Carmel/Monterey City Guide + Nordstrom Rack

Outfit Details:

Cape: Nordstrom Rack, c/o {similar here, here, here & here} | Dress: Old Navy, c/o {buy here. it’s non-maternity!} | Heels: Chinese Laundry, c/o {buy here} | Sunnies: Nordstrom {buy here; real-deal here} | Handbag: Rebecca Minkoff via Nordstrom Rack, c/o {similar here, here & here} | Watch: Michael Kors {buy here ON SALE!} | Renegade Cluster bracelet: Stella & Dot, c/o {buy here} | Pearl bracelet: Nordstrom {buy here} | Studded bracelet: J.Crew {similar here} | Earrings: Nordstrom {buy here} | Necklace: TopShelf Style, c/o {similar here}

Happy Tuesday party people! My parentals were in town last weekend. Is there anything better than that, really? It’s funny how you spend your teenage years resisting the ‘rents a little bit and then as soon as you enter adulthood, move away, and particularly when you become a parent yourself, all you want is your mommy and daddy again. Well, at least that’s been my experience. My parents are the bomb-diggity-bomb though so that might be why. We decided to head to Carmel/Monterey for the weekend. Have any of you been? You guys – add this to your bucket list. It’s just the most enchanting place in all the land. I posted about it here, here, here and here on the blog after we visited for the first time like 71 years ago. Since then we’ve been back several a times cuz a place that good just keeps calling your name, know what I mean? We’re certainly not experts on the place, but we’ve been enough that we have some ‘favorites’ – things to do and places to eat – so I’ve listed them below in case you give a poop. Huzzah!

Regarding this ensemble: if you follow me on Instagram, it’s no secret that I’ve been obsessed with capes and ponchos lately. I had the opportunity a few weeks ago to attend a private opening of the new Nordstrom Rack in Emeryville, CA where I picked up this lovely cape and cute little Rebecca Minkoff cross-body bag. They were the perfect things to wrap myself up in for Sunday church/brunch times in Carmel. Plus you can’t beat Nordstrom Rack’s prices. It’s one of my favorite places to get designer stuff on the way cheap – i.e. designer jeans and handbags especially.

Other adorable ponchos I’m loving from Nordstrom Rack: this one, this one, this one, this one, this one, and this vest. Killer jeans here. Killer handbags here. Woot! If you live in the Bay area, go check out the new Nordstrom Rack in Emeryville! Address: 3839 Emery Street, Emeryville, CA 94608. You won’t even regret it.

And now for our guide! I’m sure a million people could add way more to this and have way better suggestions, and nothing on here is anything you wouldn’t find if you Googled, BUT these are our personal favorites so far, for what it’s worth! If you’re an experienced Carmelian or Montereyian, leave me a comment with the can’t-miss restaurants or things to do the next time we’re there, ok? Thaaaanks.

Carmel/Monterey City Guide

Our Favorite Things To Do:

• 17-Mile Drive. Literally my favorite. The homes on this little stretch are absolutely breathtaking, as is the view. A must-do.
• Carmel by the Sea. Walking and shopping through quaint little ‘Carmel by the Sea’ is an absolute must. It perfectly captures the vibes of this place. Adorable.
• Monterey Bay Aquarium. This aquarium takes the cake you guys. It’s like world-famous. We took Jack for the first time and he was obsessed. So many fish, so little time.
• Cannery Row in Monterey. Another must-see. It’s a little touristy, yes – but also quaint and adorable and captures the essence of the place. Plus if you visit the aquarium, you’re already there, so you might as well walk around!
• Point Lobos. This post was taken at Point Lobos. Such a gorgeous place and great for easy hikes.
• Beach times. Who doesn’t love a beach? My recommendation though is to go at sunset. We’ve done that a few times now and it’s just everything.

Our Favorite Places to Eat:

• Dametra Cafe. Mediterranean food. Super yummy. More importantly, the servers come out with tambourines and bedazzled waist-sashes and then zumba-shake their arses off while you eat. Not the whole time, cuz that would be weird. It’s fun though. Plus we saw Tori Spelling there once, sooooooo yeah – engraved on our hearts forever basically. (Jokes – God bless Tori Spelling but she has nothing to do with why we like this place. Durrrf.)
• Coopers in Monterey. We actually only tried this place for the first time last weekend when we were there, but it was guuuuuud. If you like english pub type of food (I got clam chowder and fish and chips), this is your spot.
• Casanova. Pricey, but this place is special. The food was amaze-balls and the ambiance was enchanting. Hashtag romance you guys. And food baby.

Places to Stay:

• Spin Drift Inn. Chase and I share an anniversary date with my older sister and her husband, so one year we did a joint anniversary celebration and hit up Carmel/Monterey for a weekend. This is where we stayed. In the same room, all four of us – JOKES! Kidding kidding kidding – we’re not sick-weirdos, ok guys? But seriously, this place was the most. It somehow struck that perfect balance of being old fashioned and quaint but somehow updated at the same time – king size bed, nice TV, room didn’t smell musty or creepy, etc. Plus our room had a fireplace, need I say more? And it’s a great location – right off of Cannery Row in Monterey. They should be paying me right now for all this free advertising – punks. Fills up quickly though so reserve way in advance!
• We’ve also stayed at the Carmel Mission Inn and the Carmel Lodge, both of which were perfectly pleasant.
• Next time we visit, I’m dying to stay at either the Seven Gables Inn in Pacific Grove (right next to Monterey) or the Sanctuary Beach Resort. Both look fab.

Follow me on Instagram for more behind the scenes from our Carmel visit. Woot!

Have a Tiramisu Tuesday!

Thanks for reading.