Seaside Towns of Carmel and Monterey

Nestled along the stunning Carmel Bay, the seaside village of Carmel (120 miles south of San Francisco) is one of California's most romantic getaway destinations. The secluded Carmel Beach is prized for its pillowy, fine white sand framed by windswept cypress trees. Carmel offers plenty of tourist appeal and things to do. The town itself is an attraction, because of its fairy-tale cottages, upscale art galleries, cute little boutiques, and fine-dining restaurants. Visitors can choose from a wide variety of bed-and-breakfast and luxury hotels.

Another of the top places to visit in Monterey is the Monterey Bay Aquarium, especially beloved by kids, who adore seeing the incredible sea life, penguins, and otters. Not to be missed when visiting Carmel and Monterey is the stretch of California's oceanfront Highway One between the two towns, known as the 17-Mile Drive. This 17-mile portion of the Pacific Coast Highway (California State Route 1) is considered one of the most beautiful drives on the West Coast.

Website: www.carmelcalifornia.com

Address: Ocean Ave and Scenic Rd Carmel, CA 93923

Phone: +1 800-882-8142

Entrance fee: no entrance fee

Google rating: 4.5/5.0