I take you on a walking tour of Ocean Avenue. The main street of Carmel by the Sea, the famous California town known simply as “Carmel.”

Founded by Spanish missionaries in 1771, this seaside town, south of Monterey Bay, was the headquarters of the Spanish Mission system and the Carmelite Order in the New World. St. Fr. Juanipero Serra is buried at the Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo.

Carmel became a trendy artist colony south of San Francisco in the early 1910’s. Notable residents include Ansel Adams, Betty White, Clint Eastwood, and Brad Pitt. Actor Clint Eastwood was the mayor of Carmel in the 1980’s. It is one of the most affluent and exclusive communities in California.

Art galleries, boutiques specializing in vacation-casual fashion, and cafés line the streets along Ocean Avenue. Off the main street are bistro’s and boujie restaurants. Carmel is a very walkable town for tourists.