There are a handful of spots along the California Coast that both TJ and I absolutely love, one of them being Carmel By The Sea. If you’re not familiar with the area, it’s a quaint town that sits right on the coast and boasts spectacular views, great restaurants, beautiful hikes, and everything in between. It’s great during each season (we’ve been in the fall, winter, and summer) and we seem to find new activities every time we go.

The last time we spent any significant time in Carmel was when I was pregnant with Harper (so 8 years ago)… and in the summer of 2021 we road tripped up the coast, but spent two nights in Monterey and only popped into Carmel for a quick lunch. Yet that lunch left us wanting to visit again.

Enter this past weekend. We loaded up the car, Captain included, and headed up North for a few days. It was the first time we spent any significant time there with the girls, so it was a completely different experience than our past trips, but in a good way. We enjoyed time outside riding bikes and hiking, and also visiting some favorite spots from our past trips.

We ultimately chose to stay at Carmel Valley Ranch. And while the property was absolutely beautiful and they had a lot of activities for the family (easy hikes, a family pool, a “farm” and nightly s’mores to name a few activities), it was a bit more removed from the “downtown” Carmel area than we would have liked, but the rooms were spacious, which was what we needed as a family of 4+ a pup.

One thing I do want to mention is that if you’e on the fence between staying in Carmel or Monterey (they’re very close to one another) I would 100% recommend Carmel. We stayed in Monterey once and it felt like one big tourist trap! So my recommendation would be stay in Carmel, and spend a couple of hours in Monterey.

Sharing some photos, and our favorite spots below. I hope it’s helpful if you’re considering a trip up North.
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(Up bright and early for the drive up North… joggers, tank, pullover, sneakers)

(Cocktails + s’mores with a view to kick off the weekend… sweater, jeans, boots, hat)

(Family hike on our first full day… leggings, tee, jacket, sneakers)

(Then off for a family bike ride along the coast… such beautiful views… and comfort for everyone. We rented these bikes from Mad Dogs + Englishmen Bike Rentals and can’t recommend the spot more… electric bikes for the entire family.)

(Followed by lunch at Pebble Beach… highly recommend this spot for good food, cocktails, and a spectacular view. Jeans, Tank, Sweater, Flats)

(Ending the day with dinner at Portabella… we came here 8 years ago, when I was pregnant with Harper, so it was fun to come back with the girls this time… my dress, boots)

(A delicious breakfast at Stationary in Carmel-By-The-Sea… get here right when they open, since they get crowded quickly….)

(Headed out to Big Sur for some beautiful views… highly recommend McWay Falls + Bixby Knolls Bridge, then hiking Point Lobos on the way back into town. You can also stop for lunch at Ventana Inn which has gorgeous views. Ended the afternoon up at the hotel’s barn. Leggings, Tee)

(Ended our last night with cocktails and s’mores after a Thai Dinner… jeans, top, hat, boots)

(Quick breakfast at From Scratch before the drive home… this spot is great. It was featured on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives and has quintessentially large and decadent breakfast plates.)