Carmel is a small, beautiful, and charming seaside town tucked between Big Sur and Monterey on the central coast of California. Famous for fairytale-like cottages and shops, great art, dining, charming B&B and boutique hotels, and of course the beautiful and exclusive pebble beach golf course.

While popular for romantic getaways, we quite enjoyed it as our family spring getaway. We chose to break away from our usual glamping option and stay in a boutique hotel experience local dining in the village town, and just simply walk and explore the town, jog, and bike on the beach.

Tip -   Highly recommend staying in the village town in one of the boutique hotels & inns. Remember, rooms are small, so for family of 3+ should consider two rooms.

Trip Highlights

Duration - 3 Days / 2 nights

Places - Carmel-By-Sea and Big Sur, California

Best for - Weekend Getaways

Travel Pace - Relaxed

Season - Spring (April)

Experiences - Bixby Bridge, Carmel-By-Sea trail running, E-Bike Pebble Beach, Stay @ a Lux downtown B&B, Charming Carmel Downtown French Cafe dining and local wine tasting

Trip Cost - $550/night 2 nights ((fabulous daily breakfast for 2, valet parking included), cost of gas ($100), food and drinks ($500 for a family of 3)

Trip Route

Itinerary

Day 1 Drive from SF + Explore Big Sur (Bixby Bridge) + Check-in @ L’Auberge Carmel

Head towards Big Sur from San Francisco on US 101 South. Leave around mid-morning (10 or 11 AM), so you can enjoy the beautiful drive along California’s Pacific Coast. Perhaps stop for roadside strawberries and cherries stand - straight from the local farms on the coast. Your hotel check-in in Carmel is between 3-4 PM. So plan to first spend time at the iconic Bixby Bridge in Big Sur, before heading back to Carmel (20 minutes drive back on Hwy 1) your hotel. Check-in to your gorgeous L’Auberge Hotel (by Relaix and Chateaux) in the heart of Carmel-by-the-sea, relax in the beautiful courtyard and then head for a stroll or a jog along the seaside trail and wrap up the day with an early dinner in their sister restaurant!

Duration: 2 hours drive

Activity Level: Moderate

Good To Know: Bixby Bridge is very popular and parking is limited.

How to get there:

Drive for about 2 hours (135 miles) from San Francisco to Bixby Bridge (Big Sur). Note: This is about 15 miles further south from Carmel-By-Sea on CA Hwy 1.

Morning

Big Sur - Bixby Creek Bridge

Arrive at the Bixby Bridge area and enjoy the iconic bridge, take some photos and take a short hike along the bluff to soak in the beautiful views of the Pacific Ocean and the big foamy waves crashing against the rocks.

60-90 minutes

Afternoon

Take a 15 min drive back from Bixby Bridge to Carmel-by-the-sea and check in to your beautiful french chateau-inspired inn. Enjoy the afternoon in their beautiful courtyard or take a stroll in town.

Tip: Recommend booking Courtyard Queen room # 15

Evening

Day 2 Explore Carmel-by-the-sea + E-bike 17 Mile Drive at Pebble Beach

Today is a full day of exploring the charming village town of Carmel-by-the-sea, e-biking the pebble beach trails, and then wrap-up the day with some fabulous local wine tasting and dinner at the amazing La Bicyclette French-Italian bistro

But start the day with the sumptuous breakfast (included with your room!) at the inn’s courtyard and don’t forget to take an afternoon nap (I sipped some prosecco for the afternoon!) before your evening dinner.

Duration: Full Day

Activity Level: Moderate

Good To Know: 1. The e-bike store is closed on Mondays. 2. This restaurant has a typical wait time of 45-60min, so plan your dinner accordingly after a hectic day as they take no reservations

How to get there: Walk a few blocks to Ocean Avenue and you can navigate very easily from there.

Morning

Afternoon

Evening

Day 3 Drive back to San Francisco

Today, is the last day but before driving back home, enjoy the delicious breakfast spread at the Inn again and take a walk around the village town and explore the Secret Gardens and perhaps a coffee on Ocean Avenue at Carmel Valley Roasting Company.

Plan to head drive back around 11am and take highway 1 back if you have time to enjoy the beautiful pacific coast highway.

Tip - If you like you can make brief stop in Monterrey and Pacific Grove on you drive back.  See my list below on recommended places to see and eat there.

Duration: 4 Hours (half day)

Before You Go

1. Pack layered clothing - light jacket as it can get windy and chilly in the evenings

2. Load your own bikes if you plan to ride on the coast and not rent!

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Recommended Alternatives

Here are some helpful alternatives to add /swap on this itinerary

In Carmel-By-Sea

1. Eat - wine-tasting at Talbots, fine dining at The Pocket $$$ (a local favorite) or lunch at Rise + Roam (Casual bakery)

2. Stay - Cypress Inn ($$$)

3. Do - Hike Point Lobos State Natural Reserve and then do a picnic beach lunch at Carmel Beach (10 min drive)

In Monterey

1. Eat / Drink - Perfectly Pressed Juicery (cozy tucked away in the back streets of downtown Monterey)

2. Do - Sea Kayaking; Hike to Point Pinos Lighthouse and Kissing Rock point in Pacific Grove

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Plan Your Trip

Take this itinerary as is or if you like to make some tweaks you can consider swapping with the recommendation additions above. If you have questions on planning your trip or have feedback on this itinerary, leave us a comment below.