Carmel River State Beach is sandy romp, great for beachcombing and letting the kids loose. Birders will want to grab the binoculars and see what they can see at the river's marsh delta. But you might want to hold out for Point Lobos State Reserve , a little further on. Only 450 people are allowed in the reserve at any one time. On the weekends there is frequently a line of people waiting to get in so plan to arrive early or go during the week.
Kelp beds lie just off the coast, which means romping grounds for sea otters.
Grab the binoculars. The California Sea Otter Refuge begins at the southern end of Point Lobos, and extends south to Big Sur. The land area above the reserve is called the Carmel Headlands. Soon, the headlands end and the Santa Lucia Range begins, turning Highway One into a thrilling stretch of road. The drive twists and turns between sheer cliffs above stretching to the sky and sheer cliffs below plummeting to the violently churning ocean.