Our Carmel-by-the-Sea vacation rentals make a lovely home base for your next Central California Coast getaway. Carmel, California is also known as Carmel-by-the-Sea, and this quiet community offers beautiful beach vistas...and is especially dog-friendly!
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Absolutely. Our local Carmel-by-the-Sea team includes professional housekeepers who care for all our homes here. They’ll clean thoroughly and restock amenities, so everything is ready for your arrival—and all you have to do is settle in and relax.
Learn more about Vacasa Premium Clean >Resting on the Monterey Peninsula, Carmel-by-the-Sea is just over a two-hour drive south from San Francisco. Below its cypress-covered hills and upscale homes is the scenic Carmel Bay. Just to the north, you can easily reach family-friendly Monterey and youthful Santa Cruz. This entire region offers a range of coastal atmospheres, so there's something for everyone!
Perhaps the best way to experience this hamlet is on foot, which is easy in Carmel. This place loves dogs, and many of the local businesses and outdoor attractions are pet-friendly. There are even restaurants offering dog menus!
Start by grabbing a latte for some window shopping at Carmel Village along Ocean Avenue, where many merchants welcome dogs. At the end of this street, you'll find yourself at the Scenic Road Walkway, a pedestrian-only path opening to views of the bay. Bring your camera!
Experience even more memorable scenes on the 17 Mile Drive, a coastal car and bike route accessible from Carmel. It winds through several visit-worthy points 600 feet above the shore, like the often-photographed Lone Cypress that has stood above Pebble Beach for 250 years. When you park your car to take in the views, you may spot a harbor seal in the surf - only to turn around and see mule deer grazing in succulent patches.
Carmel is also known for its rich arts history as many American writers, photographers, and actors lived in the area since the early 20th century. At the outdoor Forest Theater you can see the annual Carmel Shakespeare Festival. The Tor House hosts literary events and tours to commemorate its former resident, California poet Robinson Jeffers. Perhaps Carmel's most famous citizen is its former mayor, Clint Eastwood.
Just about a 20-minute drive north of our Carmel-by-the-Sea vacation rentals is Monterey where you'll find many family-friendly attractions. Perhaps the most well-known is the Monterey Bay Aquarium, a magnificent indoor and outdoor exhibition displaying and supporting California's coastal and ocean wildlife. It's conveniently located on Cannery Row, alongside restaurants and shops.
In the summer months, you may enjoy a jaunt farther north along Monterey Bay to the Santa Cruz Boardwalk. Here, you and your family can enjoy a charming amusement park right within steps of the beach.
Our Carmel-by-the-Sea vacation rentals will allow you to relax in a private setting while exploring one of the most beautiful and visitor-friendly regions of the California coast. Where will you stay?
Photo credit: Melastmohican via AdobeStock
