On Saturday morning, we decided to enjoy one of our last COVID-19 days (before another lockdown) by visiting Point Lobos State Park and hiking to the famous Allan Memorial Grove, which overlooks the Pacific Ocean.
The drive to Point Lobos was easy, with little traffic on Highway 101 heading south. We arrived around 11:20 am, parked inside the Point Lobos State Natural Reserve, and started our hike. It was a beautiful December day with little wind but a lively ocean. It was about 58-62 F, so I didn't need my jacket.
The hike was relatively easy, with beautiful overlooks of the Pacific Ocean. The moss-covered trees looked a bit dry, as it had not rained in California.
We didn't see any seals or sea lions, but we did hear them in the distance.
I recorded our short (1-mile) hike on Strava, and the details can be seen below:
After the short hike, we hiked for an additional 0.5 mile to the coast.
After the hike, we returned to Carmel-by-the-Sea for lunch at the Stationery Restaurant on 6th Street (downtown Carmel). It was a new restaurant recommended to us by our friends. When we arrived, no tables were available, so we decided to add our names to the waiting list while exploring multiple art galleries nearby. After about 30 minutes, we finally sat, but the table was leaning slightly. We wanted to change to another table but decided not to wait an extra 15 minutes.
I ordered the Chilaquiles (recommended by the waiter), while Inna selected the Potato Pancake and the Fall Special Latte.
Lunch was delicious, and we enjoyed it despite the cold weather and the lack of a nearby heater (the restaurant did provide complimentary blankets). After lunch, we decided to walk around the beach, where we saw a few surfers and many beautiful houses on the beach.
Some homes were getting rebuilt, but we didn't see too many Christmas decorations (in comparison to our neighborhood).
After we walked around the beach, we returned to downtown Carmel for hot coffee and a few pastries at the Rise + Roam Pizzeria and Bakery.
We liked some pastries, but the raspberry one was too sweet.
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