IF YOU GO
Wine Walk: Stroll from tasting room to tasting room on the Carmel Wine Walk by-the-Sea. A tasting passport costs $65 and is available at the Carmel Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center, San Carlos Street between Fifth and Sixth avenues; www.carmelwinewalk.org.
Picnic: Choose from a number of gourmet sandwiches, salads and picnic "lunchboxes" at the 5th Ave Deli and Catering, Fifth Avenue between San Carlos and Dolores streets; www.5thavedeli.com.
Music: The Sunset Center has concerts and other events booked through mid-2015. Find calendar and ticket information at www.sunsetcenter.org. The venue is located at San Carlos Street and Ninth Avenue.
Many travelers use Carmel-by-the-Sea as a base for exploring the greater area, taking in such nearby attractions as the always-fascinating Monterey Bay Aquarium and picturesque Point Lobos.
I get that. Yet I also understand why someone might never want to leave once they set foot in this lovely European-style village. It offers just about everything one could want, from sandy beaches and gorgeous scenery to first-rate accommodations, restaurants and all kinds of recreational activities.
A wine walk
When it comes to wine tasting, people often think of Napa and Sonoma first, but Monterey County also is a premiere wine region. And there’s arguably no better way to experience it than via the Carmel Wine Walk by-the-Sea, a self-guided, self-paced tour that winds through 12 tasting rooms in a square mile.
Pick up a $65 wine tasting “passport,” which gives you a $10 flight at each of nine tasting rooms. The best thing about this wine walk is that you don’t have to drive between tasting rooms. Plus, the passport doesn’t expire, so you can spread out your wine tasting over the course of several trips to the area.
Beach picnic
Visitors will find many excellent dining options in and around Carmel-by-the-Sea, but none can offer a view that competes with what you will find at Carmel Beach, just a short stroll from the village down Ocean Avenue. Pack a picnic and revel in the soft sand, exceptional surf and scenic setting.
Plenty of local businesses can help you pack a picnic, but one of the best spots is 5th Ave Deli, which offers fully loaded picnic “lunchboxes.” The Carmel Classic ($16.99) includes an oven-roasted turkey and cheddar sandwich, pasta salad, chips and a dessert.
Tuneful evening
What better way to conclude a perfect day than with some live music at one of Northern California’s best venues? Schedule your trip to Carmel when there’s something happening at the lovely Sunset Center. This facility, which feels as much like a cathedral as it does a concert hall, boasts some truly mind-blowing acoustics, great sight lines and cozy seats.
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