A pretty afternoon in dog-friendly Carmel by the Sea
Carmel was on my must see list as I’d heard how beautiful it was - and it totally lived up to my high expectations!
Carmel is a gorgeous little town that’s very walkable and has some of the cutest buildings you'll see outside of Europe. It also claims to be one of the most dog friendly places in the USA, and with one of the most spectacular and dog-friendly beaches we’ve ever seen we would have to agree.
THINGS TO DO
Downtown Area and Shops
Carmel is known for its upscale shops and boutiques, so get your credit card ready and head straight to Ocean Avenue. Many stores in Carmel welcome dogs and we saw lots of water bowls out to entice them to come in and spend their pocket money… And if your pup needs a water break, the Carmel Plaza has a drinking fountain that’s just for dogs, called the 'Fountain of Woof'.
There are also some beautiful Spanish style buildings in Carmel, while others look like they've been ripped straight from a fairy tale. They're so cute you just want to smoosh them and their rooked little roofs.
Carmel has the cutest buildings ever!
The town also has a number of small courtyards and art galleries and we were welcomed in to have a look around (Beatle's lead was held pretty tightly as we didn't want to damage anything with too many zeros on its price-tag)!
Another beautiful building
As you walk around you’ll spot different pieces of outdoor art, but if you’re into murals then don’t forget to find the cute, perfectly pastel photo 'Carmel Shell Mural' located on the corner of 6th Avenue and Mission Street.
We can’t resist a pretty pink mural!
Wine Tasting
Carmel has a number of wine tasting rooms in town and on our visit we visited Lepe Cellars (which is inside the Winfield Art Gallery). Here a lovely lady gave us lots of history about the wines (which were delish) and welcomed us to explore the art while we sipped. Beatle was totally welcome to join us (girl loves a drink) and enjoyed snoozing on their cool tiles. There was a small fee to taste, but it was well worth it. You can check them out here
Scenic Road - 17 Mile Drive
If you're staying in Monterey and want to visit Carmel or just head out for an amazing drive - then you have to take the stunning scenic road, officially called the ' 17 Mile Drive' . It costs $11.25 per vehicle, which you pay on entry and dogs are welcome to join you.
The views along the way are fantastic and you'll see a wide range of vistas, from rocky beaches to multi-million dollar mansions peeking through the forests. There are 17 spots to stop at along the way, including Spanish Bay Beach, Fanshell Beach (where we spotted deer in the paddocks across the road), and the Lone Cypress. We found that Beatle was fine to get out of the car and explore at all of these spots, so long as she was on lead.
As you get near the end of the drive you come across the world famous Pebble Beach Golf Club. We weren't driving the Ferrari that day (kidding) so we didn't stop, but the club itself is open to the public, and I understand that dogs are welcome in some areas, such as the restaurant patios. To see more info about the drive and get a sneak peek at the highlights visit 17 Mile Drive
Beats enjoyed the stops along 17 Mile Drive
Carmel Beach
When we first got to this beach it actually took our breath away. Carmel beach is stunning and absolutely huge - we’d never seen anything like it - plus it’s also off leash for good boys and girls year round which is just fantastic.
Beatle pulled us down the hillside and onto the sand and once we unclipped her lead she was off at full speed right to the water's edge….. where she instantly got wiped out by a wave. Everyone nearby laughed at the crazy frenchie rolling around in the water, but that fur kid got straight up and had another go!
Beats absolutely loves the beach and so we spent quite a bit of time here letting her rollick around with the other dogs and living her best life. If you have a dog that loves beaches as much as her, then Carmel needs to be on your destination list. You can read more about Carmel beach, including a summary of its amenities and dog policy here
Beatle absolutely loved Carmel Beach!
GETTING AROUND
The town of Carmel is on a hillside and it can be difficult to get a park centrally - so be prepared to park a few blocks back and do some uphill walking during busy periods. It can also be difficult to get parking near the beach so be patient and prepared to park a couple of streets away. If you’re hading to the beach make sure you have a supply of fresh water as your dog will work up a thirst running around.
EAT
There are plenty of great choices for cafes and restaurants in Carmel and we found many had outdoor seating and pretty patios. We saw plenty of dogs lazing under shady tables and enjoying lunch or drinks with their people.
We were also running low on dog food so headed to the Diggity Dog boutique on Ocean Avenue and were really impressed with their selection of food, treats and toys.
IN SUMMARY
Carmel is a beautiful town to visit and is incredibly welcoming to dogs. You'll find plenty of water bowls and places happy to welcome you and your dog to shop or dine. Carmel Beach is simply spectacular and well worth the trip alone!
If you only had one day to spend in Carmel I think you'd be able to easily cover all of the main attractions, but if you want to stay longer, visit CarmelCalifornia.com for more info about dog friendly restaurants and accommodation options.