If you’re planning a family day out in Carmel, you won’t be disappointed with the choice of kid-friendly attractions. Whether you want outdoor fun or indoor activities, there’s something for children of all ages.
Forest Hill Park and Playground
A tour we think you'll love
Forest Hill is a sprawling 2-acre park situated at the intersection of Camino del Monte and Junipero. Kids of all ages enjoy the park’s many features, including: slides and swings, obstacle courses, tennis courts, volleyball court, horseshoe pits and a shuffleboard course. There also picnic tables and barbecues.
Blue Lemon
You’ll find Blue Lemon jewelry studio at Carmel Plaza. Owner Edith Schneider holds jewelry making classes for beginners and more experienced crafters. Classes are small and intimate and Edith—with her extensive background of art shows and jewelry retail—provides hours of informative fun.
Cottage of Sweets
The Cottage of Sweets is a unique experience that has been providing delicacies to Carmel residents and visitors since 1960. The store has a delicious selection of locally made chocolates, mouthwatering fudge and a great range of children’s novelty candy. The store also boasts 50 different varieties of licorice imported from countries around the world. This is a must-stop shop when you are visiting Carmel with your family.
Golden Bough Playhouse
Home of the Pacific Repertory Theatre, the Golden Bough is Carmel’s only professional theatre company. The 300-seat Golden Bough is designed with an elegant proscenium and is used for musicals and large classical and modern performances. The site is also home to a more intimate 120-seat theatre in the round known as the Circle Theatre, which is mainly used for more experimental works. The Pac. Rep also perform at the enchanting Outdoor Forest Theatre; a 540-seat amphitheater. The 2014 season for children includes: Dr. Doolittle Jr. and Shrek the Musical.
Carmel River State Beach
Carmel River State Beach is a great place to take your children for a picnic, or a fun afternoon building sand sculptures. That’s not all; at this gem of a beach you can experience local wildlife to the fullest – otters, dolphins, rabbits, pelicans, falcons, quail, and many varieties of sea bird.
SmallSea
SmallSea is a delightful metropolis in miniature will charm children of all ages. The unique museum/shop in the Barnyard Shopping Center is home to the model of a make-believe Edwardian English city in around the turn of the 18th century. The seaport has been created with an impeccable attention to detail and includes a town hall, local brewery, baker and other shops. The streets are also stocked with horses and carriages, buses and a population of more than 1,000 miniature people.
