4. Carmel-by-the-Sea is touristy and so worth it The seaside enclave has a dizzying array of restaurants, bakeries, bars and souvenir shops, but the fairy tale-like enclave pulls it off in the most charming way. Check in at The Hideaway, a newly renovated B&B/boutique hotel with 24 guest rooms, a complimentary wine and cheese happy hour and European-style breakfast with house made quiches and pastries, plus bikes and boogey boards to borrow. Take the Wine Walk-by-the-Sea and wine hop through walkable downtown.