Carmel-by-the-Sea, also known as Carmel, just might be the cutest town in the United States. It’s an unusual combination that I just can’t define in a few words: buildings decorated with Spanish tiles, English-style cottages, 40 courtyards and passageways, too-cute shops and cafes, one of California’s most beautiful historic missions, and a unique beach at the bottom of the village.
The area is a favorite of mine–I’ve been to Carmel several times. In fact, I have a “30 things to do” article about the whole Monterey Bay area. I hope you enjoy this look at Carmel-by-the-Sea and have a chance to visit if you haven’t been there before.
Carmel Photos
I love Europe, so of course I love the Euro-look of many of the town’s buildings:
I adore the shops in Carmel. They sell unique items in beautiful settings, making for the perfect place to browse. Love Jane Austen? Jane Austen at Home, a tiny shop of antiques and unique gifts, is for you.
Many shops and homes look like they come straight out of an English village. So cute!
Besides the English cottages,Carmel has French and Mediterranean inspired shops and restaurants…this one, La Bicyclette, serendipitously had a bike sitting outside on this day.
What stands out to me about Carmel is its Spanish details. The Spanish first came to this area in 1770 and soon after built the town’s historic mission (see more below). Though Carmel, along with the rest of California, later became part of Mexico and then the United States in the 19th century, the town’s aesthetic reflects its Spanish connections.
This can be seen in decorative details, like in the restaurant facade above, and full-blown displays of Spanish tiles, like in the El Paseo courtyard below.
The Carmel Mission is another reflection of the Spanish role in Carmel’s history. While the influence of the Spanish on the native peoples of California is not something to celebrate, they did leave behind this beautiful church from the 1770s. The rest of the mission’s structures were added on later.
As if all this weren’t enough, Carmel gets even better…Carmel-by-the-Sea gets its name from being on the ocean. A straight walk downhill from the cute downtown takes you to Carmel Beach. This isn’t just any beach…it’s a beautiful one, complete with soft white sand, dunes, carpets of colorful succulents, and the strange shapes of cypress trees.
See my suggestion for where to stay in Carmel in my Carmel Mission Inn review.
Just a short drive from Carmel by the Sea is Corona Regional Park and its beautiful Inspiration Point hike with a view of the Pacific at sunset.
And just down the road from Carmel is the unforgettable Big Sur. On a sunny day, you can’t get much better than this!
What do you think? Could Carmel be the cutest town in the United States? What are your favorite small towns?
Love Carmel! Spent part of my honeymoon there in 1997. We stayed at LaPlaya – beautiful Spanish architecture. Last year, it was being renovated, or we would have stayed on our 15th anniversary after backpacking Yosemite. We state in Monterey instead, but cannot wait to get back to Carmel. We love picnics on the beach there – even when gulls stalk us for a bite.
All of that sounds so fun.
Tiffany,
I, too, stayed at The La Playa Hotel! My husband and I loved it so much, I used it as the setting for my paranormal/historical novel which is available now! Amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, All Romance, All Romance E-Books, Kobo and overdrive all have it. You can see more about the book on http://www.clairefullerton.com and Facebook A Portal in Time! It seems to me you’re one of the people who will REALLY understand what’s happening in this page-turner!
YES! Definitely the cutest town – I am dying to get back here and poke around in art galleries all day. I have such fond memories of time spent here with my late mother.
Thanks for sharing that. I hope you will get back here one day soon. Maybe we can even meet when you come to CA. 🙂
I’ve never heard of Carmel before but it looks like a lovely and relaxing place. I wonder if the imported “English Candies” should be written as “English Sweets” as that is the term we use for candies.
Your pictures show a sun kissed town with a great theme for shopping and eating. I look forward to your “30 things” post 🙂
Thanks! I hope to have the 30 things post up soon.
Yes – it’s the cutest! Wouldn’t it be fun to live there? In the meantime, it’s great to live close enough to visit, and I loved being there with you in January.
Fantastic photos. Each one invites another look, and the one of the gallery at the Mission is one of my all-time favorites!
Thanks for the compliment on the photos, and yes, it would be so fun to live there. Too bad the beach isn’t just a little warmer, though.
Very cute indeed – even the name is adorable 🙂
I’m assuming you’ve been there since you live just up the coast. And yes, even the name is cute.
Really lovely little town. Sometimes those are the best places!
Here in Canada I gotta give it up to Naramata – located in the heart of the Okanagan wine region (ok maybe I am a little bias since I live 45 minutes away) but this little gem used to be the cultural hub of the entire valley with opera, theatre and orchestral shows. Now you’d never know it accept for the old building that is now an inn and with the majority of the wine in the region produced there, unique winery architecture and home to many of the valley’s artists.
Murissa
Sounds nice!!
Carmel is definitely a photographers dream city! You’ve reminded me that its been way too long since I’ve spent time in this wonderful city.
Yes, so many great details to photograph in this town, but it’s much prettier in person.
Gorgeous photos Jenna! From your description and the photos I can tell this town has a lot of character and is a photographer’s dream.The sand dunes with the succulents remind me of beaches in NZ where I come from.
I’ve always wanted to go to Carmel…now I REALLY want to go…great pictures!
Thanks! I am sure you will love it, partly because of all that surrounds the town, too. An amazing area.
Great photos 🙂
Hi Jenna, I agree Carmel is so charming I’ve been there several years ago for a day trip and I fell in love with it. I’d love to go back and spend more time. My friend got married in Carmel Mission church. Unfortunately, I was not able to attend. No, I see why they picked that church. It’s so breathtaking. Thanks for the pretty photo tour of Carmel.
Thanks for stopping by! That church would definitely be a dramatic setting for a wedding.
Carmel definitely is the cutest town in America. I was there a long time ago, looks like it’s time for a return visit, armed now with your fabulous photos of where to go, what to see. Thanks, Jenna!
Thanks, Marcia!
We spent a night with our kids in Carmel years ago. I remember thinking how beautiful (& expensive) the town was. We did enjoy a few hours on the beach and on a return visit I’d be spending more time paying attention to the details like you have. I adore the architecture of the Missions and wish adobe worked better in the Calgary landscape.
I’d also give Naramata a huge thumbs up in the cutest town category though there are some that get the moniker – Most Beautiful Villages in Quebec – and they are gorgeous.
I have seen some of those small places in Canada on your blog and they do look beautiful.
Cutest town in the U.S.? I’ve got to think about that, but it is definitely cute and full of interesting places! I love Carmel and I’ll be spending a couple of days there in July. Thanks for some reminders of the fun and tasty treats to be found there.
Fun! I was just there in January again, so I don’t think I’ll be going again this year.
We love Spain so we love the look of Carmel too. We’ve not been there but if and when we get to USA we will! The white sand is stunning too.
I love Carmel and Monterey and can never get enough of that whole area. It is such a charming town for strolling. You really captured the essence of this town with these beautiful pictures. I’ve always loved your Carmel Mission pictures. We hope to get back there this summer.
I agree. I can go there over and over and never get enough. It is just so beautiful and there are so many things to do!
Carmel is very cute indeed. Does Clint Eastwood still have a restaurant in town?
Yes, I think he does.
How delightful! This makes me want to hop in my car and drive down there right now! I’ve been meaning to go because I hear there’s a famous artist colony there, and I’m so curious as to what an artist colony is. Beautiful photos
You must go! You won’t regret it. That whole area is my favorite in CA.
These images remind me to not take California for granted. I’m so blessed to be able to call this state my home, and I absolutely love Carmel. Monterey and Carmel are my fave Cali destinations by far!
They are two of my favorites, too
It looks more like Europe than California!
That’s one reason I love it so much 🙂
What gorgeous architectural photos. We passed through Carmel a few years ago — next trip to California, I need to make more time to explore!
I’ve only ever been to Carmel as a kid, but now that I live in Northern California I was thinking it’s time to go back and your post convinced me! I also (somehow) never realized those were Cypress trees, despite admiring them a lot lately. Thanks for the tips!
oh yes, you should! I’m sure you will love it, and make sure to have enough time for the surrounding area, too.
i’ve never been to Carmel but people always go on & on about it. it looks lovely & i do love Jane Austen so that store is totally for me. can i buy Mr. Darcy there??
I wish!
Carmel is definitely worth a visit and a great place to spend a lazy day.
Yes! A perfect lazy day place–no schedule, just roaming
I’ve been to the beach in Carmel many times, but I have never seen the town. Wow… I really need to make a trip there!
Yes, you must walk up the hill and see the town! And the mission is a short drive just outside of the town center
Carmel looks amazing in your photos. One day I hope to get there and see it for myself. Thanks for being such a great inspiration for us.
I’m sure you would enjoy it, especially since you love to take beautiful photos
Jenna, what a gem of a place, and a spot I will add to my must-see list back home. The blend of different architecture is just stunning! The treats with the chocolate kisses on top look sinfully delicious. Did you try them?
No, I didn’t try them. Carmel has lots of cafes, French places, even tea houses, so plenty of places to grab a treat.
I think you posted all my favorite pictures! I wrote about Carmel too (http://butterflydiary.com/a-wedding-at-carmel-by-the-sea-day-one-part-one/) and loved it there!
Carmel is almost like a place in the Twilight Zone…unbelievably different from anywhere else – I just adore it. Thanks for these photos and reminding me it’s been to long since I’ve been there.
When I lived in Merced, CA, Carmel was my escape when life got too crazy or the weather got too hot. 🙂 I LOVE your photos and am so grateful for the walk down memory lane you’ve given me today. 🙂
Thank you, Krista! I have gotten away to Carmel and the surrounding area about every 6 months for the last couple of years. It is just so beautiful.
No California road trip is complete without Carmel. I love it! Your photos are great. I haven’t been in years!
I agree. You should check out the area again and sip wine in Carmel Valley sometime soon 🙂
I love this post. One of the best overviews of Carmel’s unique architecture that I’ve come across. Carmel’s charm lies in its human scale buildings, architectural details + ornamentations and hidden passageways. It’s a great town to stroll, especially during the upcoming holidays. You’ve captured it well!
Thank you so much for the kind words, Garrick! So glad you enjoyed this post.
Always enjoy traveling down the coast in our RV from British Columbia. Carmel and Monterey are lovely places to visit. Thanks for sharing the photos!
Sound like wonderful trips!
This is a great post! I work locally so its always good to see people bringing attention to our amazing area and your images are stunning! Hope to see you back soon!
Thank you! I love that area. How nice that you live there 🙂
J une 16, 2019 I visited in 2007 and took my breath away, in May. I reached a number in error, and reached Marge Fawcet, a long time resident in Carmel, she wrote me and we had a chat. There is a bookstore called Pilgrim’s Way, I suggest you buy books to show folks pictures and about the theater industry back then. Read about who built all the cottages in Carmel, it was Hugh Comstock in 1938. They are lived in today and sell for $1.8 M with such names as Hansel and Gretel and Snow White’s abode is up for sale. Gail from CT