Things To Do

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PLACES TO EAT

We love food! Here are some of our favorite spots in the area, listed from north to south.

Wave Street Cafe

A classic coastal breakfast/brunch spot!

Alvarado Street Brewery

A great spot to grab lunch or a drink! They have a location in Carmel now too!

Ad Astra Bread Co.

Pastries, sandwiches (there's a chicken caesar sandwich!), and coffee! The sandwiches are pre-wrapped which is perfect if you need to grab something to eat on the go later, like for a hike!

Revival Ice Cream

You must get the Bees Knees ice cream!

Stationæry

Amazing for brunch! We love their mocktail selection!

Rise + Roam Bakery and Pizzeria

The perfect place in Carmel to grab coffee and a pastry for breakfast or a quick bite for lunch!

A.W. Shucks Cocktail & Oyster Bar

Perhaps this is the place the kicked off Matt's love of oysters?! A great place to get some local seafood!

Mulligan Public House

A casual little pub. Fun fact: we came here to watch bowl games Jan. 1, 2020 and ordered their infamous bacon flight! (Yes, it is a board of different bacons to sample and it is as insane in execution as it sounds in concept.)

Seventh & Dolores

A fancier dinner vibe!

Nepenthe

A beautiful restaurant and bar overlooking the coast. Sunset is UNREAL here. They do not take reservations, so plan to wait if you are going at a prime time! We love coming after a hike, too!

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THINGS TO DO

Monterey Bay Aquarium

If your kids are making the trip to Cali, this is definitely the spot to bring them!

Old Fisherman’s Wharf

Two words: CLAM. CHOWDER. Every place here gives free chowder samples! It's a little touristy, but we can't help but love it! The perfect place to walk around, grab a bite to eat, pick up a magnet to commemorate the trip, watch some boats, and see a seal!

Kayaking

We made friends with the otters while kayaking through Elkhorn Slough! Elkhorn's a little north of Monterey, but there's other options to kayak right by the hotel too!

Pebble Beach Golf Links

I mean it's one of the top golf courses in the world, so of course you'll catch Matt swinging the clubs here a few days before the wedding! But it's also a great spot for a drink and to enjoy a sunset, accompanied by the sound of bagpipes!

Pacific Grove Golf Links

This course is called a "Poor Man's Pebble" for a reason. If you don't want to break the bank but still play some amazing links-style golf right on the coast, come spend an afternoon at Pacific Grove!

Point Lobos State Natural Reserve

This is a MUST according to the happy couple. This is a really accessible place to see some of the best coastal views near Carmel. There's a $10 fee to park inside the park, or it's free if you park along the highway and walk!

Refuge

A very unique outdoor hot and cold pool plunge spa situation! We went in July 2022 after Emma got home from working for 3 months abroad in Italy and it was the perfect place to relax!

Henry Miller Memorial Library

A funky little library in Big Sur. Matt & Emma came up for a Shins concert in July of 2022 that happened in the lawn of Henry Miller Library. For the concert, they were asked to park at Loma Vista Gardens, which is how they found their wedding venue 3 years early :)

McWay Falls

A very short (.3 miles) hike from the parking lot to one of the most unique waterfalls you'll ever see! At the overlook, you'll see a waterfall coming out of the side of the mountain, running into the Pacific Ocean. Fun fact: because it runs into the ocean, it is classified as a "tidefall", and it is 1 of only 25 in the world!