Toll Free: 800-348-9090
Local: 831-624-1841
Fax: 831-624-8684

3665 Rio RoadCarmel
California (CA) 93923

Recreational Activities

The Carmel area is paradise for anyone who enjoys the great outdoors. Rent bicycles for a ride on or off trails throughout the region, or take a picnic lunch and hike along the ocean or into the hills. Horseback riding opportunities range from trail rides to wilderness pack trips. Embrace the challenge of rock-climbing on a volcanic crag or, if you prefer, scuba dive as deep as you like into the clear waters of the Pacific Ocean and swim with the sea otters off Point Lobos. If you prefer to watch these whimsical critters from the surface, rent a kayak (whether diving or kayaking, just make sure that you give our furry friends the room that courtesy and the law requires). 

If your taste runs to sailing or windsurfing, Monterey Bay is ideal. Dare-devils might hover out over the dunes on a hang glider. In a quieter mood? Our beaches are perfect for a long walk on white sand, a few hours tidepooling, or a long afternoon with a fishing rod and the seagulls for company. A drive down the coast to Big Sur and the redwoods at Pfeiffer Beach, to Point Lobos State Reserve, or next door to Pacific Grove might be just what the doctor ordered. Whatever your interest, there is plenty to do in Carmel and the Monterey Peninsula.

The Monterey Bay Area and Big Sur coast offer some of the most scenic state parks in existence. Point Lobos State Reserve is one of the most beautiful places you'll ever visit, described as "the greatest meeting of land and water in the world" by landscape artist Francis McComa. Photographers, artists and nature lovers alike love to wander the trails where every turn reveals spectacular vistas. Insider tip: we recommend lining up at the gates before the 9 a.m. opening time, especially on weekends, as access to the park is limited.

Garrapata State Park
Two miles of beach front and 2879 acres of Big Sur beauty are just 6.7 miles south of the Carmel Mission Inn. The park offers diverse coastal vegetation with trails running from the ocean beaches into dense redwood groves. It is an excellent place to see sea lions, harbor seals and sea otters, and a favorite spot to watch for California gray whales as they pass close by Soberanes Point during their yearly migration late November through March.

Big Sur's state parks reward hikers with wonderful beaches. Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park on the edge of the Santa Lucia Mountain Range offers a wide variety of terrain and a trail system that is ideal for a day of exploring magnificent redwoods and ancient oaks, ending at the dramatic rock formations of Pfeiffer Beach. The Big Sur River meanders to the ocean through Andrew Molera State Park, honeycombed with miles of hiking and biking trails.


Other California State Parks

Asilomar State Park and Beach - "Next door" in Pacific Grove
Carmel River State Beach - Literally just down the road
Fort Ord Dunes - Four miles of coastline on Monterey Bay (future State Park)
John Little State Reserve - A short drive south of our inn
Marina State Beach - 10 miles north of Monterey
Monterey State Beach - Stretches from Wharf #2 to Seaside
Moss Landing State Beach and Elkhorn Slough - 16 miles north of Monterey
Point Sur State Historic Park & Lighthouse - 15 miles south of Carmel
Salinas River State Beach - 15 miles north of Monterey
Zmudowski State Beach - 20 miles north of Monterey

Andrew Molera State Park

Garrapata Stake Park

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