Last Leg of Our California Road Trip
Dear
Polite Travelers,
For
those of you who have been following along with my latest road trip, the next
few sentences probably read like, “Blah, blah, blah.” However, for those of you who have just tuned
in, here is a little background to my road trip series of posts.
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| My Sis Cheryl |
Note:
Follow CDC and county guidelines when visiting.
Always wear your face mask when in public.
Smell
that salt air.
Leaving Paso Robles early in the morning, we headed up highway 101 to Monterey. It is a lovely 2-1/2-hour (includes a short stop at a Starbucks—yum) trip. Most of the landscape is agricultural—green and fertile. Reaching the salad bowl of the west, Salinas, we took the CA68 west toward Pacific Grove/Pebble Beach highway. It didn’t take long before a familiar smell wafted through our vehicle. Ah, the Pacific!
Monterey
As
our destination was Carmel, we had a measly few hours in this iconic ocean-side
city. Even though I’ve visited countless
times, I always find something new, especially when visiting the wharf. I love the vibe of the place. The people...the restaurants...the
shops...perfect. During our short stay, servers of almost all the
restaurants welcomed passersby with samples of clam chowder. It smelled yummy.
As
we looked out into the bay, we could see several different types of seals, sea
lions, and otters. It isn’t unusual,
however, to also see dolphins and humpback whales. For our next trip, I vow to visit the Monterey Bay Aquarium. The current buzz is around their amazing,
colorful octopus.
Note: Pandemic rules change most everything right now. But remember. This is only temporary. Be kind and plan well. Some deals, restaurants, and even activities, such as the aquarium, may change or be nonexistent for now.
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It
was a typical sunny day for this temperate climate, and I had forgotten my
wide-brimmed hat. Consequently, we
dipped into several souvenir-filled shops where we found countless knickknacks representing the coast/California/sports
teams, etc. You name it. If it is California coast-related, you will
probably find it here. However, even
though there were numerous shirts and baseball caps, I didn’t find one that
spoke to me. I have a surprise coming in
Carmel. |
Carmel
by the Sea
Carmel
can be a tad chilly since it is so close to the ocean and those ocean breezes. However, we were lucky to find mild warm
weather for our 1-1/2 days devoted to this idyllic ocean-side city, home to the,
now deceased, Doris Day and Clint Eastwood.
References to these two celebs were everywhere. If you are lucky, he could be sitting next to
you at one of the abundant, excellent restaurants. One of which we visited for a marvelous early
dinner.
A
Girl’s Gotta Eat...Wait! They’re gone?
Since this is an update on my previous post. I’ve found the pandemic hit one of our favorite dining establishments and one we visited on this last trip. If possible, please visit a local diner to support them so they don’t suffer the same fate as: Le St. Tropez. Very sad.
About
Town
In
my opinion, the most rewarding activity in Carmel is walking the enchanting streets. There, one can find family-friendly parks, a
cadre of shops, bars and restaurants, and the occasional street art.
Unfortunately
all the businesses I visited on my last trip are gone. Check with the Carmel Chamber of Commerce for an update on
what is available before your visit.
My
Surprise
As I mentioned previously, I forgot my wide-brimmed hat to protect me from the bright sunshine. So, even though I doubted I would find anything reasonably priced in this touristy town, I kept my eyes open for an opportunity.
Since
Carmel is actually a small-town catering to a large number of tourists, there
are many unique boutique shops tucked inside courtyards located between street-facing buildings—very interesting. Thus,
as we were venturing around town, we came across one such courtyard full of
classy boutiques. One, luckily for me,
was an old-fashion hat shop. They even
make many of their own hats. Although I
don’t typically favor baseball caps, I instantly fell for the beauty in
the above picture.
I
hope you enjoy your visit to Monterey and Carmel. Please share your experiences with us.
Mobility Issues: Paso Robles, CA
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