The Restaurant at Mission Ranch is one of the most spectacular spots to dine on the Monterey Peninsula! Luke and I make sure to visit the Ranch every time we visit Carmel. The view is gorgeous: sheep grazing in the meadow, Santa Lucia Mountains in the near distance and Point Lobos with the Pacific Ocean's crashing waves.

The Restaurant at Mission Ranch offers a varied and pleasing menu, moderately priced, featuring Classic American Cuisine. You might catch Clint Eastwood on site if you are lucky. He is the owner of the entire property.

Enjoy a stroll on the boardwalk with charming Carmel homes to the east while sandy beaches and the Pacific Ocean are to the west. Carmel's beach is dog-friendly too!

Carmel's classy yet eclectic night scene will surprise you with a mix of unique discoveries around every corner.

A few town favorites:

Il Fornaio in the Pine Inn— great deals on cocktails and wines, along with a selection of gourmet noshes.

Terry's Lounge at the Cypress Inn is a great place to bring your pooch and enjoy exceptional beverages and a selection of tasty treats for you and your four-legged friend.

Links Club offers happy hour Monday-Friday 3-5 pm with discounts on craft beer on tap and local wines, all while you play the area's iconic golf courses on the virtual screens. And later in the evening enjoy trivia nights, karaoke and live music.

Vesuvio's hip rooftop bar. Firepits and heat lamps along with some of the most innovative drinks in town.

Barmel offers live music with a casual Big Sur attitude most weekday evenings from 7-9 pm and cranks up the tunes 'til late on weekends.

Cultura-Fans of margaritas and Mexican munchies flock here.

A.W. Shucks is a great spot for oysters and Bloody Marys.

Sade's dive bar- this saloon takes only cash.

With almost 20 wine tasting rooms in Carmel-by-the-Sea nestled within one square mile, a walkable wine tasting experience is the perfect way to sip and stroll your way through an afternoon. Carmel wine producers offer something for every taste. Most feature the wines of the highly-rated Monterey County appellations, a region with micro-climates that support a wide range of varietals.

In many cases, Carmel winery owners and winemakers are on hand to discuss their vintages, making this a very local, personalized experience.

Local's Tip

Download the free Carmel-by-the-Sea Wine Walk mobile guide, which takes you on a walkable wine tasting journey to discover exclusive experiences at wine tasting rooms throughout Carmel-by-the-Sea. No matter your taste, you will find amazing opportunities to explore and learn about wine.

Manzoni Cellars | Wrath Wines | The Annex at Seventh & Dolores | Kori Wines | Shale Canyon Wines | Silvestri Vineyards | Bar Napoli | Galante Vineyards | De Tierra Vineyards | Hahn Family Wines | Windy Oaks Estate Winery & Vineyards | Blair Estate | Scheid Vineyards | Lepe Cellars | Caraccioli Cellars | Dawn's Dream Winery | Talbott Vineyards Tasting Room | Albatross Ridge

The excellent Monterey Bay Aquarium is a fun and educational journey focused mainly on the ocean and shoreline ecology of California. Touch manta rays and starfish in the hands-on exhibits; view deep sea creatures, sharks, sunfish, and sea turtles; a huge variety of otherworldly jellyfish; coastal shorebirds including penguins; and a three-story-high recreated kelp forest with simulated ocean waves. Otters often frolic just off the outdoor viewing decks. The Aquarium also houses a wildlife rehabilitation program and promotes ocean conservation and sustainable seafood consumption. The onsite restaurant offers delicious sustainable cuisine.

Its official name is Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo, but Carmelites just call it "the Carmel Mission." This architectural and cultural gem is one of the most authentically-restored of the chain of 21 California Missions, originally built in 1770 and brought back to its original glory in the 1940s.

This is an active parish and mass is held regularly.

Please be sure to check the Carmel Mission website for visting hours updates. As a working church, there are sometimes weddings and other special events taking place that may limit access.

Beautiful park with hiking trails to hidden coves. You can often see otters, sea lions and seals during your walk along the coastline, and explore the history of archeological sites including the small cabin at Whaler’s Cove that dates from the turn of the century.

Our friends Michael and Jessica own and operate the cutest wine and tap room. Check them out in Carmel Valley! They are great company and support their local community. Fun fact, they hosted us with a steak dinner and champagne after we got engaged! They are very dear to us and Nellie.

Stop in this iconic resort for a game of golf, hit up the spa, shop around, or enjoy a meal on the patio while watching the waves crash on the shore!

Pebble Beach Golf course and resort is home to PGA tours and is one stop on the 17 mile drive.

Enjoy breathtaking views along the Pacific coastline and experience the shady Monterey pines of Del Monte Forest on your ride.

Take in the coastline on this 17-stop drive. There's plenty to see including historic sites, beautiful lookouts, and sea life! The best way to go is through Pacific Grove entrance and out through Carmel (or vice versa). There is a fee per car to go on this route. They provide a map with sites and there is a clear path with dashed lines on the road. Allow three hours or more for the whole drive, especially if you stop to eat or take a lot of photographs.

A bit further away, Elkhorn Slough Reserve is a tranquil reservation that offers you the opportunity to kayak amongst the birds and sea otters. This is worth the 30 min drive north!

Home of the famous McWay Falls, an 80-foot waterfall that empties directly into the Pacific Ocean. Views of the falls are a short quarter-mile walk from the parking lot. There are also breathtaking ocean vistas from many trails that wind up along the front range of the Santa Lucia Mountains.

Most hikes are through the forest and you are often surrounded by giant redwood trees. A self-guided, quarter-mile Nature Trail is the only ADA-certified trail in the area. The Valley View trail gives you great views of the Lighthouse and the northern coastline, and Buzzard’s Roost is a moderate loop up through the trees with a nice ocean view at the top. For the more adventurous hiker, the Mount Manuel Trail will take you nearly ten miles up to the 3500’ peak. For a leisurely walk along the Big Sur River we recommend Liewald’s Flat which starts just under the bridge across from the Big Sur Lodge restaurant (walk over the bridge then take your first left).

Stroll the wharf and nearby area for dining, sea life, and shopping.