Carmel
Carmel, California
Through the many years that we vacationed on the Monterey Peninsula, before finally realizing our dream and moving here, we always returned to Carmel, California which, to us, was the most romantic place we could imagine. I’ve lost track of the number of years we came here, walked the beach , visited the shops and galleries and basked in the glow that the most perfect “one square mile” in the world provides to those in need of gentle relaxation and rejuvenation. It always reminds me of a kind of California “Brigadoon”, a walk into another time. One of the things that most appealed to us (and our Golden retriever!)was that Carmel is one of the dog friendliest places on the earth.
Carmel By-the-Sea is a truly walk able city, although it has much more a “village” feel to it. You can discover the special charms of Carmel on a 2-hour guided walking tour . This is a great way to get acquainted with Carmel. You’ll walk through secret pathways, hidden courtyards, award-winning gardens, and see enchanting fairytale cottages, the original of these having been built by Hugh Comstock. Housing in Carmel include cottages and castles with lots of bungalows and eclectic housing. The storybook cottages are so notable there has been a book written about them, Cottages by the Sea, The Handmade Homes of Carmel, America's First Artist Community. Carmel has a unique history and much of it is about its art and its artists who, after the San Francisco earthquake and fire of 1906, decided to make Carmel their permanent home. Their migration firmly established Carmel as the progressive artistic and cultural hub in Northern California.
Among our most famous living celebrities are Doris Day , co-owner of the Cypress Inn which caters as much to its four legged guests as their human owners and Clint Eastwood. Despite his not having been Mayor since 1988 I still get stopped on the street by people who want to know when he is at City Hall or wonder if they will find him at the Hogs Breath Inn or the Mission Ranch .
Carmel abounds with charming places to stay if you are visiting. Two of the most historic are The Pine Inn and the La Playa Hotel and our personal favorite for a romantic dinner, Da Giovannis.
Cobbled streets, Hansel and Gretel cottages, sweet little shops tucked away in hidden courts, glorious art… the sight and sound of the glorious sea.
Carmel Links
Carmel Art Association
Carmel Chamber of Commerce
City of Carmel
Official Tourism Site
Carmel-by-the-Sea
Utilities
Electricity/Gas - PG & E 1-800-743-5000
TV Cable - Comcast 1-800-266-2278
Phone Local/Long Distance - AT&T 1-800-310-2355
Water - Monterey County Water Resources Agency (831) 755-4860
Garbage - The Salinas Valley Solid Waste Authority 831-384-5000
Police -Police Department (831) 624-6403
P.O. Box 600., Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA 93921
Fire - Fire Department (831) 620-2030
On 6th Ave between Mission and San Carlos Streets
