Couple side trips to Carmel

The mission is not to be missed! Make sure you allow enough time to fully explore it.

Quick Tips:

Buy a map. We were partial to Rand McNally's Monterey Carmel Easy Finder for this trip.

Best Way To Get Around:

Drive yourself around; it's the fastest and most scenic way of getting around.

Katy 'n Harry's Wagon Wheel Coffee Shop was a fun little place in Carmel Valley to stop for breakfast.

After driving out there we were more than ready for some breakfast. It's a little (maybe room for 30 people) local place and sometimes you can spot Clint Eastwood there (we didn't see him).

While the food was good, it was marked up! Breakfast for the two of us was $26. We didn't have anything fancy either, a Spanish omlette, Biscuits and Gravy, a Cinnamon roll (yum!), coffee and orange juice. Well, the orange juice was fancy it was fresh-squeezed and at $6 for a glass it wasn't worth it!

People are friendly and if you want a taste of how the locals do it (and try and catch a glimpse of Clint Eastwood) then stop on in. I doubt we'll go back the next time we make a trip up there, but it was nice to do it once.

We landed at Carmel State Beach, after deciding to pass up Point Lobos State Reserve ($9 for entrance and a map, was too much for our budget for an hour or two) which is a short drive away.

After parking along Highway One and walking across the street we were at the beach! There were a few families out enjoying the weak late afternoon sunshine. Kids were playing in the sand, running in the surf and playing with driftwood. The surf doesn't appear to be much for swimming, but it was a nice place to sit and rest as we watched the crashing waves and felt the sea spray on our faces.

A nice quiet, free!, way to spend an hour or two.

San Carlos Borroméo de Carmelo Mission was beautiful. The mission opened at 10:30am, and there's a $4 fee for admission. You could skip paying the fee if you are there when a wedding is going on (there were three the day we were there), but I feel that would be dishonest. If there are weddings going on when you visit, make sure you slip into the sanctuary when the wedding guests leave. There isn't a whole lot of time between weddings, but enough to go in and get a look around. There are several little museums on the ground: one dedicated to a local family, one to the man who restored the mission (he and his wife are buried here), and lots related to the actual mission. Fray Sierra is buried in the church up in the front, and there is also a cemetery to the right of the church building. You can visit their website at carmelmission.org.