Summer - Thinking Outside the Beach

Summer has arrived in Carmel-By-The-Sea! Carmel is a great escape from the sweltering heat many experience in other parts of the state.  Whether  you are traveling as a couple, in a group of friends or as a family, June and July offer a variety of events to attend in addition to all of the wonderful outdoor activities and food in the area.

The Carmel Bach Festival is in its 79th season of offering brilliant performances by world class musicians who gather from around the country. Opening night will be Saturday, July 16th, with a performance of Bach and Handel by the Sea in celebration of Carmel's centennial.  There will be concerts held daily through Saturday, July 30th. Venues include Sunset Center, Church in the Forest, Carmel Mission Basilica and other locations in Carmel. Visit the website for the schedule and tickets. Many concerts sell out early.

If you will be in Carmel for Father's Day, Run in the Name of Love is both a 5K run and a 2K walk through Carmel. This year dogs will be welcome in the 2K walk. This is a nice family event open to the public and you can register up to and including race day.

The Carmel House and Garden Tour, hosted by the Carmel Heritage Society, on Saturday, June 25th, will have some special houses included this year. These homes are all within Carmel-by-the-Sea and it is a great walk around the town and an opportunity to see inside some of the unique homes of Carmel. Included this year will be: The first house built in Carmel "The Dunes", The First Brick House built in Carmel in 1898, The Charles Sumner Greene Studio, the Frank Lloyd Wright House, and a Comstock house. You can see the complete list at www.carmelheritage.org. They also have a great exhibit called "Then and Now".

The unique outdoor Forest Theater, founded in 1910, is one of the oldest outdoor theaters west of the Rockies. The theater was closed last summer to update it and bring it up to code. It has just reopened and offers a fun lineup for the summer. The featured play this summer is The Borrowers and will run from June 23 through July 17. There will also be a number of films shown on the large outdoor screen during June  and July. Take a picnic, a bottle of wine, and sit under the pines for a relaxing evening. As always in Carmel, dogs are welcome. For the schedule and times go to www.foresttheaterguild.org

The Carmel Valley Art & Wine Celebration takes place on June 18th. It is held throughout Carmel Valley Village where you can sip on award-winning Carmel Valley wines while viewing the work of over 50 artists in the Village streets. Carmel Valley is just 12 miles from downtown Carmel.

So no matter the reason one chooses to visit Carmel in summer, we are sure you will find something unexpected to enjoy. We hope to see you in the coming months!