Weekend Trip to Carmel and Big Sur
If you’re thinking of visiting Carmel and Big Sur, I highly recommend it!! Both destinations are beautiful and charming, offering different but equally amazing experiences. Plus, they’re only ~45 mins apart, making it super easy to tackle both in the same getaway!
Denis and I recently visited Carmel and Big Sur for the weekend (the main upside of moving to the Bay Area is being close to these spots) and stayed in Monterey at the Intercontinental Cannery Row. While the hotel was fine, I would recommend staying in Carmel or Big Sur instead at one of the hotels listed below, because Cannery Row, which was once an epicenter for the sardine packing industry has now become a giant tourist trap. If you do find yourself in downtown Monterey, you should check out the Alvarado Street Brewery which has a cool biergarden in the back and good food, grab a coffee at Captain + Stocker or pay a visit to the well-known Monterrey Aquarium.
Carmel-By-The-sea
Carmel is the most perfect coastal town I’ve ever visited in the United States. It’s slow and peaceful and also elegant without being pretentious. I would move here in a heartbeat if I could, and I’m sure you’ll feel the same once you visit too! Carmel has plenty of good dining options, cute boutiques for shopping, beautiful hotels, and of course, breathtaking beaches.
Downtown Carmel
Where to Eat in Carmel:
Breakfast at The Stationaery (make a resize)
Pastries and Pizza at Rise and Roam
French Dining at La Bicyclette
Italian Dining at Casanova
Greek Dining at Dametra
Michellin Star Dining at Aubergine at the L’Auberge Hotel
Breakfast at the Stationaery. They also have a pup menu!
Where to Stay in Carmel:
What to Do in Carmel:
17 mile drive before/during sunset (costs $11.25)
Walk around downtown Carmel for cute boutique shopping & dining
Hike around the Point Lobos Natural Reserve
Golf at the renowned Pebble Beach golf course
Point Lobos State Natural Reserve
Big Sur
Big Sir is incredibly beautiful! We only explored for a day so I’m sure there are many other things to do/spots to check out but I wanted to recommend a few things we enjoyed! To give you a general idea of what you can do in a single day, you can grab breakfast at Big Sur Roadhouse or Big Sur Bakery, do 1-2 hikes in the park, grab a drink at Nepenthe for incredible views and then make your way to Pfeiffer Beach for the late afternoon.
Where to Eat in Big Sur:
Breakfast at Big Sur Roadhouse (order the breakfast burrito and sit outside by the fireplace)
Nepenthe for drinks or the burger with AMAZING VIEWS
Big Sur Roadhouse
Where to Stay in Big Sur:
What To Do in Big Sur:
Stop at the iconic Bixby Bridge for jaw-dropping views (major photo op!)
Hike in Big Sur (We did the Buzzard Roost Trail and the Pfeiffer Falls Trail)
Visit Pfeiffer Beach
Bixby Bridge, Big Sur
Pfeiffer State Beach
Our trip was only a few days, so this is by no means a comprehensive list but if you have any questions, please reach out to me on instagram @threedaywknd or leave a comment below!
XO,
Paula