Carmel by The Sea has been a popular seaside shopping destination for people from all over the world, but since the Bay Area is so close (about a two-hour drive south on Highway One), it also makes for a great weekend getaway for us locals.
The Perks
Carmel has incredible restaurants, recruiting top chefs from all over the word in one long, jam-packed strip of eateries; it has some of the best galleries in the state of California, featuring large-scale oil on canvas works from all over the world; it has a gorgeous beach, a zero-percent crime rate, and did we mention it's adorable?
The Retail Scene
There are 40 retailers on the main Ocean Street strip alone, making it easy to satisfy all your shopping needs within a mere six-block strip.
Check out the Carmel Plaza Shopping Center at the beginning of Ocean Avenue and Mission Street, chock full of high-end designer shops. The Plaza has a Louise Vuitton, Tiffany & Co., Cole Haan, Anthropologie, and even an adorable pet shop for those pooch-along vacationers out there.
After you've thoroughly perused the Plaza, make your way back out onto Ocean Avenue and begin making your way down the retail-packed street. If you can't get to it all in one day, there's always Sunday for shopping too!
Can't Miss Shopping Stops
The Barnyard Shopping Village on Barnyard, Inago on Ocean Avenue, and Wittpenn's Antiques on San Carlos.
