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One of the prettiest beaches in the world. The sand at Carmel Beach is fine and white and squeaky clean, and sometimes the surf is, too. There are peaks all along this half-mile beach, which change constantly and are best from October to July. The spots are 4th Street, 8th Street and 11th Street. The water is electric blue.
Carmel Beach is hit or miss. The kelp and cove protect it from winds, so it can be offshore when everywhere else is blown out. Every now and then, there are serious tubes to be had. It's all just a matter of looking.
-- Ben Marcus
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Incoming to high, but it varies with bottom conditions.
W, NW, SW
small to well overhead
NW, E and SE
2 to 10
Sand. Very pretty sand. Some rocks.
intermediate to tube-demon
Significant other. Golf Clubs. Money. Personal water photographer.
winter, fall, spring, summer on big Souths
easy, parking at the end of Ocean Avenue, if you can get a spot
Can get crowded when it's good, but there's a lot of room.
A little vibey
3 to 5. Minimal to moderate.
1, squeaky clean
Getting hit by the heavy shorepound.
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The Little Swiss, on 6th Street off Dolores in downtown Carmel, has the best pancakes in town and is popular with the local rogues. Clint Eastwood fans might want to check out the Carmel Mission Ranch on Dolores Street. The food is good and a little expensive, and Clint is often there in the squinty flesh, holding court at the bar.
For a complete listing of Monterey Peninsula Restaurants, check out montereynet.com.
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Blindfold yourself, walk down the streets of Carmel and you will bump into a bed and breakfast. Just for the Clint Eastwood novelty of it all, Carmel Mission Ranch has rooms, but there are a couple dozen other places to stay around Carmel and Monterey, with prices getting cheaper the farther you go out of Carmel. For a complete listing of Carmel lodging, plug into placestostay.com.
Or try
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Golf is awfully popular in this neck of the woods and also awfully expensive. Just driving around 17 Mile Drive, checking out the houses and the scenic vistas is a good way to kill a day. Nature is the big attraction in Carmel and except for the $7.50 you paid on 17 Mile Drive, nature is free. Big Sur is just down the road from Carmel, and Big Sur is a beautiful place. But that's another map.
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