Earlier this spring Josh and I took a vacation to Carmel-by-the-Sea. Located on California’s Monterey Peninsula, Carmel-by-the-Sea (or Carmel for short), is a quaint little town where the buildings look like they’re out of storybooks, the houses don’t have numbers, and residents have to walk to the post office to get their mail every day. It’s warm year round, flowers are always in bloom, and the town is safe and bursting with fun stuff to do. In other words, it’s heaven. If I could live there, I would, but as it stands I can’t, so I vacation.

Here are my tips on what to do on your next vacation to Carmel-by-the-Sea.

Carmel-by-the-Sea

The geography of Carmel is breathtaking. It’s one part ocean, one part mountain, one part idyllic town. It’s truly a feast for the eyes with something beautiful to look at everywhere you go.

Where to stay

There are no sprawling resorts in Carmel. The hotels are smaller, unique, and bursting with character. If you are looking for a place to stay in Carmel, I can’t recommend Hofsas House enough. Owned by a mother and daughter duo, this charming hotel is within walking distance to everything. No two rooms are alike, but all are comfy and spacious. The owners are so kind and love to help their guests find fun things to do and restaurants to eat at during their stay. Josh and I asked for lots of recommendations and enjoyed everything we did. They even lent us binoculars for our hike of Point Lobos!

The beautiful design of Hofsas House. It made me feel like I was in Europe!

A sweet welcome surprise.

Our room. Not pictured is the fireplace we enjoyed falling asleep to each night.

The view from our room.

Where to eat

Carmel is my favorite food town. Seriously, I did not have a bad meal here. When you visit Carmel, come prepared to eat!

Dametra Cafe is my favorite Mediterranean restaurant. The food is filled with flavor and the service is excellent. Also, all meals end with a little piece of baklava. What a (literally!) sweet touch!

5th Avenue Deli is great for picking up food to eat and enjoy on the beach. I wish all delis had as much wine and cheese as this one does!

The Carmel Bakery is great for a sweet treat and fresh coffee. Josh and I loved picking up fresh parfaits to eat for breakfast on the beach.

Vesuvio is a delicious Italian restaurant with rooftop dining and a killer happy hour. This gnocchi is what dreams are made of.

For a delicious breakfast you have to stop by Katy’s Place. Their menu is filled with everything from cheese blintzes to huevos rancheros. And every bite is incredible.

For a romantic dinner, I recommend checking out The Beach House Restaurant. Enjoy watching the sun set over the water as you enjoy a nice meal with exceptional service.

For a true Carmel staple, you have to visit Casanova. Their pasta dishes are indescribable, and trust me when I say they’re worth the price!

What to do

There is so much fun stuff to do in Carmel! One of the most well-known things to do is to come and drink wine! Monterey has amazing wine, and Carmel offers a Wine Walk Passport that allows you to visit the local tasting rooms and try flights of your favorites.

Scheid Vineyards is my absolute favorite. The staff is incredible and always willing to go above and beyond to ensure a good tasting experience. I love their whites as much as Josh loves their reds.

Carmel Road is new to Carmel and another favorite of mine. Their tasting room is beautifully decorated and their whites are right up my alley.

If you’re a cheese fan, you have to stop by The Cheese Shop the next time you’re in Carmel. They have so many varieties and love to let you taste the different cheeses. When talking with the manager we somehow got on the topic of olives and I lamented how I wish I liked the taste. He then gave me a sample of Castelvetrano and Picholine olives. I have never had either variety before but I fell in love. I need to order some of these so I can enjoy olives at home!

After all the eating and drinking we were doing, Josh and I wanted to get a little exercise. At the recommendation of the Hofsas House, we took a short Uber to Point Lobos to go on a hike. I cannot recommend this hike enough. It was one of the most beautiful hikes I’ve ever been on, with beauty everywhere I looked. We got to see all kinds of birds, beautiful flowers, and even otters napping in the seaweed in the water!

Our trip to Carmel was truly magical. We were able to reconnect as a couple and enjoy ourselves, our surroundings, and each other. It was everything I hope a vacation to be and I already can’t wait to go back!

Questions of the Day: Have you been to Carmel before? Does this seem like a place you would like to visit? What would you enjoy most?

Thanks to Chatterbox PR for making this trip possible!