Things to Do in Carmel, CA

  • Our list of the best things to do in Carmel, California, features the top 183 nearby activities — including 86 great attractions with user approval ratings of 90% or more!
  • Carmel, CA has a variety of great sights and experiences nearby. Top categories include: Outdoor Places, Food & Drink, Museums & Galleries, and Sights & Landmarks.
  • The results below include the top 41 things to do within the city of Carmel, CA , followed by 142 popular activities in nearby cities, including Monterey, Salinas, Pacific Grove, Seaside, Big Sur, Marina and Watsonville
  • Our list of the best things to do in Carmel, California, features the top 183 nearby activities — including 86 great attractions with user approval ratings of 90% or more!
  • Carmel, CA has a variety of great sights and experiences nearby. Top categories include: Outdoor Places, Food & Drink, Museums & Galleries, and Sights & Landmarks.
  • The results below include the top 41 things to do within the city of Carmel, CA , followed by 142 popular activities in nearby cities, including Monterey, Salinas, Pacific Grove, Seaside, Big Sur, Marina and Watsonville
Showing 271-280 of 426
30.0 Miles
94% 1178 votes
National & State Parks State Route 1, Big Sur, CA 93920 MoreLess Info
A nice place for a quick stop, Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park has beautiful beaches that aren't too crowded. Hike in to see a small waterfall.
30.0 Miles
90% 120 votes
Botanical Gardens 1156 High Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95064 MoreLess Info
Located inside the UCSC campus, the Arboretum is a great place to explore a variety of plants and trees of many different countries. Bird watching is a popular activity here with a good population of hummingbirds and other resident and visiting species.
30.0 Miles
93% 361 votes
Colleges & Universities 1156 High St., Santa Cruz, CA 95064 MoreLess Info
The University of California at Santa Cruz is a major research institution with ten component colleges. It is most respected for its programs in medicine, biology, biological engineering and chemistry.
30.0 Miles
67% 3 votes
Winery/Vineyard 600 Pleasant Valley Road, Aptos, CA 95003 MoreLess Info
An Aptos, California winery, the Pleasant Valley Vineyards are a short jaunt from Monterey Bay. Established in 1996, the facility features limited-release varietals, bottled on-site. Selections include Chardonnays, Merlots and Pinot Noirs.
30.2 Miles
100% 5 votes
Winery/Vineyard 108 Don Carlos Drive, Aptos, CA 95003 MoreLess Info
Open for private tastings by contact and appointment, Salamandre Wine Cellars is a quaint and cozy establishment with a new take on wine. Wines include Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Primitivo, and many more.
30.5 Miles
100% 4 votes
Hiking Trails Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, Hwy 1, Big Sur, CA 93920 MoreLess Info
Ewoldsen Trail is a looping trail populated by lush redwoods and a running creek. Hikers will experience several switchbacks through redwood groves and will cross a few bridges on their way through the trail.
30.8 Miles
60% 10 votes
Spas 1 Chaminade Lane, Santa Cruz, CA 95065 MoreLess Info
The Spa at Chaminade is a luxury spa in Santa Cruz. The accommodations are top notch and include a children's water park.
30.8 Miles
89% 55 votes
Camping Site 63025 Hwy 1, Big Sur, CA 93920 MoreLess Info
Situated on the Big Sur coast, Limekiln Beach State Park has plenty of waterfalls, beaches, creeks, and rusted lime kilns to explore. Hikers often run into banana slugs near the trail.
31.1 Miles
96% 308 votes
National & State Parks Highway One, Santa Cruz, CA MoreLess Info
One of the first self-sustained dairies of its time, Wilder Ranch, now a state park, is a popular venue for many outdoor activities and offers beautiful views of the ocean. It has a spacious picnic area and some of the old buildings with their original furnishings, are still intact.
31.4 Miles
100% 5 votes
Winery/Vineyard 2800 Pleasant Valley Road, Aptos, CA 95003 MoreLess Info
Nicholson Vineyards is a boutique winery located along the Corralitos Wine Trail. Guests are invited to bring a picnic to a wine-tasting, where interactions with the winemaker and vineyard owners are common. The vineyard also produces estate-grown olive oil.
Showing 271-280 of 426
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