Fall 2026

H er fresh azure eyes capture things that my weathered eyes don’t. My granddaughter, who’s almost 2 years old, sees opportuni- ties for excitement with every step we take through the streets of Carmel-by-the-Sea:The way spongy moss protrudes from the tree hollows. The half-eaten pinecones, left behind by critters, littering the lanes. Exotic flowers poking through fences of adorable houses with quirky names. The walk to the “big wa wa” (as she calls the Pacific Ocean), tracing its finger alongside the town in which she is lucky enough to live. I’d forgotten how spectacular Carmel is for children. It’d been decades since engaging in the simplest things with my own daughter, who’s now almost thirty. But I’m back seek- ing squirrels, climbing play structures and eating way too much ice cream. The most recent U.S. census shows the median age in Carmel-by- the-Sea is close to 70, and that less than 2% of the population is under the age of 10. Other research shows that not a single child under the age of five was residing full-time in the hamlet as recently as 2023. Our little girl is part of a small troupe that is bending those fig- ures. At least four kids live on the same street as our grand- daughter. I can only hope more families will settle in town, help- ing to revitalize what is already one of the most special places in the world, and keep its unique traditions alive. What a gift that I am now seeing our local splendor again with—and through—a new lens. Carmel River School has an epic playground that welcomes visitors after school hours. But right in town, Forest Hill Park is a wonderland.Tucked into the north end of Junipero Street, it offers typical tot fare: swings, slides, look-out towers. But it also has a field for sports, picnic tables and clean bathrooms. On recent visits, I chatted with another grandma from Big Sur, a young father who works as a line cook in a local restaurant, tourists from China, and a new mom who is the daughter of an old friend of mine.All of us mar- veled at how great the area is for tots, while friendly dogs and their owners trotted past on the footpaths and birds darted from tree to tree before nesting in their verdant houses. One of our granddaughter’s first full sentences took place there, as she called out to Mother Nature,“Blue Jay—where are you?!” Story hour at the Carmel Children’s Library is lit: a veritable United Nations of toddlers and their parents—or, in many cases, grandparents—swaying side to side while group leaders strum the guitar, just like in the late 90s when I would take my own daughter there. Right outside of the library’s doors, a sweet farmer’s market takes place on Thursdays from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm on Sixth Avenue between Junipero and Mission Street. Besides abundant local goods, it sports a cool kids’ area in Devendorf Park.Wander eight or so blocks west and end up at that good old “big wa wa” where little ones build sand castles and search for sea treasures while couples stroll by hand in hand. You only need to venture a few miles in any direction to sat- isfy your child’s desires while indulging in your own. Earthbound Farms has sprawling gardens and special tours for kids, including a “bug walk.” Slightly north of Carmel sits the world-famous Monterey Bay Aquarium, which needs no intro- duction. Monterey’s MY Museum is a place for children to play and learn. Don’t forget legendary Dennis the Menace Park, bringing in families from far and wide. Hours can be spent there without repeating a thrill. A short car ride east on scenic Highway 68 takes you to the Monterey Zoo where children and their adults-on-duty can see lions, tigers, kangaroos and rhinos up close. While pondering how crazy it is that I am now regularly going down slides and digging in the sand, I received a photo of my granddaughter. In it, she is standing on a surfboard at Ocean Beach, a baseball cap jauntily perched sideways on her head, her long, sandy blonde hair blowing in the breeze, arms outstretched as if she were flying. A charmed childhood already, indeed. Also a reminder that experiences to fill the senses are here for all of us —no matter our age. Dina Ruiz is a former news anchor at KSBW TV, past host of “Candid Camera” and has starred on a reality show on the E! Network. She is a writer, editor and yogini. She resides on the Monterey Peninsula. BEHIND THE SPOTLIGHT D I N A R U I Z You only need to ven- ture a few miles in any direction to satisfy your child’s desires while indulging in your own. Carmel IS for Kids 56 C A R M E L M A G A Z I N E • F A L L 2 0 2 6