🇺🇸 3-Day Carmel Getaway 🌊

Last Saturday, I took my son to Carmel for a wonderful 3-day trip! We stayed at the Hyatt Carmel Highlands Ocean View Townhouse Suite 🏨 - a two-level unit with a living room, kitchen, bathroom, and balcony upstairs, and a bedroom with bathroom downstairs. Our room faced the ocean 🌊, and we got some amazing photos from both our balcony and the hotel's observation deck 📸. The suite originally had a huge jacuzzi tub (which was sadly removed during remodeling 😢). Highly recommend booking with Hyatt points - great value! 💯 We spent all three mornings exploring tide pools during low tide: Day 1: Went to the beach near Monterey Fisherman's Wharf 🦭. Saw sea lions sleeping on exposed rocks! Day 2: Parked at Carmel Meadows Trailhead 🚗 (easy residential parking), walked down to Carmel River State Beach 🐚, and found tons of mussels and sea anemones (check out the green ones ! 🌿) Day 3: Visited Point Lobos State Natural Reserve 🌲. Parked nearby and biked in with my 7-year-old - so much easier than driving! No entrance lines or parking worries. 🚴♂️ On Day 1, we also visited the Monterey Bay Aquarium 🐠. Parked at Berwick Park and biked along the coast to the aquarium. The touch pools let kids feel kelp, sea urchins, and abalone! ✨ Membership allows early entry - no waiting in line. After lunch, we biked to Lover's Point for more beach fun. 💕 Dinner at Flaherty's Seafood Grill in downtown Carmel was fantastic 🦞 (though parking took 20 minutes! ⏰). We ordered the Traditional Cioppino with Pasta and Seafood Paella - absolutely delicious and my son's favorite! 😋 On Day 2 afternoon, we visited Dennis The Menace Playground 🎪 - my son loved it! We had an amazing three days - the only downside was how quickly time flew ⏳. Can't wait for our next family vacation! 👨👦✨ #BayAreaGetaway #FamilyTravel #CoastalVacation #CarmelByTheSea #CaliforniaCoast