Happy Friday! I hope you had a good week and are looking forward to the weekend. Have any plans? Here’s an idea – beach, lakeside visit or a picnic in the park? Today I’d like to share pics of me and my daughter Rani’s visit to the charming seaside village of Carmel by the Sea.

One of the most beautiful seaside villages in California

Carmel by the Sea off scenic Hwy 1 in Northern California is a bucolic European style village that hugs the Pacific coast. One of the most charming little towns you’ll ever visit.

Flowers brimming from hanging baskets and lined on every street. Art galleries, restaurants, cafes and boutiques aplenty, and access to pristine beaches from any street you meander onto. The best part? It’s always a pleasant cool 60s and 70s, sometimes in the 80s here. The weather is amazing in Carmel.

The beauty of summer – impromptu weekday excursion

The beauty of summer is that even a weekday can feel like a holiday especially when your child is home from school. That’s how Rani and I ended up taking a road trip to Carmel by the Sea on a Thursday afternoon to visit her friend Charlotte, who was staying with her parents in the village. Charlotte also happens to be an artist 🎨.

Afternoon lunch with daughter Rani

Rani and I grabbed lunch at local cafe La Bicyclette in downtown Carmel before heading to see her friend. La Bicyclette is a cute cafe with California faire such as salads, wood fired pizza, fish, and pasta.

The food was outstanding 😋

Post lunch stroll

Moms chat while the girls head to the beach

The serenity of a weekday excursion

Carmel by the Sea is a perfect weekday excursion if you can manage to take the afternoon off. A great way to get a leisurely break and enjoy this beautiful village by the sea without all the tourists and crowds.

Weekends in the summer are crazy in Carmel with tourists and locals alike heading to the village. If you can manage to take an afternoon off, that’s the best way to enjoy Carmel by the Sea while appreciating the surrounding beauty in peace.

Happy Weekend Everyone!