A few breathtaking days in Carmel-by-the-Sea

Carmel-by-the-Sea, often called simply Carmel, is a stunning European-style village that was founded in 1902. Wine tasting, shopping, art galleries, spas & salons, cultural activities, and of course beach and outdoor activities draw nearly 79,000 people annually. Travel & Leisure rated it #3 as the best city for Romance last month, and last November Conde Naste Traveler rated this delightful retreat #6 for travel destinations in the U.S.

If you are considering a getaway or romantic interlude for two, this is the ultimate destination. Carmel is unique as it is a city without addresses, parking meters or streetlights, it is full of breathtaking scenery, romantic settings and mild climates. A magical land filled with chalets and European-like hideaways, it boasts exquisite sandy beaches and blue skies.

Enjoy the your day shopping, visiting art galleries and tasting exquisite cuisine during the day in to early evening and then snuggle in with a glass of wine, and watch the sunset while basking in the warm glow of firelight on the beach.

Carmel-by-the-Sea has an impressive list of restaurants, and we are featuring two in our post, which our very own staff photographer and husband recently had the pleasure of visiting. The first portion of their journey was spent at the Hofsas House ( See below ), touring and tasting in Carmel. They highly recommend both the hotel and the restaurants featured below.

The Grill on Ocean Avenue ~ One of the Monterey Peninsula’s 10 best restaurants, the menu is light and fresh. (photos in the slide show)

mundaka ~ A Spanish style tapas Restaurant is the result with a long time romance of Spain and it’s culture. The Menu is exquisite and the prices are excellent. (photos in the slide show)

Hofsas House ~ Casual elegance and delightful personal service. The rooms are lovely, prices very affordable and the location is what seals the deal. It’s in walking distance of nearly every restaurant and shop in Carmel. (photos in slide show )

All of the photography you see here was brought to us by Mercedes Schmitt of GetDigitalMedia.com

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