My parents and I spent the two most magical days of the year, Christmas Eve and Day in the quaint little storybook town of Carmel-by-the-Sea, an idyllic place on the California coast about 2 hours south of San Francisco.
Where to Stay in Carmel
We spent Christmas Eve at the Wayside Inn, a gorgeous place offering full-service breakfast delivered to your room in the morning, as well as the softest bedding I could have hoped to sleep in while waiting for Santa to arrive! Wayside Inn is located in the heart of Carmel, in walking distance to all the shopping, dining and beauty of Carmel.
Where to Eat in Carmel
For our annual family Christmas Eve dinner, we booked a reservation just across the street from our hotel at the beautiful Anton & Michel Restaurant. An exquisite Christmas menu was on offer including an appetizer and entree options to properly ring in the season.
Things to Do in Carmel
We spent our days wandering the sweet little streets of Carmel, enjoying the boutiques, numerous art galleries, culinary shops, sweet shoppes and even an Alice in Wonderland themed shop dotted throughout down, each beautifully decorated to reflect the season. My favourite place in Carmel is the beach at the end of Ocean Avenue where the sun kisses the water as it dips below the horizon.
Things to Do in the Surrounding Area of Carmel
Just a bit north is the fishing town of Monterey, home to a bustling wharf, idyllic sailboat views, world-famous clam chowder and the Monterey Aquarium.
