Briefly stopped by the beach after having lunch in downtown Carmel. Now clearly understanding why…read morethe beach is loved so much. Carmel Beach is recognized as having the 'whitest' sand in the United States, and number 14 globally. This color comes from quartz deposits eroded by the waves. There is a parking lot at the north end of the beach on Ocean Avenue (maybe 30 spots or so), that is usually filled, meaning people are constantly idling in the parking lot, waiting for a spot. The parking lot is elevated from the beach, requiring carefully going down a sand bank. My wife and her mom decided to admire the view by sitting on a retaining wall at the top of the bern, while I happily went down to the shoreline to admire the views. The sand here is more golden than white. The road that runs parallel to the beach and boardwalk in Carmel is Scenic Road and we took it as we headed back to our cottage. There was street unmetered parking spots available and I noticed how much brighter/whiter the sand was in this area (a lot less crowded as well). Thinking back, wish we had stopped so I could have admired this part of the beach a bit more.

I absolutely love Carmel Beach. Some of my happiest memories are here with my great-grandparents,…read moreBarbara and Montford Bryan, so coming back always feels special and nostalgic. Getting to bring my daughter now makes the experience even more meaningful. Watching her enjoy the same beautiful beach and scenery that meant so much to me growing up is such a cool and rewarding experience as a parent. Carmel Beach is just magical, with beautiful views, peaceful vibes, and the perfect place to slow down and make memories. We'll keep coming back every chance we get.

Both breathtakingly beautiful and serene, this stretch of natural beauty can only be accessed via…read morethe 17-mile drive. There are 17 marked stops along this route, each with its own unique history and memorable view. The beach areas are gorgeous, albeit rather cold. And the crystal blue waters remind me of Hawaii; just without the tropical weather to go with. Much of the waters along this coast are in a protection zone, and large sections are designated as marine preserves. Although we were not so lucky in our timing, if you visit during the right times of the year, there are supposedly a plethora of marine wildlife to observe including seals, sealions, otters, dolphins and whales. At the end of this drive, we found ourselves at the famous Pebble Beach Resort. Here you can dine, shop, or even play on the world-renowned golf course that plays host to the PGA Tours, as well as other professional golf tournaments.

We stopped by here over 5 years ago, cute spot to see the sea lions, they were all napping, it was…read moreneat to do the 17 mile drive and check out this spot, the weather was good but cloudy, we checked out a few spots in the area. The water is gorgeous color, and its neat to see the seaweed and rock formations. Overall a cute spot to check out.

Beautiful beach with soft sand, and great wind in the air. They have a small parking lot with lots…read moreof space. The trail is along the beach and it's nice to walk along. My family loved this semi secluded beach far from the tourist sites.

This beach is beautiful and not crowded. The parking is very limited. I don't like the porta potty…read morebecause it's very dirty and no where to wash your hands.

A calm, peaceful and clean beach. It's located next to the…read morepier - which has good food places. The parking near the beach is paid and has a relatively clean washroom.

A very beautiful beach where my partner and I went towards the end of the day to catch the sunset…read more It ended up being quite foggy - so, the views far off into the ocean were very difficult . We were still able to appreciate the beach - and were even surprised to see some California Sea Lions close to the shore. Overall, a beautiful beach with literally power soft sand!

A short hike that is about 2 miles round trip along the coast line. I call it a "hike" but it's…read moremore like a walk. Flat and on a dedicated path that is very easy. You also walk by some ocean front houses. The views were spectacular and it was very sparse as far as other "hikers" on a January weekday. There is a spot at the end of the trail where the Carmel River meets the Ocean.

Easter sunday 2025, we visited carmel beach carmel, calif…read more it was the most beautiful drive one way along the ocean the white sands the peaceful energy.. i would highly recommend visiting carmel for the ocean views.. there is parking near the entrance and restrooms a bit crowded weekends .. but the drive along to the other end is amazing also available parking at the end it's slower driving one way only and able to enjoy the views . I have many memories as a young teen going to carmel and i'm glad we chose carmel for easter sunday was an amazing peaceful drive. pet friendly place as well. highly recommend this beach as the sand seems softer and looks easier for lounging on a sunny day i've included photos videos to enjoy

We stopped to walk along this trail in Pacific Grove for a while, and it was a gorgeous day for it…read more Our 13-year-old dog, Zoey, cannot walk far anymore, so we brought a stroller. This path is not the best place for one, but we made do. First, though, we took her down to the water. We did not explore the tidepools on this occasion, but Zoey had a great time walking in the ocean water. In this area, the tide moved in a gentle motion, yet it still managed to sneak up on me and get my shoes wet! The path was alive with vibrant color today, and offered lovely views. Unfortunately, some cars drive faster than they ought to on this road considering how close the walking path is situated to it.

Nice trail with bike lanes. Lot of things to see. There are lots of seals laying on the beach after…read moreyou passed the Hopkins Marine Station. It's a pleasant walk along the shore.

Had been meaning to check out this park for a long time, but usually got pulled away to Point…read moreLobos. A few weekends ago we were down in Carmel for the long weekend with some friends and got a later start to the morning. Anticipating that Point Lobos would be super crowded, I picked out a few hikes at Garrapata State Park, just a few miles south. We parked near the Soberanes Canyon trailhead and hiked the Soberanes Point trail, first going north, then doubling back to take the loop around (and up) Whale Peak. I was worried about leading a group of 20 astray (with kids who had different tolerance levels for hikes), but my fears were immediately put to ease by the gorgeous oceanside views, full of greenery, wildflowers, and the powerful ocean waves hitting the rocks below. We even spotted a sea otter in the surf. Got some nice photos and everyone made it back. At this point our group split up. A few of us went down to Calla Lily Valley. The lilies were beautiful (though I heard they were cut down recently), but there were a ton of people, and the trail was quite muddy. The beach nearby was really nice - the kids spent some time playing there. Parking immediately near the valley is tight but there is parking at this beach and trails to both the beach and the valley from there. Will definitely be back, love that there's an alternative to Point Lobos so close by.

First time in Carmel with the wife and we decided to walk the area in the noon time . A nice stroll…read morefrom the main downtown area. A nice trail to walk around. And views you can't miss. Definitely a spot worth hitting if you want to make your stay worth it. Even the dog got to enjoy some views and the walk!

Something truly amazing about this rock. I went there to check it out, and sure enough, i got…read morekissed! Don't know what it was but it was happening to other people too. Maybe something in the air there. Rock is on the path near lovers point. Easily reachable by bike from hotels from cannery row to Asilomar. Walkable from the aquarium as well. The rocks below are great for kids to scramble. Lots of tide pools. You can find hermit crabs, anemones, and more. That day we saw a pod of dolphins loitering nearby, but my phone camera couldn't get a good enough snap. Picnic area across the street. Lots of benches trash cans and parking. Poop bags for the pups, so dog owners have no excuse. Keep Monterey beautiful!

Retaining the moniker of "Kissing Rock" since Victorian times, these two massive slabs of granite…read morealong Ocean View Boulevard look very much like a couple kissing and was at one point dubbed by Life magazine as the most romantic spot in America. The view here is quite gorgeous and it's very peaceful with the waves crashing in the background. Plus there's a bench here as well if you want to sit for a spell. Public parking is available along designated areas of Ocean View Blvd.