Things To Do

17-Mile Drive

The 17-Mile Drive is one of the top-rated things to do in Carmel. This scenic route can easily be completed in a few hours. Famous stops along the way include Pebble Beach Golf Links, the Lone Cypress, and Spanish Bay Beach.

Point Lobos State Natural Reserve

Expect azure waters, a white-sugar sand beach, wildflowers, dramatic cliffs, and twisted pines clinging to the bluffs. It is popular with photographers, painters, and hikers. If you want to visit the picturesque China Cove with its beautiful arch formation and emerald-green waters, take the Bird Island Trail and walk down the steps down to the beach. If you have time, hike the Monterey Cypress Grove Trail too, and check out these rare and impressive trees which grow here in one of two remaining groves in the world. You may also spot seals, sea lions, and sea otters.

Pebble Beach Golf Links

If you’re into golf, don’t miss your opportunity to play at the world-famous Pebble Beach Golf Links known for its beauty, difficulty, and history as the first public golf course to host the US Open. Naturally, fame brings a high price and playing here is a costly endeavor. You’ll also want to make a reservation well in advance for this popular course. Pebble Beach is home to not one but four world-class golf courses. Try the less famous-but-equally-beautiful Spyglass Hill, or The Links at Spanish Bay. There’s also Del Monte Golf Course, one of the oldest in the US, plus The Hay, a fun short course perfect for beginners. Another option is to simply soak up the glamor, perhaps with a drink at The Bench, which overlooks the 18th hole. Pebble Beach Golf Links is located inside the exclusive gated community of Pebble Beach, which requires a fee to enter. However, the gate toll is waived if you spend more than $35 at Pebble Beach Resort.

Wineries & Vineyards

Monterey County’s vineyards produce some of the state’s best wines, and you can savor them all at downtown Carmel’s tasting rooms by taking a self-guided wine walk. Most of the wineries are located just off Ocean Avenue, Carmel’s main strip or head out of town to Carmel Valley’s vineyards, where you can sample delicious wines on the estate where they’re produced.

Art Galleries

Ocean Avenue, Carmel’s main drag, is full of art galleries. When you walk along this street, it’s easy to understand why, for over a century, artists have been drawn to this quirky little seaside town. Whether you’re into fine art photography, abstract or oil paintings, or sculpture or mixed media, there’s a gallery showcasing some of the best art California’s Central Coast has to offer. And the prices are as diverse as the pieces, so there’s something for souvenir-hunters and fine art-admirers alike.

Downtown Boutiques

One of the best things to do in Carmel-by-the-Sea is to go shopping in the charming downtown area. No chain stores are allowed on Ocean Avenue, so all the shops are locally-owned businesses. Check out the side streets too, as many of the trendy boutiques are located just off the main strip.

Scenic Road

Scenic Road runs along Carmel Beach and is a beautiful drive or walk. If you walk, there’s a 3.5-mile pathway running by the road that overlooks the beach and ocean. The path starts from Carmel Beach and ends at Carmel River State Beach.

Clint Eastwood’s Restaurants

Hollywood star Clint Eastwood has a long connection with Carmel, starting with his army days at nearby Fort Ord in 1951. At the height of his career, he moved to the city and filmed his directorial debut, Play Misty for Me, in Carmel-by-the-Sea. Unlike most stars who escape Hollywood for a quiet life away from the paparazzi, Clint Eastwood took a big role in Carmel. He was mayor of the town from 1986 to 1988 and has bought several restaurants, including Hogs Breath Inn, Mission Ranch, and Pebble Beach Resorts.

Spas

Spend the day at the Refuge, a new wellness center with a silence policy, thermal pools, and relaxing massages in a beautiful natural setting. Bernardus Lodge is another popular spa, located in the beautiful Carmel Valley. Indulge in a signature Dozen Roses massage and follow up with a visit to the warming pool, dry sauna, and eucalyptus steam room. At Carmel Valley Ranch, traditional herbal remedies are integrated into massage and facial treatments for a natural wellness boost at Spa Aiyana. Many of the herbs and flowers used in the spa are grown organically on the ranch.

Monterey Bay Aquarium

Whale Watching

The Monterey Bay is ideal for whale watching because migrating seasons overlap, so you can spot these amazing creatures throughout the year.

Big Sur

Carmel is the gateway to Big Sur, the sparsely populated region along the Central Coast that’s famous for its spectacular natural beauty.