Carmel is one of those places that you may not have necessarily heard of nor are you necessarily familiar with, but it definitely rings a bell for most. That may be because it’s so beautiful or because so many celebrities have and continue to live in the area. It may be because it just has a nice name. Regardless of why, Carmel is all that most people have heard and more. That’s why I jumped at the chance to spend a day getting to know the city a bit better. The only problem was that I did not have a place to stay, and since things can get quite expensive in this affluent area I did not want to pay last-minute rates for a hotel, as that could have a negative effect on my entire experience. I needed help finding a Carmel hotel room, and I needed it fast.
I found an app called HotelTonight on my phone after doing a quick search for Carmel hotel rooms. I took a quick look and they did have quite a few choices for Carmel hotels, but I was familiar with how this form of booking worked – it would take forever to cut through all the red tape and hopefully find something reasonably priced. I was wrong about HotelTonight – I had a hotel room in Carmel that was perfect for what I was looking for within a couple of minutes. All I had to do now was go enjoy the day exploring this gorgeous seaside place.
Many people think that Carmel and Carmel-by-the-Sea are separate places. Actually, they are the same and the names are used on a relatively interchangeable basis. The city itself is only one square mile in size, but there is a lot to do and see here. Fun fact: Clint Eastwood was the mayor of Carmel from 1986 until 1988. He got over 2,000 votes in the election and his opponent got approximately 700. His salary was $200 per month, and he donated that to charity. This is just one of the many neat things you’ll read and hear about when you’re in Carmel.
Carmel Woods is exactly as it sounds – in the woods, and they are beautiful woods at that. This is an area where it seems that nothing has been built for generations except for the gorgeous homes that line the streets. I walked around here for what seemed like forever, but I was totally lost in the moment looking at the beautiful architecture, the beautiful workmanship on the homes and, of course, the stunning landscape that surrounded these structures. Never had I been so enthralled in a place that had so few options for entertainment.
Hatton Fields was another area that seemingly only contained homes, but there was also an enormous park here that was seemingly made for people who wanted to do some impromptu hiking. I was certainly up for it, and once again I lost myself for what seemed like five minutes but what was actually over an hour just appreciating what I was experiencing. I suddenly realized I was hungry, and I asked another hiker for a recommendation for lunch. She gave me one that sounded like a well-liked local place, and it was. I enjoyed some of the freshest produce I had ever tasted. It was a memorable meal in a memorable place.
I had been hiking in woods and trees before lunch, but when I got to Mission Fields I discovered that this was a neighborhood that sat along the Carmel River. This was a bit of a different neighborhood. It was still extremely residential, but the homes were less extravagant than what I had seen earlier in the day. They were still very nice, but the residential population here seemed a bit younger and a bit busier. There was also some shopping here, so I stopped and got some gifts for my family and friends that I was sure they would appreciate.
Simply put, Carmel Point was one of the most beautiful places I had ever seen. I walked out onto the point itself, and I could clearly see Point Lobos, Carmel Beach and, of course, Pebble Beach, where the world-famous golf course sits. I was thrilled, but once again I was also starving. I decided to head back into town for dinner, as I had heard about another local place that I simply had to try. Once again, I wished I could thank the person who had pointed me in this direction, as my seafood was so fresh I wondered if it had been caught that day or the previous day. An incredible dinner.
If you ever get the chance to see Carmel, I can’t stress strongly enough that you should do so. If you’re concerned about finding a hotel room in Carmel, don’t be, as all you will need to take care of accommodations is some help from HotelTonight. This is a service that made finding, choosing and ultimately booking a hotel room as easy as a handful of clicks, and you can rest assured that you’re going to wind up staying in a comfortable, clean and overall very nice place. I sure was, and I didn’t have to break the bank to do so. I would be back here someday, and when I returned I would be sure to do so with the guidance of HotelTonight.
