a getaway to carmel-by-the-sea

carmel-by-the-sea is just as charming as the way the

name rolls off the tongue. it's one of the ideal getaways

from san francisco, and coming here is a breath of

fresh air. it's a place to slow down, relax, take in

the beauty, stroll, and watch the sea sparkle.

this little town and area is near-and-dear to my heart

after coming for tennis camp during summers

growing up, and now we love any chance to head 

down just 2 hours from the city to the perfect getaway.

here are a few favorites from town...more posts of

monterey, the 17 mile drive, our hotel, and the beach

are on the way! this area is too beautiful to cram it

all into just one post :) so bear with me!

as you wander around you see things like this ^^

"penny lane," a wooden gate, and cutest flowers.

the streets & homes look like a fairy tale!

we stayed at one of my favorite hotels we've been to

{more on that here} .. and we were steps from the

beach so we made sure to stroll here every morning.

good friends make a good place even more fun.

we stuffed ourselves at the best classic breakfast spot in

town, katy's place. you can't miss it, and you don't want to!

everything is such high quality here, and they do it right.

you can order one of many types of eggs benedict, coconut

pancakes, hot chocolate piled with whipped cream + 

sprinkles, and on and on. don't miss this spot in carmel!

this area has so many visitors, yet it always feels quiet,

low-key and charming. you have no choice but to be

relaxed in this town. there are lots of art galleries, 

boutiques, and darling stores to browse.

and as long as you're slowing down and relaxing, a 

good spa is the perfect activity in carmel. this is the 

place to treat yourself! kendall and i loved getting 

pedicures at signature day spa. it's a great location 

right in town so you can wander from shopping 

straight to a little bit of pampering, and it's top notch 

when it comes to products and services. the owner 

is an expert on all these things, and she's created 

such a warm, cute environment for this spa. it's the 

perfect place to go while on a girls trip to get 

pedicures or facials all together! this was such a treat.

let's definitely not forget one of the best places in

carmel, the cottage of sweets. it has to be the cutest

building in town, and definitely the best treats. it has been 

carmel's sweet shop since 1959, and it still has the most

classic feel with homemade fudge, imported european

candies, and every kind of licorice imaginable.

we definitely got our fair share of sweets.

there are just a handful of places i can think of

that really draw a lot of people yet maintain the charm

and easiness of a small town. laguna beach, cannon

beach, and carmel-by-the-sea are my very favorites on

the west coast..and this is the closest to us! so i think

we need to come back down into this fairy-tale land

much more often. . .and i hope you visit too!

more from carmel ::
our beautiful hotel la playa, refuge spa,
the famous 17-mile drive, and time in
monterey exploring the aquarium..  

xo