Secrets of Carmel-by-the-Sea: A Stroll Through Hidden Gems and History
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About the Tour
About the Tour
This off-the-beaten-path walking tour of some of Carmel's hidden gems is a collaboration by Lynn Momboisse and Carmel Cares founder Dale Byrne. On this tour we will visit Carmel Beach as well as many other unique and hidden out of the way places. You will begin in downtown Carmel at the historic Pine Inn, visit First Murphy House Museum, walk Carmel’s quiet northwest residential district, pass architecturally significant homes, discover the hidden Jane Powers Walkway and cross the boardwalk of North Del Mar Dunes to the north end of Carmel Beach which sits at the foot of the magnificent Pebble Beach Golf Links. We will return to our starting point at the Pine Inn via 4th Avenue. Along the way you will hear stories about some of Carmel’s early residents, such as artist Jane Powers, writer Mary Austin, poet Robinson Jeffers and his wife Una, as well as architects M. J. Murphy, Hugh Comstock, and Albert Henry Hill.
Tour Producer
Tour Producer
Lynn Momboisse
Hi! My name is Lynn. I am a native of California and have resided in Northern California for most of my life. I have a love for discovering the hidden treasures in my own back yard. For many years I lived in beautiful Carmel-by-the-Sea where I co-authored the book Historic Homes and Inns of Carmel-by-the-Sea. During my time in Carmel-by-the Sea, I served on the Carmel Heritage Society, and Historic Resources Board. My love of history and passion for discovering the beauty of the Golden State has led me to create a fun little blog titled "Adventures of a Home Town Tourist" where I recount many of my walking tours and hiking adventures throughout the world. I currently live in the majestic Sierra Foothills and have written several walking and driving tours of the Lake Tahoe area as well as the California Gold Country. I am so excited to continue to share my travel adventures through the power of VoiceMap. I can't wait for you to join me. Happy Adventures!
Preview Location
Preview Location
Location 11
Sunwise Turn A Hugh Comstock Fairy Tale Cottage
The gray doorway is capped by a small roof hood and the roof itself is cedar shingle laid in a staggered pattern. This is Sunwise Turn Cottage, notice the name hand-pa... Read More
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Major Landmarks
Major Landmarks
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Carmel-by-the-Sea
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Pine Inn
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Windy Oaks Carmel Tasting Room
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Carmel Heritage Society
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Mary Austin's Rose Cottage
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Jane Powers Walkway
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ZQP Trail to Beach
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North Del Mar Dunes Boardwalk
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Carmel Beach
Getting There
Getting There
Route Overview
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Start locationOcean Ave &, Lincoln St, Carmel-By-The-Sea, CA 93921, USA
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Total distance3km
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Final location7 Monte Verde St, Carmel-By-The-Sea, CA 93921, USA
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Distance back to start location130.88m
Directions to Starting Point
Start your tour at the red-brick courtyard of the Pine Inn, situated midway down the west side of Lincoln Street between Ocean Avenue and 6th Avenue.
Access the courtyard through the wrought iron arch marked "Pine Inn," located between Windy Oaks wine room, Fjorn Scandinavian on the right, and Fourtane Jewelry on the left. You'll find a glass gazebo and the Panetteria Bakery within the courtyard. Aim to park your car as close as possible to the Pine Inn. While most spots on Ocean Avenue have a two-hour limit, parking in the residential areas off Ocean Avenue is unrestricted. Be vigilant of all parking signs. Craving a cup of coffee for your stroll? Stop by the Panetteria bakery inside the gazebo at the Pine Inn Courtyard. Look for the sign and awning labelled "Il Fornaio" above the gazebo. Additionally, there's a public restroom available in the Il Fornaio restaurant, connected to the Panetteria.
Show Directions
Tips
Tips
Places to stop along the way
Carmel Beach, First Murphy House Museum, Harrison Memorial Library, Il Fornaio Bar and Restaurant, Pine Inn, Panetteria Bakery, Windy Oaks Wine Room
Best time of day
Afternoons are best if interested in stopping in at the Harrison Memorial Library (open every day 12pm to 4pm), Windy Oaks Wine Room (open every day 12pm to 6pm), or First Murphy House Museum (Tuesday – Thursday 12pm to 3pm). Otherwise it is best to visit this walking tour during day time hours only.
Precautions
There are two sets of stairs on this tour. One near Mary Austin’s Rose Cottage and a set of 64 stairs to get down to Carmel Beach. The hike back up 4th Avenue from the beach is a bit steep. The hike on Monte Verde between 4th and 5th is also a bit steep. Please keep this in mind when deciding on whether or not to take this tour.
If stairs are an issue though, note that you can easily forgo taking the set of 64 stairs down to the Carmel Beach and still have some nice views of the beach.
Also note that when taking pictures with your phone you should use the still photo setting not video. Using video will cause the VoiceMap app to close and you will have to restart the tour.
Carmel is a unique village in an urban forest. Because of the heavy tree coverage near the Mary Austin House (Rose Cottage), GPS is not always reliable.
The homes that you will be viewing are privately owned so please respect resident’s privacy and stay behind fences and close to street. Carmel’s streets are narrow and there are not many sidewalks. Walk as close to the house side of the street as possible, pay very close attention when you cross the street, and watch for uneven ground and low hanging tree limbs when walking. When you come to intersections, make sure that any cars coming your way see you and have stopped. Just be mindful of your surroundings as you enjoy this beautiful and unique off-the-beaten-path walking tour of Carmel-by-the-Sea.
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