Itineraries

Outdoor Adventures
Wine and Food
Cultural Carmel
Family Fun

Day 1 – Hike! Drive to Point Lobos State Reserve, 2 miles south of Carmel, park and hike along the rugged central coast to view sea otters, sea lions, harbor seals and birds. Wildflowers can be seen in the meadows year-round while ferns and other vegetation delight your senses. Take a picnic lunch and find the perfect vantage point for your coastline getaway.

Day 2 – Surf! Rent surfboards and gear at Liquid Surf Shop in Carmel. Afterward, warm up from the cold bay water with a heart-pumping four-wheel driving lesson at Land Rover Experience in nearby Carmel Valley. End the day with a margarita at Baja Cantina on your way back to your inn.

Day 3 – Boat! Experience Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary by whale watching with Monterey Bay Whale Watch. Whales and other abundant marine life are seen in Monterey Bay year-round. Or…

Scuba! Spend time IN the kelp forests of Monterey Bay. There are several dive spots all within minutes of Carmel.

Day 4 – Bike! Or Kayak! Peddle or paddle with Adventures by the Sea. Biking is also available at Point Lobos and at the former Fort Ord, just north of Carmel or at Laguna Seca Recreation Area, home to the Sea Otter Classic.

Day 5 – Hike! Experience towering redwoods, coast live oaks and Monterey pines by picking a trail in Garland Ranch Regional Park, just 8 miles east on Carmel Valley Road. Or meander southward to Big Sur and hike at several spots along the coast. Garrapata State Park is 10 miles south, Andrew Molera State Park is 21 miles south, Pfieffer Big Sur State Park is 26 miles south and Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park is just 28 miles south. Maps are available at the Carmel Chamber Visitor Center.

Daily - Fuel yourself! Start your active days with a hearty breakfast at any one of our local restaurants. Pick up a deli lunch at numerous delis and markets in Carmel. Finish your day with dinner and drinks at a local pub or fine restaurant. Don’t forget to replenish and recover with a spa day to prepare you for your next active adventure!

Day 1 – Pedestrian Tour - Leave your car behind and walk to the wine tasting venues in Carmel-by-the-Sea, using the Wine Map available at the Carmel Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center. Before or after your tasting, have lunch or dinner at one of Carmel’s restaurants and experience a lovely outdoor patio, complete with flowers or a fire pit, depending on the season. The best part – just walk back to your inn!

Day 2 – Passenger Tour - Take the Wine Express to Carmel Valley for an afternoon of wine tasting and sunshine. If taking an excursion at your own pace is more your style, rent a touring car or van to take from tasting room to tasting room, driving by vineyards, rolling hills and open spaces along the way. Finish the day indoors near a cozy fire at a Carmel area restaurant – take your pick!

Day 3 – Create your own Cuisine - Sample cheeses at The Cheese Shop and get a matching wine from one of our specialty stores. Then go to the delis at Nielsen Bros Market, Bruno’s Market or 5th Avenue Deli or get take-out food from any one of Carmel’s restaurants. Let your budget be your guide. With food in hand, head down to Carmel Beach. As darkness approaches, build a fire and watch the sunset over the bay. Now, that’s priceless!

Day 4 – Explore Big Sur - Drive down the coast from Carmel to Big Sur for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or all three. Dabble your toes in the river at Big Sur River Inn after your meal. This 45 minute adventure can last all day as you delight in the views (and the cuisine!) at stops along the way. End your day with a sunset dinner and ocean view at Pacific’s Edge.

Day 5 – Epicurean Escapade. Get local organic goodies from Earthbound Farms for a lunch picnic. Tonight, dine at one of the many restaurants recognized in Wine Spectator Magazine for their extensive wine cellars. Linger over your exquisitely prepared and presented meal. As the sommelier guides you through the wine list, toast your good fortune at having chosen Carmel for your gourmet getaway.

Daily – The diversity of cuisine in Carmel is only matched by your imagination and wines in every price range can be enjoyed in settings from the most casual to the most elegant. Bon Appetit!

Day 1 – Immerse yourself. Carmel is a small village with world-class culture. Begin with a walking tour of its charming walkways and courtyards. Self-guided tour maps from the Carmel Chamber Visitor Center or guided tours by Carmel Walks are available. View Carmel’s origins at the Carmel Mission and discover its legacy at the Carmel Heritage Society’s First Murphy House. Hugh Comstock Cottages are seen on several of our village streets. Take your camera and record the scenes that have delighted visitors since the early 1900’s.

Day 2 – Literature. Visit Robinson Jeffers’ Tor House for a perspective of the Carmel poet’s life and work. Jane Austen, George Sterling, Sinclair Lewis, Jack London, and Robert Louis Stevenson, along with architects, painters, and other artists found their inspiration in the craggy shores and forests of Carmel. Visit Carmel’s Harrison Library to review their works. A short drive away, visit the National Steinbeck Center in Salinas to see depictions of the work of John Steinbeck, Salinas’s native son.

Day 3 – Local Theatre. Take an evening to attend local theater - from the charm of the outdoor Forest Theater with their open-air fireplaces to the two venues of the Pacific Repertory Theatre, Golden Bough Theatre and Circle Theatre. Be entertained by comedy, drama, and musical theater for all ages.

Day 4 – Performing Arts. The Sunset Center is home to the Carmel Music Society, Chamber Music Monterey Bay, and the Monterey Symphony, as well as dazzling year-round performances of well-known and soon-to-be known artists. July and August also feature the Carmel Bach Festival, attracting internationally- acclaimed artists to perform Baroque music at multiple venues.

Day 5 – Visual Arts. Carmel is the home to over 90 galleries showcasing regional and international photography, painting, and sculpture. Meander the streets and courtyards, finding a virtual feast for the eyes and soul. You will see why legends like Edward Weston, Ansel Adams and many others found their muse here.

Daily – Select a journal or sketch pad from one of our stationary stores or bookstores. Record your own observations in prose or phrase or sketch the beauty of the area in your own style as you are motivated by the generations before you.

Day 1 – Beach Bums. Go to Carmel Beach to play in the white sand, dip your toes, walk your dog. At low tide, explore the tide pools at the north end of the bay. Then visit Carmel River State Beach, just south of Carmel Beach. This setting offers fun bird watching from the lagoon and a wide stretch of beach perfect for the kite you found at Thinker Toys. As you leave, stop by Mission Ranch to see grazing sheep in the meadow. See if you can spot the lambs!

Day 2 – Bay Buddies. Take the family to the world-renowned Monterey Bay Aquarium. Give yourself plenty of time for the interactive exhibits and touch tanks. Then rent bicycles or surreys at Adventures by the Sea and travel the Monterey Bay Coastal Recreation Trail in Monterey. Stop by Hopkins Marine lab to spot the resting harbor seals on the beach.

Day 3 – Wildlife Wonders. Drive to Point Lobos State Reserve and watch sea otters, harbor seals and sea lions in the wild. Scan the horizon line to see migrating whales in season. A picnic lunch from one of the delis in Carmel is the perfect addition to this outing.

Day 4 – Act up. Take a picnic to the outdoor Forest Theatre and watch a child-friendly musical performance. On the way there, stop by Devendorf Park and count the fish in the fountain. Your children can put on their own play in this grassy oasis. Cross the street to visit the Park Branch Library, where you can check for story times and special activities.

Day 5 – Play-by-the-Sea. Forest Hill Park and Playground at Camino Del Monte & Pico is a fun spot to expend some energy and munch on a picnic. Teenagers can also check out the Carmel Youth Center at 4^th & Torres, where drop-ins are welcome. The whole family will enjoy a bonfire on the beach – truly a must! Information on bonfire rules are available at the Carmel Chamber Visitor Center or take the worry out of your experience and have your family bonfire, complete with S’mores, prepared by Borgia & Associates.

Daily – Warm memories are created every day when there is so much to do in and around Carmel. Depending on your family’s interests, gallery walks, hiking, kayaking or shopping are all close by!