Carmel

Carmel-by-the-Sea, a beach town in Northern California, maintains much of the natural beauty that inspired its founding. Thanks to roads that bypassed, rather than bulldozed, trees, the seaside city has been an inspiration for artists and architects alike, from Jack London and Upton Sinclair to actor/director Clint Eastwood, who was the city’s mayor at one point.

Sample a variety of cuisines, some of which include ingredients from both nearby Monterey Bay and the Salinas Valley. Check out the local arts scene—the small town has more than 90 galleries and annual events such as the Carmel Art Festival—or attend a performance at the historic Forest Theater, the first outdoor theater west of Colorado’s Rocky Mountains.