Whenever I go to Carmel, I always enjoy my time visiting this place. It's like from movie - gorgeous houses, amazing landscaping and music of ocean.
This place was about a mile from our hotel and there are plenty of parking spots all along the roadway so you can park and walk along the sidewalk. Beautiful, some historical, homes and cottages of all kinds, none that look alike. Carmel beach is along the walkway with a lot of trees and flowers and birds, etc. There are benches to sit on so you can just enjoy looking and listening to the ocean. We spent about two hours, well worth the time!
Beautiful views of Carmel Bay and the incredible homes that sit along the coastline. Easy walking and a short distance to downtown Carmel
This walk is stunning no matter what direction you look. The homes are naturally beautiful - and varied as far as architecture. From homes you'd see on the New England coast, to adobe-style homes, to ultra-modern homes with lots of glass, to out-and-out castles...you get everything. And they are right there - no hedges, no fencing - the homes are right on the street.
On the opposite side is the Carmel-by-the-Sea beach, with crashing waves, lots of dogs playing, fire pits in the evening, and views of the famed Pebble Beach golf course. Oh, yeah, there is that Pacific Ocean thing out there, too....just stunning.
The walk is just long enough but not too long. You can walk along the roadway - a wide, one-way travel lane with parking on the ocean side and homes along the other - or you can walk on a packed-sand path above the beach. There are numerous entry points to the beach and the one at the bottom of Santa Lucia even has restrooms; you really won't have to walk more than 50-75 yards at the most before you find a stairway down.
I recommend a sunset walk on the sand pathway as a starter. Alternatively, take a couple of beach towels, some cheese, some salami, and some nice Santa Lucia Highlands wine (transferred out of the glass bottle, though) and picnic on the beach (at sunset or any time). But, you must walk the beach and be near the waterline - the waves crest close to shore so there is a beautiful rhythm as you walk. If you have dogs - take them...and LET THEM RUN !!! The dogs all are running and barking and playing and getting along. Grab a poop bag on your way down the stairs and you'll have a blast !!!
A must do, without a doubt.
Unforgettable! Gotta see it! Nothing else quite like it.It's almost hard to believe that people get to live here day in and day out! Dreamy!
