February 13, 2024
Definitely either stop or stay here. Carmel is breathtakingly beautiful. Seriously...plan it! The Scenic Hwy 1 route through Carmel's coastline is epic. A visit to Carmel-by-the-Sea when passing though this part of California is also a must - such a clean, quaint town with interesting victorian and modern buildings. It's loaded with boutiques, galleries, shops and eateries. We found a nearby parking spot - this can be challenging a times since Max actually requires two spaces - and walked to the beautiful, walkable beach at Carmel Beach City Park. People were out enjoying themselves on this gorgeous, sunny weekday!
The lush landscape did not disappoint! Blue-green h20 and amazing Monterrey cypress trees everywhere.
We strolled the Hallmark-movie plaza area - charming meets upscale glam. We must give props to the Carmel Bakery for their awesome Chai coffee, raspberry pastries and...the perfect Cuban sandwich for Joel (it was eaten before I remembered to take a photo). Fun fact: this happens to be California’s oldest bakery still in its original location.
Although we generally plan the next visit, we just rolled on this particular day and ended up in Petaluma (via Hwy 101) just after dark.
Funny moment - there's a first for everything. We stopped for diesel and despite the sign saying we could "pump from either side," turns out, not if you have a larger vehicle! The gas station was loaded, so our best / quickest / easiest option was to run the fuel line through the cab. Adaptation - key to survival!
A few additional photos from this stretch:
Off to Petaluma, CA
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