With quaint cottages reminiscent of the English countryside juxtaposed with breathtaking ocean views, Carmel-by-the-Sea is the perfect vacation spot for every kind of traveler. Whether you’re interested in relaxing by the beach or exploring downtown, Carmel-by-the-Sea offers a diverse array of gorgeous vacation rentals, one-of-a-kind restaurants, and outdoor adventures. If you’re traveling to Carmel-by-the-Sea for the first time, here’s everything you need to know.
Packing for Carmel-by-the-Sea
With consistent weather and sunshine, Carmel-by-the-Sea makes a perfect vacation destination at any time of the year. While packing for your trip to Carmel, plan for cool, misty mornings and warm, sun-filled days. Although Carmel-by-the-Sea averages temperatures in the mid-’50s to mid-’70s, make sure to wear multiple layers, including a lightweight sweater, water-resistant jacket, and jeans, to ensure you’ll be comfortable throughout your trip.
Whether you’re planning to visit the Big Sur or take up surfing lessons, pack a high-SPF sunscreen, sunglasses, plenty of water bottles, a bathing suit, and comfortable walking shoes. Additionally, pack your smartphone or DSLR to document Carmel’s unique ocean views and downtown scene. With universal free Wi-Fi hotspots, you can instantly share your Carmel adventure on social media or send digital images to friends and family members.
Before leaving for your trip, consider investing in a digital photo storage device to store your vacation photos. Innovative cloud storage options, like ibi, offer unlimited storage for your pictures and videos with no monthly subscription fees, so you won’t have to worry about carrying an external hard drive or deleting other pictures to free up storage space.
Staying in Carmel-by-the-Sea
Whether you’re planning to stay at a hotel or rent a vacation home, booking lodging accommodations in advance can help secure the lowest available price for your room. As a popular option for tourists, vacation rental prices at Carmel-by-the-Sea will increase as your booking date approaches, and it may be difficult to find available rooms closer to your trip. Booking lodging accommodations in advance means you’ll be able to enjoy a low nightly rate, allowing you to save hundreds of dollars over a long-term stay.
If you’re visiting Carmel for the first time, Carmel-by-the-Sea vacation rentals offer easy access to the Carmel beach, art galleries, bistros, boutiques, and scenic views of downtown Carmel. With beautiful Carmel vacation homes and cottages and luxury vacation rentals in the Carmel Highlands, reserving a rental home allows you to enjoy stunning ocean views of the Monterey Peninsula and Carmel Valley from the comfort of your master bedroom, as well as luxury amenities like pools and hot tubs. If you can’t find vacation rentals in Carmel-by-the-Sea for your booking date, call Monterey Bay Property Management at (831) 655-7840.
Best Local Spots in Carmel-by-the-Sea
If you’re planning to stay for the weekend, a trip to the famed Monterey Bay Aquarium is a must. Known for its conservation work in the Monterey Bay, the Monterey Bay Aquarium is a great way to spend an afternoon. At the end of your aquarium visit, set aside some time to sit on the observation deck and look for harbor seals and sea lions.
After adjusting to the time change, wake up early to complete the 17-Mile Drive before the roads become too crowded. It only costs $10.50 to drive through the gated Pebble Beach community, and you’ll stop along 17 lookouts featuring picturesque views of the waves at the Restless Sea, harbor seals at Seal Island, and the Lone Cypress overlooking the Pacific Ocean.
Before your vacation ends, make sure to go shopping in downtown Carmel, watch the sunset over the Pacific Ocean, and stop for a picnic by Monterey Bay.
Whether you’re interested in a weekend full of delicious food and wine or a relaxing getaway by the beach, you’ll find exactly what you’re looking for in Carmel-by-the-Sea.
