A visitor's guide written by locals. Insider tips on the best restaurants, hotels, and things to do in Carmel, California.
Your mama loves homemade cards, hand-painted flower pots, and the occasional pancake breakfast in bed, but you’re finally old enough to appreciate and celebrate her unique spirit and interests, so go the extra mile by whisking her off for a weekend of fun in Carmel, California. To help you along, we’ve created six weekend guides for six unique motherly-types.
Is Your Mama a Llama?
Visit the Golden Bough Plaza During Your Carmel-by-the-Sea Walking Tour
Defined by her consistently kind, selfless, gentle mothering, complete with warm chocolate chip cookies and bedtime stories, this special lady loves catching up with loved ones over coffee, spending peaceful afternoons in the garden, and doting on her family and friends. This mother is most likely to insist that you “don’t make a fuss”, so you’ll have to discreetly make a fuss, and insist it’s no trouble at all. Treat her, and your dad, to a couple nights in a cozy European styled Inn, linger over coffee, take a walking tour of Carmel-by-the-Sea, laugh and reminisce over a dinner at the casually classy Forge in the Forest, and share stories around a Carmel Beach bonfire.
Monterey Bay Kayakers, off of Cannery Row
This mother never missed a chance to open your eyes to the world’s limitless opportunities for adventure and exploration. She inspires you to look closer, think creatively, turn problems into opportunities, and overcome your fears. “We’re going on a roadtrip!” may be a familiar idiom of your childhood, and you loved every moment of it. Time to return the favor. She’ll appreciate an Inn with a pool, as well as your working knowledge of the area’s trolleys and other transportation options, because you’re going out! Take her kayaking, sailing, whale-watching, or horseback riding, and try out Carmel’s uniquely cultured restaurants, like Dametra’s and Sushi Heaven. Bonus points if you can work in a random surprise adventure, like a trip to the Laguna Seca Races.
Dametra's Mediterranean Cafe, on Ocean Avenue
The Esalen Institute Community Garden, Big Sur
This laid-back, earthy mother respects and relates to the natural world and its intriguing array of creatures and habitats. She insisted that you put down the remote and get outside, orchestrated camping trips and Natural History Museum visits, and taught you to be an environmentally responsible, lifelong learner. This is your chance to prove that you were listening, and nourish her naturalistic spirit. Take her on a hike through The Point Lobos State Reserve or Big Sur, visit the Holy Grail of Marine Conservation — The Monterey Bay Aquarium, tour Pacific Grove’s Natural History Museum, explore the Asilomar Beach tide pools and bird-watching, and visit Pacific Grove’s butterfly sanctuary. If you’re feeling especially generous, you could even sign her up for a weekend of spiritual and artistic growth at Big Sur’s internationally acclaimed Esalen Institute, and whatever you choose, remember to respect the world (and by extension, your worldly mama) with sustainable dining choices, too. Passion Fish and Basil are ridiculously tasty, and eco-friendly.
Basil's Berry Wallet-Friendly $5 Cheesecake
Gallery 21, Carmel-by-the-Sea
Never one to stifle your creativity, this mom always jumped at the opportunity to facilitate a new craft or hobby, visit an art exhibition, or cheer you on at an oboe/ballet/juggling performance. The words “think outside of the box” shaped your creative spirit — which means you’re more than prepared for this mother’s day, and you couldn’t hope for a more artistically rich destination than Carmel. Take a walking tour of the village’s 100-plus galleries, catch a show at the Pacific Repertory Theater, then visit The Monterey Museum of Art, the downtown Pacific Grove galleries, and mingle with local crafters at The Carmel Farmer’s Market. Pick an Inn with a kitchen, and use your creative cooking skills to whip some farmer’s market fare into an originally imagined masterpiece. Even if it’s less than stellar, you know she’ll appreciate your creativity.Remind her that you learned from the best.
A Monika Meunier Oil on Canvas, at Zantman Art Galleries on Carmel-by-the-Sea's Mission Street
* Visit next weekend! The Carmel Art Festival runs from May 13th-18th.
Carmel Plaza
She works hard, appreciates quality, class, and high-standards, and always helps you achieve your full potential. Thanks to her, you have an appreciation for good wine, good company, and a well-deserved weekend away to recharge and prepare for life’s exciting challenges. Make your mom’s weekend especially memorable by treating her to a four diamond, centrally located Inn, a visit to a decadent Carmel day spa, Carmel Valley Wine tasting, and a Carmel Plaza Shopping excursion.
Maybe Next Year...
Historic Old Monterey's Larkin House, Along the Path of History
“When? Where? Why? How? And What does it all mean?” This mom possesses a contagious love of history, delights in discussing life’s meaning and mysteries, and can’t resist a good story. Thanks to her, you’re inquisitive, thoughtful, and probably a lot of fun at dinner parties. The History Buff mom will love learning about the area’s rich cultural history at The Carmel Mission, The Monterey History and Maritime Museum, The Pacific Grove Natural History Museum, The Monterey Bay Aquarium, and along Old Downtown Monterey’s Path of History. Don’t forget to check out Carmel’s abundant antique shops, which set the stage for priceless opportunities to bond over found treasures and the little details that only your mom would notice and appreciate.
Ocean Avenue Antiques
Outside of Monterey's Maritime and History Museum
Mix and match the ideas to reflect her tastes, then slip the upcoming weekend’s itinerary into her homemade card — pancake breakfast optional. Cleaning up after said breakfast? Mandatory. Remind your mama that you weren’t, in fact, “raised by wolves.”
My Sis and Mama on Asilomar Beach. Happy Mother's Day!
Related Articles:
Asilomar State Beach: Video Tour and Tips
Earth Day, Any Day. The Peninsula’s Top Ten Eco-Friendly Activities
The Carmel Inns-by-the-Sea Flow Chart
We Found the Carmel Night-Life, Baby
Carmel Beach Surfing Tips from a Local Expert
Ten Trolley Follies, and How to Avoid Them
Carmel’s Best Breakfasts: 8 Reasons to Rise and Shine
Hot Pink Flamingos and Beyond: A Sneak Peek Inside the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Newest Exhibit
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[...] 6 Ways tο Celebrate Mother’s Day іח Carmel, California | Visit Carmel [...]
Nice work, Katie! Excellent, original and achievable suggestions any mom would love. Your article has me wanting to plan a trip to Carmel over Mother’s Day and try out some of the area’s inns, restaurants and attractions. Love the photos too. Would love to see more articles like this!
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Thanks for the feedback, everyone, so glad this was helpful!
Love the captions! $5 cheesecake looks delicious, I will definately have to hit that up next time I’m in the area. Thanks for the tips, advice and ideas for Mother’s Day or any day! All great ideas that can be used year round as well, so thank you for that!
[...] 6 Ways tο Celebrate Mother’s Day іn Carmel, California | Visit Carmel [...]
Hey, good post…I am absolute avid gardener, I love any kind of gardening news or tips I can get my hands on. thanks Adam
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you’re welcome, RC, so glad you liked it, and thanks for reading!
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[...] 6 Ways to Celebrate Mother’s Day in Carmel, California | Visit Carmel [...]
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[...] 6 Ways to Celebrate Mother's Day in Carmel, California [...]
[...] 6 Ways tο Celebrate Mother’s Day іn Carmel, California | Visit Carmel [...]
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