This past weekend I visited Carmel-by-the-Sea, a European-style seaside village approximately 5 hours north of Los Angeles. Carmel is a world-renowned town, and is rated as a top-10 destination in the U.S. year after year. Visiting Carmel has been high on my to-do list, and I was thrilled to finally get the chance to visit.

When we arrived, my mom and I checked into the Hofsas House Hotel, a charming Bavarian-inspired hotel right next to town.

This adorable mural in the hotel driveway was painted by artist Maxine Albro in the late 1950s.

I noticed that the whole town, including the hotel, was covered with hydrangeas, which happen to be my favorite flowers!

Hofsas House Hotel has 38 spacious, one-of-a-kind rooms, and many come with amenities such as fireplaces, private balconies, wet bars, kitchens, and patios, not to mention amazing ocean views.

Our room was no exception!

Hofsas House Hotel is family-owned and operated, and you can tell that the family takes great pride in its establishment. We were greeted with wine and cheese in our room, much to our delight!

After enjoying the refreshments, we unpacked, threw on a jacket (it was chilly outside!), and walked into town.

Autumn has certainly arrived in Carmel!

A lot of Carmel’s architecture reminds me of buildings you would see in an English village.

My mom and I ‘oohed’ and ‘aahed’ at all the homes in the area. I would live in them all!

We finally made it down to the beach, just as the clouds were rolling in…

…and then hurried back to our hotel room just in time to catch the sunset.

If you visit Carmel, I highly recommend staying at Hofsas House. The rooms are spacious and comfortable, the hotel is within easy walking distance of the town center, and the owners and staff are so gracious and welcoming. The hotel offers everything you’d want for a great weekend getaway!

~S