Carmel-by-the-Sea is a small town whose numbers swell in the summer, when wealthier residents return to their vacation houses. Only 40% or so of the population lives in C-b-t-S year-round. Numerous celebrities are alleged to call it home, including Brad & Jenn, Clint Eastwood (who even served a term as mayor in the '80's, and owns a ranch-style resort just outside of downtown), and John Madden.*
The city, according to its planning code, romantically envisions itself as a "village in a forest, overlooking a white sand beach." A large number of houses in C-b-t-S resemble fairy tale cottages, and an equally large quantity are identified by name placards ("Xanadu," "Casa del Mar," etc) rather than addresses.
At the end of the commercial strip, which is aptly named Ocean Avenue, lies an exquisite beach, whose luxurious sand and effervescent surf make for quite an enjoyable barefoot stroll. In the distance, golf courses dot the coast.
Monterey, C-b-t-S's neighbor to the north, is perhaps the golf destination on the west coast, if not the entire United States. Half a dozen world-class courses amble along the shoreline, the most famous being the Pebble Beach Golf Links. If you hope to play one of these courses, which feature jaw-dropping scenes from tee to green, you'll benefit from A.) knowing someone, B.) booking about a year in advance, and C.) being enthusiastic about dropping $1K or more for green fees and a night's stay at the hotel. The rest of us (poors) can still get a sense of what goes on by taking the scenic 17 Mile Drive, which along with the sneak peaks at the golf courses also presents a tour of some of the most majestic homes you'll ever see, and at least one very iconic cypress tree.
Getting all the way down there was a chore, but Carmel-by-the-Sea did not disappoint...despite how boorish and clumsy its name may be.
*The populace seems to be extremely wealthy, so I was surprised when I read Wikipedia's demographics report later.
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