Carmel can be categorized in both many and
few words. In fact to some people the town of Carmel can be categorized
by only one word; galleries. Shop, shop and shop some more. This town
was established in 1904 by a group of artists and writers as a retreat
center. The original flavor of the town is still preserved today. It has
a unique individuality and small village charm. There are many different
architectural styles, many incorporating international style. Carmel is
quite a bit smaller then Monterey but is more wealthy.
Clint Eastwood used to be mayor of this town. Every summer the 90 year
old Outdoor Forest Theatre plays host to a variety of cultural events
for tourists and residents. In mid July you can enjoy a 3 week
celebration of Bach's music. Then from the beginning of August through
the first week in October Carmel plays host to the Shakespeare Festival.
Parking can be a bit rough in this cultural town. Speaking of cars this
is a good town to keep an eye out for expensive and rare automobiles
driving around the streets. There is a free parking lot on Third Street
and Torres Street.
To give you some direction of some of the good shopping areas let me
list a few. The best place for shopping and selection and unfortunately
high prices is in the downtown area. The downtown is where you can
actually experience the true feel of Carmel. The Barnyard is a shopping
and dining complex located several miles away from town at the
intersection of Highway 1 and Carmel Valley Road It has many fine
galleries and specialty shops. Another neat place is the Crossroads,
just east of Highway 1 and the Carmel Mission. They offer almost 100
boutique shops, specialty shops, and some cute restaurants.
The Beach at the end of the main street that runs through Carmel is a
nice spot to relax or watch the ocean. Several beach bums can always be
found here.
