Carmel is a great escape. It has a special charm and dramatic beach landscapes with blue waters,…read morecliffs and majestic cypress trees. It is quaint, perfect for a 1-2 stop, great to stroll on Ocean Ave. and check out the art galleries, the nice shops and enjoy a fresh seafood meal. Life stops its fast pace while here. Wear layers! I always get cold here and bring comfy shoes to explore the small, cute town! A landmark of California!

Brought family down to see Big Sur. We stopped by Carmel to get some food…read more I love that this has got to be the most dog friendly city in California. Almost all restaurants and stores are accommodating. Saw couple of people picking up after their dogs. Also saw plenty of trash cans. Also street parking is still free, if you can find a spot.

This is my second time using the Sand Guys for a team building event and all I can say is Wow!! I…read morehave referred them many times, and will many more!! This is an amazing team building event for any type of business unit, they are organized, incredibly friendly, and helpful .. in a word .. MAGICAL!! When you arrive, they have an example of what you can build .. folks arrive thinking .."This is so cool" .. "What the heck is Kim making us do??" "Really"?? Rusty the Sand Guy (as I like to call him) began by giving very clear, easy instructions on how to build your base. He got everyone started within their team then he and his partner went to each team individually to provide instruction on how to make a solid foundation, ways to build upon your base. and how to add details! teams began first by compiling a very large pile of sand .. and staring into space .. "what will we do". Within minutes your team is not only collaborating on the best way to execute, but WORKING together to create something really special. I participated the first time, I got to observe and help the second time. I learned so much about my team, who are the leaders, who is the most creative. who can advise and execute. We put this group into teams of people they did not know well, they all created and collaborated to create something very cool. You have about two hours to devise your plan and create. The entire group was fully engaged, everyone designated their own unique way of participating, and no one was left out or let their team down. Did I mention how competitive this became?? such a great day at the beach, and a new skill to show off to your kids and friends. Not only did I get amazing feedback form everyone on the team, I was told by those that laughed and thought it was silly; that it was one for the best team buildings they ever have had. I highly recommend the San Guys, the creativity and camaraderie it inspires is invaluable for all aspects of relationship building!

From the owner: Team building, corporate events, weddings, art & entertainment.read more

17-Mile Drive was one of the prettiest parts of our Monterey/Carmel visit. We started in Monterey…read moreand exited in Carmel, and the whole route felt like a postcard. The ocean views are gorgeous, especially along the cliffside sections. There are plenty of places to stop at beaches, take photos, and just enjoy the coastline. The homes along the route are stunning, and of course, Pebble Beach Golf Links adds that classic Monterey luxury feel. This is an easy recommendation. Beautiful drive, dramatic ocean views, beach stops, golf scenery, and a perfect way to connect Monterey and Carmel.

The views make you sing: "Life is worth livingggggg"…read more Apart from the vehicle entry fee ($12) increasing over the years and no bathrooms, it's definitely worth the drive. They give you a map upon entering, which is helpful to see what spots you want to explore. Lots of stops you can make and people are always entering/leaving from the parking spots. My favorites are: - Spanish Bay - Fanshell Beach Overlook - Cypress Point Overlook - Lone Cypress Tree - Restless Sea - Point Joe - China Rock - Bird Rock

During a trip to Monterey for my folks' 40th wedding anniversary, we were strolling around Carmel…read moreand looking for some wineries that had affordable tastings and solid reviews. My brother had visited Wrath only to purchase a bottle a couple years ago, and out of convenience, having parked in the garage right by the Carmel Plaza, Wrath seemed like a decent place for a wine tasting on a Saturday afternoon. Kathy was fantastic - very accommodating to our party of 6+baby+stroller, as we were able to sit outside and also listen to some of the live music, which the non-wine-tasters in the party enjoyed. I ended up getting the Single Vineyard Tasting, which came with 5 wines (one white, four reds, mostly Pinot). All were very tasty, had a great smell (i.e. not too vinegar/alcohol-y), and were overall decently priced between $29-$55 per bottle. I personally enjoyed the KW Ranch - sweet and smooth, and purchased a bottle, but we also just really appreciated the atmosphere and service of Wrath winery!

Great spot to grab some wine near Alvarado brewery So glad…read moreI stumbled upon this spot. We were greeted by Kathy and she recommended white and red wines for us Cannot wait to be back They also have outdoor seating

I absolutely love Carmel Beach. Some of my happiest memories are here with my great-grandparents,…read moreBarbara and Montford Bryan, so coming back always feels special and nostalgic. Getting to bring my daughter now makes the experience even more meaningful. Watching her enjoy the same beautiful beach and scenery that meant so much to me growing up is such a cool and rewarding experience as a parent. Carmel Beach is just magical, with beautiful views, peaceful vibes, and the perfect place to slow down and make memories. We'll keep coming back every chance we get.

Our visit was a good experience. We parked super far though because we didn't want to risk not…read morehaving a space down at the beach lot but it turned out there were plenty of spaces there. Anyway, scenic walk allowed us to tour the shops there. The steep walk back up to our car was challenging though so a great workout. Aside from people letting their dogs run around unleashed, it was a pleasant time.

This work of art can be found in the patio area of Terry's Lounge at the Cypress Inn in Carmel. The…read moreartist, Thierry Guetta (aka "Mr. Brainwash"), has collaborated with and done artwork for Madonna, Michael Jackson, and Red Hot Chili Peppers. He starred in Banksy-directed film, Exit Through the Gift Shop, and has created art pieces resemblant of Banksy's style... perhaps controversial as to the true creator, it doesn't take away from Guetta's Chaplin mural one bit, the quirky character portrayed carrying a can of pink paint. A giant pink heart in the background, displayed with a dripping paint technique. Quite simple, but worth checking out if dining at Terry's or just strolling along 7th Avenue in downtown Carmel.

Great little place in Carmel! Dog friendly which was awesome. My wife and I shared the Dolmas, Clam…read moreChowder, and Treehouse Burger. Dolmas, speechless, wow Skip the chowder, in my opinion. Less of a chowder, more of a soup. Treehouse Burger so tasty. Their take on a smash burger... must try Service was quick and friendly. Attentive as well! Will be back!

I do really appreciate Treehouse is dog-friendly and they were kind to provide a water bowl for my…read morepup. The patio ambiance is very nice, but other than that, the food was so basic and mediocre with not a lot of taste. I don't understand why this cafe is on so many vegetarian guides when the veggie options are actually kind of limited (hummus, lentil soup, etc.) and not very good. I don't understand the hype. Seems like other restaurants in Carmel have way more interesting and tasty vegetarian options.

Our friends bought us a private tour - Enjoy Carmel by Carmel Food Tours. We would highly recommend…read moreCarmel Food Tours - we thought they did a great job. They were super responsive when we wanted to book our tour with just a few days notice - so mad props for their fast, friendly service in getting us booked so quickly!! Our guide was friendly and very knowledgeable about Carmel, and provided an overview about the area and was very willing to answer any questions we had. We enjoyed chatting with her throughout the 4 hour experience. We enjoyed tastes from 5-6 different locations throughout the downtown Carmel area. We were definitely provided a lot of variety and everything was delicious - from doughnuts and coffee and nuts to French onion soup and sushi. We had the opportunity at one of the locations (Toro) to have an interactive experience, spending time speaking with the general manager learning the background about the restaurant. We also had a special sake tasting featuring three different sakes. It was a very unique experience and the sushi was also extremely fresh and delicious. Overall, it was a good experience and we were able to enjoy a nice variety of food that local restaurants provide. Important tips for future tour goers: 1. Don't eat before going on a food tour. We thankfully didn't eat -otherwise, we would not have been able to enjoy the food tour to its fullest. 2. Don't book any reservations to restaurants that same day. We were still stuffed by the time it was time to go to dinner - and that was more than 5 hours later!

Did the tour today with Bonnie! And 10/10 would do it again. We had a wonderful time, got to try…read moresome great bites and things I might not have ordered on my own, and was blown away by everything! It was such a fun way to spend our day.

Every trip to Carmel deserves a dining experience at Little Napoli. If you are a lover of Italian…read morefood...THIS IS YOUR PLACE!!! Nestled in the heart of downtown Carmel, once you are parked, walk into this vintage rustic restaurant with nods to Frank Sinatra. They have seating indoor and out as well as a beautiful fireplace on those colder days. Our server was witty, engaging, and exceptional! We ordered truffle gnocchi, garlic bread, pear & Gorgonzola salad, and margarita pizza. Their portions are perfectly sized to share...which we did. We always leave here happy and satisfied and know you will too! Bravo Little Napoli!

Little Napoli was disappointingly mediocre across the board…read more The meatballs: $14 for FOUR tiny meatballs. That's just criminal pricing for what you get. The pizza: We ordered a straightforward Margherita, which should be impossible to mess up. Somehow they managed. Just... not good. The whole experience felt like a restaurant coasting on Carmel's tourist traffic rather than actually trying. I suspect this is a symptom of what's happened to Carmel post-COVID. They got high volume of tourists, small pool of service industry workers, and restaurants that know they can get away with overcharging for subpar food because people will come anyway. It's sad to see. Carmel used to be a place where you could count on quality. Little Napoli felt like a tourist trap that happens to be in a beautiful town.