Carmel is like a picture you would see on the cover of an English classic: of a brightly painted door or a wood-framed window peeping out of a green facade of shrubs and creepers decked with flowers.
Take a walk around the town and you see a brick house here, an English cottage there, some Mission-styled architecture, some half-timbered structures; each of them prettied up with a garden full of flowers or planters overflowing with blooms. There are decorative lamps adorning the stone and brick buildings, and flower-laden vines taking over many a wall and roof.
Carmel is a seaside town in California that you could easily mistake for an English village with some Spanish touches.
Also called Carmel-by-the Sea, this charming town is also known for being home to several artists, poets, authors and musicians. The most famous resident of this city however, must be Clint Eastwood. Mr. Eastwood has even served as the Mayor of Carmel in the 80s.
It has been a while since I was in Carmel. But I remember like it was just yesterday-that-I-was-there, how charming and picturesque the little town was. Even the businesses in the downtown area were housed in the story-book type houses this place is known for. Carmel looked like a good place to buy art, specially crafted jewelry and unique pieces of home decor. The city also seemed to have several inns, Italian restaurants and coffee shops with wrought-iron patio furniture that was painted in white, and looking like they belonged in a period drama.
Another thing I must tell you is that there are no fast-food chains here, almost no swanky buildings and no door numbers. In a long time, I hadn’t seen houses with names written on the gates or front doors. It really did feel like another place, another country.
I also couldn’t help noticing was that this city seemed to be an extremely dog-friendly one. There were so many furry friends out on the streets, big ones, tiny ones and dogs of every breed and colour. Several shops had doggie bowls with water at their doors so that the canine tourists walking around town could take a sip or two when thirsty.
When I was reading up about the place, I found that this place had this rather unheard of law — of prohibiting the use of high heels without a permit. I hear that the idea is to prevent people from suing the city for the uneven pavement of the sidewalks. Unfortunately, I had come across this piece of information only after I got back from my visit, or I’d have definitely taken notice of what kind of footwear everybody wore. I’m not even sure many people know about this law. Maybe I’d have known if I had gone in heels. 😀 That was a day I was wearing the most comfortable flats I had (with soles like that of a running shoe) so I got to really enjoy the walk down Ocean Avenue.
Ocean Avenue is a road that turns off Highway 1, passes through downtown Carmel and then goes all the way down to the coast. If you like scenic drives, you can continue down past Carmel City Beach and embark on a seaside drive past several sea-front homes and inns and beaches, and finally get to Carmel River Beach.
City Beach
Carmel River State Beach
If you like this post, you may want to also read about —
Solvang| A Danish Fairytale.
More from the region —
California Central Coast
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Indeed a storybook town.. totally like last century or may be last to last ? 🙂
Yeah, very storybookish. 🙂
Isn't it so pretty with all those plants and flowers?!
Feel like the whole thing is a set up. Such beautiful settings! I liked the lamp.
It's looks so pretty that it looks like a movie set, right? 😀
But it's a proper little town.
What a beautiful setting… seems quite an aesthetic visual treat! 🙂
Carmel is a visual treat indeed. It was so difficult for me to pick up pictures for this post. There were too many lovely sights there, as you can see. 🙂
Such a charming place. Those houses look so lovely. Glad to know about this place, Divya.
Charming seems to be the word that best describes it. With all those lovely house-like shops and the flowers all over the place it is such a pretty little town.
I'm glad you liked what you saw here, Nomad.
Have a good weekend. 🙂
Lovely! Storybook like indeed:)
It is. 🙂
Thank you for coming this way, Amit. 🙂
really awesome 🙂
I have to agree with you. 🙂
good read with awesome pictures
Thank you so much, Easwar. 🙂
Wow! Like a fairytale post with all the pictures from a different world altogether.. Amazing photos (specially the last one) 🙂
Yeah, quite a fairytale. You should check out the Solvang post I've linked to this post. I'm sure you'll like that place too, Saumy. 🙂
That looks like a happy family, in that last pic, huh?! 🙂
Thank you, Soumy. 🙂
Oh I missed that link..checking it now..
And you got that right(abt happy family)! I meant that only ��
Btw thanks for sharing these wonderful posts ��
🙂
It's a pleasure. And thank you for being such a responsive reader. 🙂
Beautiful pictures from the town. Truly from story book.
It is a very photogenic place, Rajesh. 🙂
Thank you. 🙂
The first picture stole my heart. Quaint and alive. Indeed a storybook town.
That's my favourite sight from the downtown area. So pretty, right?
Quaint and alive indeed, Nisha. 🙂
Thank you for coming by. 🙂
What a beautiful place! How I wish to be there someday
Thanks for the virtual tour dear. Loved this post 🙂
Isn't it? Looks like a great setting for a story, right Purba? ;)I hope you'll get to see it sometime soon.
Thank YOU.
So nice to know you love what you saw here. 🙂
Beautiful place. Nice to read your post. Awesome pics.
It is, Rupam. 🙂
Thank you so much.
Nice coverage specially flowers pot on wall.
🙂
Thank you.
Lovely settings with equally nice write up Divya!
It is.
Thank you 🙂
Such are the hidden treasures tucked in the nooks of the planet that I'd never know existed but for you posts! I loved those images and the bit of about high heels.
I'm glad I could bring it to you. Carmel felt like a place that looked after with so much love and care. 🙂
I wish I'd known about the heels-rule before I visited. It's something I'm going to look out for if I go that way again.
Thank you for stopping by, USP. 🙂
Ah lovely pics! Carmel is indeed an enchanting town 🙂
Thank you. Isn't it!
You've been to Solvang too, right?:)
It's so nice to see you here after a long time, Sid. 🙂
Such pretty cottages and by the sea too!
Double Treat!! 🙂
Beautifully captured!! Also good to know that it is extremely dog friendly! 🙂
Extremely. I was surprised to see bowls full of water left outside stores.
Boze would be so welcome there. 🙂
WOW! Such a cute city ! The house surrounded with flower plants is very beautiful.
It's super-cute, Ranjana.
That's one of my favourite pics from the Carmel album too. 🙂