Guidebook for Carmel
Food Scene
Traditional Monterey: catch-of-the-day restaurants, other shops.
64 locals recommend
Old Fisherman's Wharf
1 Old Fisherman’s WharfTraditional Monterey: catch-of-the-day restaurants, other shops.
Numerous upscale restaurants as well as numerous art galleries, interesting shops, unique homes and a beautiful beach.
354 locals recommend
Carmel by the sea
San Antonio AvenueNumerous upscale restaurants as well as numerous art galleries, interesting shops, unique homes and a beautiful beach.
California Market at Pacific's Edge
120 Highlands DrUpscale, gorgeous Big Sur coast views.
3-minute drive from cottage, oceanfront, upscale. The restaurant's southern outdoor terrace is the very best part of the restaurant, offering unobstructed proximity to the ocean crashing just below the cliffs, and coastline views to die for!
28 locals recommend
Rocky Point Restaurant
36700 CA-13-minute drive from cottage, oceanfront, upscale. The restaurant's southern outdoor terrace is the very best part of the restaurant, offering unobstructed proximity to the ocean crashing just below the cliffs, and coastline views to die for!
Nepenthe, one of Big Sur's most classic enterprises, is located along the coast highway, Route 1, at a 1,000-foot elevation above the Pacific. It offers spectacular helicopter views of the ocean, coastline and coastal mountains.
Nepenthe consists of a full-scale restaurant, a separate cafe ideal as a brunch/lunch alternative, and a shop featuring arts, crafts and books.
Currently Nepenthe is accessible from the northern end of Big Sur only by a 30-minute strenuous hike around the Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge (now being rebuilt after it failed in severe winter storms), and then connecting with a shuttle to Nepenthe and other places of interest in that area.
94 locals recommend
Nepenthe
48510 CA-1Nepenthe, one of Big Sur's most classic enterprises, is located along the coast highway, Route 1, at a 1,000-foot elevation above the Pacific. It offers spectacular helicopter views of the ocean, coastline and coastal mountains.
Nepenthe consists of a full-scale restaurant, a separate cafe ideal as a brunch/lunch alternative, and a shop featuring arts, crafts and books.
Currently Nepenthe is accessible from the northern end of Big Sur only by a 30-minute strenuous hike around the Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge (now being rebuilt after it failed in severe winter storms), and then connecting with a shuttle to Nepenthe and other places of interest in that area.
Sightseeing
Amazing aquarium. In some areas it's like you are underwater looking up at schools of fish, with soft music in the background. Divers feed the fish and communicate from within their diving apparatus with visitors watching them from outside.
668 locals recommend
Monterey Bay Aquarium
886 Cannery RowAmazing aquarium. In some areas it's like you are underwater looking up at schools of fish, with soft music in the background. Divers feed the fish and communicate from within their diving apparatus with visitors watching them from outside.
Carmel Mission
3080 Rio RdOne of the 21 California missions.
Small mountain-in-the-surf with a historic lighthouse (tours available by appointment).
Point Sur Lighthouse
Cabrillo HighwaySmall mountain-in-the-surf with a historic lighthouse (tours available by appointment).
Big Sur is a 90-mile stretch of California coastline where the Santa Lucia Mountain Range, with peaks of over 5,000 feet, rises up from the Pacific Ocean floor. The ocean floor and mountain range are together part of the Pacific Tectonic Plate. The mountain range results as the Pacific Plate encounters the North American Plate at a place further inland called the San Andreas Fault.
Santa Lucia Range
Big Sur is a 90-mile stretch of California coastline where the Santa Lucia Mountain Range, with peaks of over 5,000 feet, rises up from the Pacific Ocean floor. The ocean floor and mountain range are together part of the Pacific Tectonic Plate. The mountain range results as the Pacific Plate encounters the North American Plate at a place further inland called the San Andreas Fault.
Parks & Nature
Walking and hiking trails along the ocean. Located 9 miles north of cottage on Route 1.
309 locals recommend
Point Lobos State Natural Reserve
62 CA-1Walking and hiking trails along the ocean. Located 9 miles north of cottage on Route 1.
Walking trails along the cliff above the beach, and an extensive beach. Located 2 miles north of cottage on Route 1.
Garrapata State Park Bluff Trail
Walking trails along the cliff above the beach, and an extensive beach. Located 2 miles north of cottage on Route 1.
Walking trails close to the ocean and some upcountry hiking. Located 10 miles south of the cottage on Route 1.
20 locals recommend
Pfeiffer Big Sur Campground
California 1Walking trails close to the ocean and some upcountry hiking. Located 10 miles south of the cottage on Route 1.
Essentials
Whole Foods Market
800 Del Monte CenterTake Exit 399B from Route 1 in Monterey.
Located at the intersection of Route 1 and Rio Road in Carmel. Turn east on Rio Road and, at the first traffic light, turn right into The Crossroads Shopping Center.
128 locals recommend
Safeway
815 Canyon Del Rey BlvdLocated at the intersection of Route 1 and Rio Road in Carmel. Turn east on Rio Road and, at the first traffic light, turn right into The Crossroads Shopping Center.
Pharmacy Located at the intersection of Route 1 and Rio Road. Turn east on Rio Road and, at the first traffic light, turn right into The Crossroads Shopping Center.
23 locals recommend
CVS
6 The CrossroadsPharmacy Located at the intersection of Route 1 and Rio Road. Turn east on Rio Road and, at the first traffic light, turn right into The Crossroads Shopping Center.
Arts & Culture
Park Gallery
6th AvenueOne example of the dozens of extraordinary art galleries in Carmel-by-the-Sea.
Getting Around
This is the closest airport, with car rental services, etc. A personal vehicle is a necessity in Big Sur. There is little or no public transportation.
23 locals recommend
Monterey Regional Airport
200 Fred Kane DrThis is the closest airport, with car rental services, etc. A personal vehicle is a necessity in Big Sur. There is little or no public transportation.
Everything Else
Example of the 1940s-style character of the town center of Big Sur. This and other small motels, restaurants, shops, and camp grounds are located about 15 miles south of the cottage, just north of the failed Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge where it becomes necessary to turn around and return north.
29 locals recommend
Big Sur River Inn
46800 CA-1Example of the 1940s-style character of the town center of Big Sur. This and other small motels, restaurants, shops, and camp grounds are located about 15 miles south of the cottage, just north of the failed Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge where it becomes necessary to turn around and return north.