Carmel-By-The-Sea aka: Carmel

Kerstin in Carmel

Enjoy the sand. Walk around town. Enjoy a great meal.

My Grandmother took me to CA when I was 11. I was excited because I thought we were going to Disneyland, and was severely disappointed when I found out she had other things in mind.

We arrived in L.A. and drove up and down Rt 1- from L.A. to Yosimite. Carmel was one of the stops. At the time, Clint Eastwood was the Mayor, and I can remember the sand being as fine as baby powder. There are no words to describe how at peace I felt on that beach.

The two-week trip changed my life. I saw and experienced things that forever changed me, and I realized that there was so much more to life than what was fed to me through commercials and TV.

If you decide to visit this place after reading this, you can thank my Grandmother ;)

Carmel is great. From overpriced stores selling worthless trinkets to a gorgeous beach to frolic with your dog, Carmel is a tourist’s dream. Between the plaza and ocean ave, there are enough stores packed tightly together to spend a full day in. The dining is fantastic. My personal favorites are Casanova’s, Il Fornaio, and the Cypress Inn.
Regarded as one of the most dog-friendly cities in the world, the locals of Carmel practically speak dog. Only they do it in a high-pitched squealing generally consisting of “who’s a good boy” and “how is mommy’s little baby”. If you bring your dog here, expect it to be fondled and petted by strangers until its fur falls off.
Watch for 70-year old millionaire’s wives driving their enormous mercedes and bentleys around at break-neck speed and running every stop imaginable. Seriously…don’t always expect people to be patient and let you walk in front of their cars at crosswalks. The locals can either be extremely friendly and nice or unbelievably snobby.
An Ideal day would consist of browsing stores, having a sandwitch or warm meat purchased from Nielsen’s Market in Devendorf Park, looking at art, lying on the beach, then eating out at a great restaurant.
The sidewalks are a little uneven in places so watch your step and there are no commercial chain restaurants here…so don’t expect to go walking around with a McGriddles and fries hanging out your mouth.

Scones & tea at the Tuck Box Inn. A welcome respite after touring the galleries & taking in the neighbor
hood cottages.