Carmel-by-the-Sea

a place so charming, so inspiring and so welcoming...
a city in the forest by the beach...
a mecca for artists, poets, musicians, photographers, writers, actors and art enthusiasts...a destination for diners and shoppers... ideal for girlfriend getaways, family bondings, romantic escapes...
a pet's paradise...
a village found only in fairy tales...
where sophistication and glamour meet...
quaint yet cosmopolitan...
We went there last Sunday to celebrate our first year wedding anniversary. We left Fremont at 7:00am and entered the quiet city an hour and a half later. Traffic was smooth, not too many tourists, lots of parking space. It was a foggy Sunday morning but the overcast did not succeed in dimming our high spirits.

Carmel-by-the-Sea is the Conde Nast Traveler Magazine's 2008 Readers' Choice Awards' No. 6 City Destination and No. 1 Best Ambiance in the US. I first heard about this from the Today show about a month ago and that sparked my interest to visit this place. Why not? It's so close to home which means no need to fritter our money away for an overnight stay.

The city offers a variety of things to do depending on your mood, purpose, interests and preference. Whatever it is, you are sure to find it there. We started our day with breakfast at a coffee shop and strolled up and down Ocean Avenue. We checked out some stores, peeked through the window of some art galleries, passed by charming houses and inns and spent the rest of the morning at the beach. We were a bit slow and did not quite make a dent in the shops and other must-see spots but anybody who has traveled with a baby in a stroller would know that just being able to travel is already something to be happy about. So even if we missed the Basilica and failed to have a picture in front of the city hall like i would always do or didn't have the time to take more artistic photos, i am happy. We can always come back anyway.

Thank God i left my high heels at home 'coz it saved us from going to the city hall to get a license to wear them. Yes, you read it right: one of Carmel's unusual by-laws is for tourists to get a license to wear high heels to free the city of any liability if you happen to injure yourself from the uneven pavement and cobblestone streets and sidewalks. By the way, Clint Eastwood used to be the mayor of this pretty town.

The best thing i love about this place is the fact that my name's written all over it: Carmel Plaza, Carmel Coffee Shop, Carmel Antiques, Carmel Company...Carmel, Carmel everywhere!!!

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