Carmel Mission

Monterey, California Print   Leave a comment

Description

Carmel Mission is rich with beauty. It has a sort of rustic look- I'm not sure if that's because it isn't maintained well or if it's on purpose. The caramel-colored stone is delightful. And best of all is the gardens. They are chock full of roses and giant dahlias. They are a feast for the eyes and a photographer's dream! I arrived after a rain and the flowers looked so wonderful covered in clear raindrops.
There are three sections to the grounds so make sure you see all three. There's the entrance courtyard with a Spanish fountain, rose garden, and statues. There's a side area with a graveyard and ivy growing over weather-stained sandstone walls. And there's the back courtyard which is also a school. Here you will find such lovely little gardens and fountains, and one grand Spanish fountain.
Carmel mission is special because it is a basilica- the architecture is glorious. The pope has visited it, and it was the first mission in California.
The neighborhood around the mission is lovely with its hilly streets, lush vegetation, and stone houses.
While in Carmel, don't miss out on the absolutely gorgeous Carmel River State Beach, with its yellow sand and ink blue sea. If you're hungry, there's a new Safeway store right by the mission. Go back on Rio Rd towards Highway 1, but continue past Highway 1, and turn right into the parking area for the shopping center. Grab yourself a yummy deli sandwich and have a seaside picnic.
Also very nearby is Carmel-By-The-Sea, with a posh main strip along Ocean Avenue where you can rest at a coffee shop or bakery. From there, walk down to Carmel-By-The-Sea Beach with its white white soft sand and marvel in the beauty around you!
More California Missions to Check Out
Each mission is a little different and some people make a tour out of seeing them all! Santa Barbara Mission has a stunning location with views of the sea. Views from the rose garden are heaven. La Purisma Mission is a wonderful pink color and each room is set up like it would have been when it was a working mission- it's a magical place. Mission Santa Ines is a yellow mission amongst the Solvang countryside. Mission San Buenaventura has a fantastic fountain with blue Spanish tiles that leads down from it for what feels like miles!

Photo Gallery

Old-style California courtyard at the Carmel Mission.	Entrance gate.	Flowers in the front courtyard.
Spanish fountain in the school courtyard.	Giant dahlia in the school gardens.	What precious roses!
Stop and enjoy the incredible huge flowers!	Lilac rose.	Some flowers look almost tie-dyed!
Dahlias in the school gardens.	Amazing blue flowers.	Roses are red, violets are blue...
Rustic-looking fountain and buildings in front courtyard.	Spectacular architecture.	Rose, with mission in background.
Peaceful grotto in school courtyard.

Directions

The Carmel Mission is located at 3080 Rio Rd, on the corner of Lasuen Dr. Click "satellite" to see it from the air. From Monterey, head south on Hwy 1. Turn right on Rio Rd and you will soon have the mission on your left. From the street all you see is a long parking lot and no sign so it's very easy to miss.

This is an interactive map, you can zoom and move it.

Visitor Ratings

Overall Visitor Rating:

Julie 07/07/2010 12:02	Stayed in Carmel last week ...it was aaaaawesome :-D...miss it :-(
tarielle 02/10/2010 14:41	peaceful... went with my school and wish i could have stayed longer :0)
carlo delmia 01/10/2010 10:19	i did a report and san carlos borromeo del rio carmelo mission and it sounds great!!!!!!!!
Tim 10/09/2009 13:34	the grounds will blow you away with all the plants and color. tall flowers, fountains. We really had a great time spending the morning reading some history of california