A week in Carmel?
 

Trying to decide where to plan a week vacation for our 10-year anniversary in 2010, and am thinking about Carmel. Neither of us have ever been to CA. We're looking for someplace with (in order of importance): (1) romantic setting; (2) great food; (3) beach / pool for a few days; (4) a few outdoor / cultural activities; and (5) some shopping. We're not crowd or partying people, so when we've vacation we've stuck with the smaller boutique hotels in less developed locales (Nevis was our favorite). Would a week in Carmel next June or July fit? Hotel suggestions? Do any hotels offer week stay packages or discounts? I would prefer to stay in town, so we could walk to shops, the beach, dinner, etc. La Playa looks amazing, if I can fit it in the budget! Thanks!

That's a little longer than most visitors spend in Carmel. Also, does not satisfy two of your objectives.

1. Beach/Pool - we get lots of fog in June & July. You may get many more overcast days than sunny days. If so, it will also be quite cool.

2. Crowds - it can get pretty crowded on the main shopping stretches - especially on weekends.

Have you considered splitting your time between San Francisco & Carmel?

Stu Dudley
Go Purdue!!!

I love Carmel but a week is a long time. I agree with splitting the time. Beach/pool does not come to mind when I think Carmel. Maybe Andrew8 will visit and share some of his favorites in the area.

I spent a week in Chocolate once.

I spent a week in Peanut Butter.

Agree about the week in Carmel. How about splitting your time between Napa-Sonoma( more heat and you can get pool time in) and Carmel. The wine country will be about 1.5 hours drive from SF while Carmel will be 2.5-3. We have something known as "June Gloom" on the coast. It's a crap shoot as to whether you will get good weather or not on the coast at that time of year.

I highly recommend splitting your time between Carmel and wine country, as well. You'll be so close by, it would be silly not to! And it's more likely to be warm and sunny in Napa, Sonoma, the Russian River valley, etc. Don't scrap Carmel, it's unlikely to be bad weather every day, just divide the 10 days. Sounds like a very romantic trip!

Hi, we just stayed at La Playa a couple of weeks ago, this was our second time here. We had King Patio room that opened out to the gardens, very nice! They have a lovely pool area here, a great restaurant, the Terrace Grill where we enjoyed breakfast to the sound of the waves. This would be a perfect spot for you. Check out the www.carmelcalifornia.com website, we stayed on a Fri. night for one night in the Patio Room for $210 which was a good rate, they were also offering Residential View Rooms for $149/night, a bit higher on weekends. I would try to get a Patio Room, they are more spacious than the upstairs oceanview rooms.

La Playa is also just a short walk to a gorgeous stretch of beach and walking distance to shops and restaurants in downtown Carmel. Check out Demetra Cafe, a new venue that's very cool! ***kim*** ((#))

Agree with others that a week is too long...especially since you haven't been to California before..
I would fly into LAX..rent a car and head up to Santa Barbara for 1-2 days and then up to Carmel for 2 days and then head up to SF for 3 days with a day trip to Napa (overnight would be great too)..fly out of SF..

Stay a week! Carmel, Monterey, Pacific Grove, all close together and each worth exploring. Monterey has historic Spanish history and buildings to tour, Pacific Grove has labeled cottages from the Methodist camp days and it also has Julia Morga's (of Hearst Castle fame) Asilomar Conference Grounds, rustic, beautiful and a short walk to the ocean. PG also has 2 Victorian B&B's that are to die for with ocean views. Carmel is wondrous. There's a terrific lady who does a walking tour that is really fun and interesting. You can also visit poet Robinson Jeffers' home. Drive all the streets to see the homes. Visit Carmel Mission. Drive the 17-Mile-Drive and get off the main road to see more homes and make all the stops. Drive just a few miles south to Point Lobos State Park with easy hikes and unbeatable views. Drive south to Big Sur. Get a guidebook for sure. There is so much to see and do that I think you could spend a week with no trouble. If you get bored, drive Hwy 1 to Hearst Castle. It's a long daytrip or an overnight, but well worth it! A guidebook we love is Moon publishers Coastal California. Or a good local guidebook for the area would be helpful. Always pick up the local paper. And go to lunch and dinner early or late to eat at some wonderful places with no crowds. In Pacific Grove we love Fandango. Look online at the French Provincial rooms. Napa/Sonoma/Russian River is another week!

We rent a house and spend 3 weeks in Carmel every year and certainly do not consider it too long! It depends on what you are looking for. We like to sit on the terrace and have breakfast looking out at the ocean, taking morning and evening walks on the beaches, driving to Big Sur, walking in Point Lobos, visiting wineries in the Carmel Valley, and going out to diner at lovely restaurants in Carmel, Monterey and Pacific Grove. We don't golf or play tennis and don't shop that much, but we somehow manage to have a wonderful, relaxing time.

I could definitely spend a week on the Monterey Peninsula and be quite happy :) And with a week, you are more likely to have sunny weather for a beach day or some time by the pool - just the law of averages. As others have mentioned, coastal fog is common in the summer time, so you are likely to have cool temperatures.

There are plenty of things to do right on the Monterey Peninsula and lots of easy day trips. If you are interested in wine, the Carmel Valley has some wineries to visit.

Wow! Thanks for all the info! We absolutely like to spend our days more like you do, SAB, relaxing with maybe a short trip somewhere in the afternoon to take in a sight or two. I've taken too many "try to see it all in 1 week" trips. We'd much rather plop ourselves down in one place and really get to know the area in depth. The idea of Napa is great although (dare I say this on a California board), we're not at all into wine. *Shock* Actually, neither of us can stand it. (Pick up your jaw please!) So, time in Napa would probably be wasted on us!! Hmmmm, I'll have to sit down and think how much we want the beach and sun...

San Diego is another option..gorgeous beaches, great food and you can hang out for a week and really enjoy our beautiful city..
La Jolla/Del Mar/Coronado are lovely places to stay.

I agree with ksucat. Head south for some sunshine for the beach/pool part of it. La Jolla would be good. If I had MY choice, I'd head to the Del on Coronado Island. I enjoyed a great four days at the Marriott there, but wanted to be at the Del.

We usually split a week between Carmel and San Francisco. A couple nights in San Francisco and include day trips to NAPA and Muir Woods, then head south for a more laid back stay at Carmel.

<i>We'd much rather plop ourselves down in one place and really get to know the area in depth.</i>

If you want to plop it down for a week, the Carmel/Mont area is prob one of the best places in Calif. ((Y))

..oh..and M Y...:)):))

I spent a week in hot water once.

We do live in Hershey, PA, so technically I have spent a week in Chocolate. LOL! Thanks for all the tips!

Have you thought about staying in both Carmel and Big Sur?
Big Sur is only 35-45 minutes from Carmel. Yes I've driven it in 35 minutes :)
You could kayak off of Stillwater Cove in Pebble Beach, hike and drive along the Big Sur coastline and visit Point Lobos State reserve.
Both Post Ranch Inn and Ventana Inn in Big Sur have pools. I believe one of the pools at Ventana is clothing optional ;)