expert Rated & Recommended
5.0
5.0

Santa Cruz KOA

1186 San Andreas Road
La Selva Beach, CA Map

Distance: 25.9 mi.
(from destination center)

Hotel Class: Not Yet Rated
expert favorite hotel
Expert Rated & Recommended
5.0
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Attractions

Carmel Beach

expert favorite attraction
Ocean Avenue
Carmel, California

Distance: 0.4 mi. (from destination center)

Description: Carmel Beach offers good opportunities for surfing as well as great conditions for dog-walking. It hosts an annual sandcastle contest, and there are a variety of shops and restaurants nearby.... Read More
Expert Rated & Recommended
5_0

Point Lobos State Reserve

expert favorite attraction
Carmel, California

Distance: 6.1 mi. (from destination center)

Description: Point Lobos State Reserve is located on the central coast of California in Monterey County and has... Read More
Expert Rated & Recommended
5_0

Monterey Bay Aquarium

expert favorite attraction
886 Cannery Row
Monterey, California

Distance: 4.5 mi. (from destination center)

Description:

Monterey Bay Aquarium [STSTST] [kds]—Ranked one of the nation's top family... Read More

Expert Rated & Recommended
5_0
5_0
4_0
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Airports

Major Airports near Carmel

Distance (mi.)
San Jose International Airport 55.2 map
San Francisco International Airport 77.7 map
Oakland International Airport 82.0 map

Other Smaller Airports near Carmel

Distance (mi.)
Carmel/Monterey Peninsula Airport 4.4 map
Modesto Municipal Airport 91.3 map
Merced Municipal Airport 92.6 map

Flight Deals to Carmel

Originating From
Los Angeles (LAX) to San Jose (SJC) $126
San Diego (SAN) to San Jose (SJC) $145
Las Vegas (LAS) to San Jose (SJC) $146
Seattle (SEA) to San Jose (SJC) $166
Denver (DEN) to San Jose (SJC) $176

Feature Articles

  • San Francisco
    outside
    IF YOU'VE HAD your fill of lingering summer fog, yoga-mat gridlock, and a whole lotta dazed and confused former dotcommers, now's the time to leave your heart in San Francisco but take the rest of you out yonder to Sierra peaks and serene redwood forests.
See All Feature Articles on Carmel »

Trip Ideas

Carmel Vacation Rentals

check rates
from: $1428

Casa De Amour: Exquisite Retreat in Carmel

Bedrooms: 4
Bathrooms: 4.5
Sleeps: 8
Amenities: Air Conditioning, BBQ, Cable/Satellite TV, DVD Player, Dishwasher, Fireplace, Full kitchen, Hair Dryer, Laundry, Linens, Microwave, No Pets, Non-Smoking, Oven, Phone, Pool Table, Refrigerator, Stereo, Stove, TV, Utensils, Wireless Internet Access
check rates
from: $250

Rosemont, secluded and romantic with a wood fireplace

Bedrooms: 1
Bathrooms: 1
Sleeps: 2
Amenities: BBQ, Cable/Satellite TV, DVD Player, Fireplace, Hair Dryer, Kitchenette, Laundry, Linens, Non-Smoking, Oceanfront, Patio, Pets OK, Phone, TV
check rates
from: $1428

Magnificent Oceanfront Estate in Carmel

Bedrooms: 4
Bathrooms: 3
Sleeps: 8
Amenities: Air Conditioning, Blender, CD Player, Cable/Satellite TV, Coffee Maker, DVD Player, Dishwasher, Full kitchen, Hair Dryer, Hot Tub, Internet Access, Laundry, Linens, Microwave, Oceanfront, Oven, Phone, Refrigerator, Stereo, Swimming Pool, TV, Utensils, VCR
All Carmel Vacation Rentals »

Carmel Beach Travel Guides

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