Travel about an hour south of San Jose off 101 and you’ll come to the charming town of Carmel-by-the-Sea.  Carmel, for short, was once a bohemian haven for writers, artists, actors and photographers. The strategic location and scenic beauty of the California coastline has transformed this sleepy village into a posh escape for the well-heeled.  Though the sky-high real estate has chased many of the bohemians from the area, Carmel retains the feel of a small European village.
   
For lodging, stay at the La Playa Hotel - located in the village and only two blocks from Carmel Beach.  This vintage Mediterranean style villa was built as a private residence in 1904 and includes five private cottages and a pool.  

The streets in Carmel are narrow and usually jammed, so the best way to explore is by foot.  Start with a stroll down Ocean Avenue where you can spend hours shopping at over 90 art galleries and hundreds of boutiques and cafes. For a nice break, stop in for coffee and pastries at Caffe Cardinale just off Ocean Avenue between Dolores and San Carlos.

Explore the small side streets off Ocean Ave. which are filled with quaint storybook-like cottages.  Many of the cottages were designed by Hugh Comstock. One of the better known residences is the “Doll House”, which he designed for his wife to display her doll collection.  The Walker residence is perched over the Pacific Ocean and was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright.  A fun way to see these highlights and more is to take a walking tour.  Carmel Walks offers two hour walking tours almost everyday of the week.      

Keep heading west on Ocean Avenue and you’ll end up on Carmel’s white sandy beaches.  The temperature in Carmel is moderate, so it’s more likely you’ll need a sweater than a swimsuit.  In either case, Carmel Beach is a great place to enjoy the scenic beauty of the Pacific Ocean and the cypress trees.
 
During the summer the village will host the Carmel Bach Festival – a summer tradition since 1935.  This year’s festival runs from July 15 – August 5 and will include over 50 performances.

This entry was posted on Saturday, June 3rd, 2006 at 1:14 am and is filed under Eats, Exploring, Shopping, West Coast, Where to Stay. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.