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ROOMS USASet on gently rising headlands above a sculpted rocky shore, Carmel is well known for its ridiculously inflated real-estate prices, neat rows of quaint shops and miniature homes along Ocean Avenue, and a largely untouched coastline. Unfortunately, the town also has a thick air of stultifying pretension, peppered with tacky galleries and mock-Tudor tearooms, and lacking any authentic sense of small-town culture. Even so, Carmel Mission Basilica , 3080 Rio Rd (Mon-Sat 9.30-4pm, Sun 10am-4pm), provides a rare hint of genuine historical interest, with Moorish bell towers, a sandstone facade, three small museums featuring antiques and memorabilia, and an eerie cemetery containing the graves of over 3000 Native Americans. The area's natural appeal is much greater than its cultural offerings. Carmel Beach , for one, is a tranquil cove of blue water bordered by soft white sand and cypress-covered cliffs (the tides are deceptively strong and dangerous, so be careful if you chance a swim). Hotels in Carmel |
