Carmel by the Sea

One of the nicest small towns I've seen anywhere in California is Carmel by the Sea. Its a picturesque coastal town with a great mixture of art galleries, candle shops, clothing shops, restaurants, little alley ways to explore and of course the beaches!

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Carmel Beach

Carmel Beach is within walking distance of all of the inns in Carmel-by-the-Sea, located straight down Ocean Avenue. Because it is a leash-free zone, it’s also populated with many dogs that are having even more fun than their humans.

This place is great for a family beach fire in the evening or a romantic sunset picnic. Named of the top 10 beaches in the country, Carmel Beach is a great place for surfing, wading, walking and running. 

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Carmel River State Beach

Go straight down Ocean Avenue and turn left on Scenic Drive, and then follow that around to the Carmel River State Beach at Carmelo and Scenic Drive. This beach is a little smaller but equally beautiful. Its  just around Carmel Point on Scenic Drive.

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Carmel is known for being dog-friendly. Most restaurants, retail establishments and hotels allow you to bring your dog right in with you. Heck, they even encourage it! Almost all of the shops have doggie water bowls for your furry friends.

It really is one of the most charming places in California. Carmel beach is at the end of Ocean Avenue and it is stunning with amazing white sand and super blue water. Makes you want to stay longer than you had planned. Dog friendly as well! No leashes required.  

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Getting To Carmel by the Sea

is easy! Take Highway 1, Exit Ocean Avenue and head towards the beach!

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Places to stay

Find the best deals, compare prices and find out what others travelers have to say about these places. Whenever I go to Carmel, I usually stop as I'm passing through so I haven't actually stayed at any of these places. Please click on each one to read the reviews before booking your trip!

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Note: This information was accurate when I published it, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details before planning your trip.
Full Disclosure Trippin’ Thru California does make a small commission if you purchase a Sightseeing Pass through my links. After all, this is one of the ways I am able to provide you all the free content on this website. More importantly, being a partner in these programs allows me to offer you special sales and discounts. So often, you will receive a better price than going directly to their website, and you will never pay more. Please know the information provided on this page is unbiased and accurate to the best of my ability.

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