A Sunny Winter Weekend Walking Carmel Beach

We spent a weekend in mid-February down in Carmel-by-the-Sea. The weather was unusually clear and bright for this time of year, perfect for being outside. The path to the beach takes you right past these incredible gnarled cypress trees, their roots gripping the sand dunes under a perfectly blue sky.

The main beach is a long, wide crescent of white sand. It was pretty busy, with lots of people and dogs enjoying the sun and walking along the water's edge. We joined them for a long walk, stopping for a quick selfie against the ocean backdrop.

The coastline changes as you walk south, becoming more rugged with rocky outcrops. The houses here are built right into the cliffs and tucked among the trees. We saw a few surfers out in the water, with a golf course visible on the hills across the bay. The architecture is notable, with unique stone houses, one with a bright red door right on a cliff and another that looked like a small castle set back in the woods. It was a simple trip, mostly just walking and observing.