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| | California | Central Coast | |||
| Carmel-by-the-Sea | |||
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Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo is a must-see with kids. An easy walk down Mission Street from Ocean Avenue, this is one of the most beautiful of all the California missions, and the spot where Father Junipero Serra is buried. Take time to explore the gardens (don't miss the small graveyard with markers dating back to the mid 1700s) and the interior exhibits of mission life (including a padre's cell, refectory, library, and the cell where Father Junipero Serra died). There is a stillness and beauty to this place that makes it easy to imagine life when the state was being born – yet this is a working church as well, with baptisms and weddings and prayers, so children should be reminded to enter the church itself with respect. | |
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Beaches – Hit the beaches but don't expect to swim – the water in Carmel Bay is cold, and even in July, it can be overcast. Still, some of the most beautiful scenery in the world is along this coast, so make time for a picnic or a stroll along one of the beaches here. The most kid friendly beach is Carmel Beach (at the foot of Ocean Ave.), bring your beach toys and build sand castles all afternoon. One of the least crowded is Carmel River State Beach, where the Carmel River runs into the ocean and the dunes serve as perfect "lounge chairs." | ||
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Parks – Carmel Beach City Park, right at the bottom of Carmel Hill is a great place to enjoy a sandwich. Forrest Hill Park near Junipero and Camino del Monte is also home to the Forest Theatre, where sitting under the spreading oak trees will transport you to a mythic place. Mission Trail Park near Rio Road just south of town is a great spot to pause while on a trek from town to the Mission. | ||
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Mission Ranch – The Mission Ranch was once a real working ranch and you can still walk around the 19th century farmhouse and barn or meander across the meadows to Carmel River Beach. Today the "ranch" is really a resort with rental cottages and a restaurant beautifully restored by its owner, Clint Eastwood. You can explore for free, but this also one of the nicest places around to soak up the mood of old Carmel and have a great meal (kids' menu is available in the restaurant). | ||
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Point Lobos State Reserve – Point Lobos is truly one of the most gorgeous sections of California coast, and it's very accessible for kids. It's also a nature reserve, where the unique plant and animal life are allowed to flourish undisturbed. From December to May, look for gray whales offshore, and all year round there are sea otters in residence. This is the perfect spot to bring a picnic and hiking shoes, and spend the whole day. In summer, get there early in the day, as there are limits on numbers of visitors to the reserve. |
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 Whalers
Cove and Cabin – In the 19th century, Point Lobos was a whaling
station and abalone cannery. Stop into the weather-beaten Whalers Cabin
to see exhibits about whaling, including 10 ft. blubber forks and knives,
harpoons, large cauldrons for melting blubber, samples of whale oil, and
bleached whale bones, plus a video about the flora and fauna of Point Lobos. |
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Bird Island is a pelican city – the rocks are covered with pelicans hanging out. If you watch for a little while, you can see the pelicans take flight, swooping above the waves, looking for something to eat. Bring your binoculars to see the birds close-up. Tip: This is a great beach, but don't wade or swim – the waves and currents are unpredictable. |
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| Hiking
trails – Point Lobos has miles of largely-level hiking trails,
which are wide and fenced with wire rails. The scenery on these trails is
spectacular, but also, this is an area where just sitting in one spot and
watching the waves break on the rocks is incredible. Once you've parked,
you could hike all around the edges of Point Lobos, as well as through the
pine groves in the interior of the reserve. Pick up your trail map at the
entrance to Point Lobos. Tip: Bring a picnic and plenty of water, and eat
your lunch in the picnic table areas (not on the beach – this
is to protect the wildlife, people food is bad for their health.) |
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Fun food – |
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A favorite thing to do as a kid (and even now, with my own kids) is to get a sandwich and "people watch" from the stone benches in Devendorf Plaza (the park on the first flat block of town). Bruno's Market has a deli counter in the back of the store where they'll make you a tasty (and huge) sandwich any way you like it. |
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Travel for Kids has so many fun things to do with kids in Carmel, but you'll need a fun place to stay. Here's our own Travel for Kids hand-picked list of family hotels in and around Carmel, all styles and price ranges, in neighborhoods that are comfortable for families, and near to places you'll want to explore: |
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Carmel family hotels | ||
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| (More children's books on other California pages) | ||||||
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