This Pacific Coast Downtown Is Made For Strolling
Carmel-by-the-Sea sits on California's central Pacific Coast, on the Monterey Peninsula, just 120 miles south of San Francisco. Despite being close to Monterey, this little town feels like it is a world unto itself. The one-square-mile village began as a Franciscan mission in 1770 and later became an art colony, shaping its creative spirit and fairytale-like architecture. Downtown Carmel-by-the-Sea (otherwise known as 'Carmel') is entirely walkable, where the white sands of Carmel Sunset Beach are mere blocks from luxury boutique shops, art galleries, and an impressive assortment of wine tasting rooms. Getting around is easy, especially when using the beach as a reference point. A stroll up Ocean Avenue or a left turn on Lincoln Street will bring you to hidden courtyards, historic cottages, inns, and an assortment of restaurants. While compact, this Pacific Coast downtown is an endlessly engaging destination for exploring on foot.
Carmel's History
The town of Carmel-by-the-Sea began as a Franciscan mission in 1770, when Junipero Serra and Juan Crespi set roots along the white-sand coast and pine forests first spotted by explorer Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo and later Sebastian Vizcaino. Before European arrival, the Esselen-speaking peoples and Ohlone called the area home, shaping its earliest culture. By the mid-19th century, European settlers parcelled the land along the Carmel River, setting the stage for a village that would become both a creative refuge and a coastal community.
By the early 20th century, artists fleeing San Francisco after the 1906 earthquake settled in Carmel, forming a thriving colony of writers, painters, musicians, and actors. The town's fairytale cottages, Harrison Memorial Library, and Sunset Center preserve this creative legacy.
Today, Carmel's compact streets carry the weight of history as well as a real dedication to preservation. A 1963 ordinance still in place requires a permit to wear high heels over 2 inches tall in order not to have to uproot the uneven sidewalks that give downtown part of its character. Ordinances protecting trees and public spaces, first enacted in 1917, maintain the village's integrity, while locals and visitors alike enjoy the town once run by Clint Eastwood or pass the Cypress Inn, once co-owned by the late Doris Day.
Ocean Avenue: The Heart Of Downtown
Not only is Ocean Avenue the central strip of Carmel-by-the-Sea, but it is also the gateway to some of the finest and most charming details of the downtown area. Starting near Devendorf Park at the intersection of Mission Street, Ocean Avenue stretches west toward the white sands of Carmel Beach, creating a fully walkable corridor where visitors can explore boutique shops, restaurants, and hidden alleyways, all along contrasting red brick and white pavers, concrete, and flagstone sidewalks. None of the businesses in this Pacific Coast town have numbered addresses, just names to encourage its storybook character and maintain community interaction. Romantic Revival influences dominate, with fairy-tale cottages, mock-Tudor details, and Mediterranean and Spanish Revival buildings contributing to the village's signature look.
Across from Devendorf Park, Carmel Plaza hosts a collection of boutiques, wine tasting rooms, and restaurants such as Patisserie Boissiere and Alvarado Street Brewery & Bistro. The Carmel Plaza is also home to the famous Cheese Shop, which is conveniently located beside some of the area's best places to grab a glass of wine.
A verdant boulevard separates the north and south sides of Ocean Avenue. On either side, you will find hidden passageways such as the Der Ling Lane Passageway by Carmel Bakery. However, the 41 different hidden courtyards and passageways aren't specific to the main drag. Take a left on Dolores Street (heading north), and you will find The Secret Garden Passageway, tucked alongside Pilgrim's Way Bookstore, which leads into a secluded garden space with fountains, figurines, and a rare geodesic dome.
Carmel Sunset Beach
Many visitors arrive in Carmel-by-the-Sea with only a few hours to spare, which makes its small layout especially rewarding. Downtown and the beach are not separate destinations here; they are directly connected. Ocean Avenue serves as the village's central spine, running straight from the heart of downtown to Carmel Beach in just ten short blocks.
Carmel Beach is known for its wide, white sand, strong Pacific Ocean surf, and open layout, with no boardwalk or commemorative development along the shore. A pedestrian path runs along Scenic Road above the sand, offering elevated views for walkers and joggers, while the beach itself remains a place for long walks alongside gorgeous private properties and the internationally acclaimed Pebble Beach Golf Course at the north end. The Clinton Walker House marks the end of the beach to the south. All of this is dog-friendly, as is most of the town, meaning you can run laps with your retriever on the sand before strolling back up Ocean Avenue for a patio beer at Il Fornaio.
A Wine Tasting Tour Through Downtown Carmel
Carmel is at the heart of Monterey County, one of California's major premium wine regions, and the town has become its most accessible tasting hub. Dozens of producers, from small, family-run labels to established Monterey County wineries, maintain downtown tasting rooms.
Wine tasting in Carmel is less about planning routes and more about wandering. Most of the 17 wine tasting rooms downtown are located between 6th Avenue and 7th Avenue (north to south) and Lincoln Street and Junipero Street (west to east). Meaning you only need to stumble around a grid of seven very short blocks.
The Carmel Plaza is a good starting point, as its block is home to Wrath Wines, Blair Estate, and the Chalone Vineyard Tasting Room, the latter being known for its sustainable winemaking practices. From there, you can head west down 7th Avenue to Scheid Vineyards, Silvestri, and Cypress Grove for a glass of sauvignon blanc or chardonnay. A Carmel Wine Walk Passport, acquired through the Visitor's Center, gives you a discount at many of these wineries over the course of multiple days.
Similar Downtowns Along The Pacific Coast
Along the Pacific Coast, a few small towns share Carmel-by-the-Sea's walkable, storybook downtown charm. Mendocino, California, for example, is a historic Victorian village where narrow streets are lined with art galleries, boutiques, chocolatiers, and cafes. Main Street and Lansing Street showcase elegant Victorian homes, New England Saltbox cottages, and landmarks like the Presbyterian Church. Just as Carmel's signature beach is mere blocks away from its downtown, Mendocino Headlands State Park can be accessed on foot from downtown and features coastal paths, secluded beaches, and views of breaching whales.
On the Oregon coast, Cannon Beach combines a small downtown with midtown hotels and restaurants, all within a half-mile walk. The sandy shoreline itself offers perhaps the most scenic route, with Haystack Rock to the south and Tillamook Rock Lighthouse to the north, making it easy to explore on foot while taking in striking coastal views.
A Downtown Built To Be By The Sea
Carmel-by-the-Sea's downtown may be small, but it is a fully walkable village where every street invites exploration. From Ocean Avenue to its hidden alleys and courtyards, visitors can easily cover the entire core in an afternoon, wandering past storybook cottages, charming inns, and an assortment of wine-tasting rooms like Cypress Grove, mere minutes from the beach. The town's careful preservation of sidewalks, narrow streets, and the rich history that permeates its public spaces makes discovering or rediscovering this town not only effortless but truly magical.
