America's Favorite Beach Towns 2016

“A village in a forest overlooking a white sand beach,” says the town plan for Carmel-by-the-Sea, founded as an arts colony in 1916. Fast forward a hundred years and the bohemian beach town has stayed true to its word, with storybook houses, charming inns, and top-notch art galleries. A popular stopover for roadtrippers on California’s State Highway One, it’s just twenty minutes north of Big Sur’s majestic cliffs, and makes the southern terminus for Pebble Beach’s famous 17-Mile Drive. Carmel also scores highly for its pet friendliness: restaurants, hotels, and the gorgeous Carmel Beach all welcome four-legged friends.