Today I want to bring you my itinerary for how to spend 1 day in Carmel, California. The Golden State is known for its stunning coastline. From north to south, the beautiful beaches here are known throughout the world. But the towns behind them are just as picturesque, and one of the prettiest is Carmel-by-the-Sea. I’m here now and I can’t wait to share my travel itinerary with you. I’ve included an interactive map, too.
1 Day in Carmel
Carmel-by-the-Sea and Carmel Valley are fun places to escape to on the California Coast. The former is known for its thatched-roof cottages, great shopping, gorgeous beaches, and delicious restaurants. The latter is famous for its wineries.
My family spent countless weekends in Carmel when I was growing up, and I still visit all the time. The town’s location just two hours south of the Bay Area makes it an easy day trip or overnight getaway. If you have longer, you can do a Big Sur, Carmel, and Monterey itinerary.
On this trip I’m here with a friend. We’re eager to explore the famous shopping streets, picturesque beaches, inland vineyards, and other highlights. There are so many great things to do in Carmel that we know we’ll have a good trip.
Where to Stay in Carmel-by-the-Sea
My friend and I have a room booked for the night at Tradewinds Carmel. This design-led boutique hotel is in a great location near the shops on Ocean Ave, and it has views of the Pacific Ocean and Point Lobos.
The rooms—which have featured in Architectural Digest—surround a Zen garden with lush greenery and flowing fountains. Ours is decorated in contemporary east-meets-west decor with accented pillows and a little bamboo fountain of our own. If that sounds good, you can book a room here.
If you want additional ideas, you can see more options here. There are lots of great places to stay in and around Carmel-by-the-Sea and Carmel Valley. From hotels to B&Bs and house rentals, you’re spoiled for choice when it comes to accommodation.
Shopping in Carmel
My friend and I wake up early and drive south from San Francisco for our little Northern California road trip. We arrive in Carmel-by-the-Sea mid-morning, and we’re greeted by the chocolate-box village full of shops, restaurants, and boutiques.
The main street from which everything radiates is Ocean Avenue, and we start here. We’re ready for some shopping, not least because this town is famous for its boutiques. Shopping is one of the best things to do in Carmel, and we intend to do it well.
From art galleries full of pretty glass objects to specialty shops selling everything from teapots to Alice in Wonderland paraphernalia and sweet treats, there’s a lot to love here.
As we make our way down Ocean Avenue, we start to feel like we’ve fallen down the rabbit hole and made our way to the UK. Everywhere we look, there are thatched-roof cottages and shops selling teacups with Peter Rabbit on them.
By the time we get to Carmel Beach at the bottom of the street, the fog has rolled in and we feel like we’re at the seaside on a cold summer day in southern England. Curiouser and curiouser.
Back up the hill, we duck our heads into a few more shops, ElizabethW being a particular highlight. We also make our way down little alleys and find ourselves in courtyards with chocolate shops like The Xocolatl Garden.
Afterwards we make our way to the famous Carmel Plaza shopping center at the top of Ocean Ave. Luxury goods stores surround a sunken garden, and we walk past Tiffany & Co and Bottega Veneta before exploring the shops among the fountains and flowers below.
Wine Tasting in Carmel Valley
We sit down for a quick lunch at Rise + Roam Bakery and Pizzeria, then head inland to Carmel Valley. After a short drive from Ocean Ave, our 1 day in Carmel continues in Carmel Valley Village.
The main road here is surrounded by tasting rooms and restaurants, all of which are housed in buildings that look like they’ve come straight out of an old Western movie.
We taste wine at Cima Collina, which is housed in a historic 19th-century creamery that later became a post office and stagecoach stop. There we learn that Carmel Valley Village is home to tasting rooms representing wineries from all over Monterey County.
Dinner in Carmel
After wine tasting we settle in at Tradewinds Carmel before heading a few blocks back into town for dinner at Cantinetta Luca. We’ve heard great things about this Italian restaurant, and we’re excited to try the food.
We dine on heavenly Caprese salad, herb focaccia with sea salt, and delicious pastas and pizzas. Dessert is tiramisu, and it leaves us pleasantly full.
1 Day in Carmel
After dinner we drift back to our room at Tradewinds Carmel and off to sleep to dream about all the fun things we’ve done during our time in town.
I hope my itinerary has inspired you to visit this part of California yourself someday, and that you have a great time when you do.
Carmel Itinerary Map
As promised, I’ve created an interactive Google map of all the places on my itinerary for 1 day in Carmel. You can see it here. I hope it helps you plan a great trip to this amazing town on the Central Coast!
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