I enjoyed my time at the Carmel Mission. My group enjoyed the self-directed wandering all over the mission. My only complaint is that the information in the exhibits is very biased, and I didn't appreciate hearing so many things (in videos and on signs) that sounded like half of a story being told - I was left with many more questions than answers. Outside of that single complaint, the facility was beautiful and wonderfully kept. The historical items on display were nicely shown and many interesting positive details were shared about individuals being examined in the exhibits.

Great experience! Very humbling to learn how the missions were started and how they lived. Interesting to learn that it's the location of the very first library in California. Amazing how it was started by one man who was responsible for many other missions in California. The Catholic community is still reaching out to the community and taking care of the people through many ways.

A beautiful restored California mission well worth visiting to learn of its special and unusual history. Home of California's first library! And they have a lovely gift shop.

We visited 3 different Missions on our trip to San Jose. Carmel by the Sea was the most breathtaking. A wedding was in process when we arrived, but we were able to tour all the rest of the grounds. We spent over an hour just reading on and looking at all the history. By this point, the wedding ended and we spent over 30 min. in the actual chapel. So much history.... By far our favorite. It was a good 3 hours of driving both ways from San Jose, but well worth it!

Interesting, historic site. The mission is very restored and much changed from the original. Really attractive grounds. Spend time talking to people in the mission gift shop to get a lot if interesting stories about the history of this mission.