Once an artist's colony, Carmel has become an upscale town with more than 70 art galleries (some of which have very nice photography) and 60 restaurants. Carmel has enacted an incredible number of regulations to fight modern developments: there are no billboards, neon signs, sidewalks in residential areas, house numbers and home mail delivery. Signs in Carmel include a beautiful 1790's mission, the best restored in the chain, where Father Junipero Serra is buried, and a beautiful coastal drive, liking up Carmel Beach to the Carmel River State Park through stunning mansions nested amongst groves of rare Monterey Cypress.
[CLICK on any picture to see a larger image and details, to add to selection, to order, and to download wallpaper.]