ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Timeline of Carmel-by-the-Sea, California

Hey there little buddy! So, Carmel-by-the-Sea is a city in California that has been around for a long time. People have been living in this area for thousands and thousands of years! But, let's just talk about what happened starting a few hundred years ago, okay?

So, in the 1700s, Spanish explorers came to this area and set up a mission. A mission is like a church and a community center all in one! It was called the Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo. The people who lived in this mission helped to take care of the land and grow things like crops and fruit.

Fast forward to the 1800s. This is when people started building houses and businesses in Carmel-by-the-Sea. It was just a small town back then, but it grew over time. In the early 1900s, a group of artists moved to Carmel-by-the-Sea. These artists loved the beauty of the area and they painted pictures of the sea and the mountains. This made Carmel-by-the-Sea a popular place for other artists and musicians.

As more people came to live in Carmel-by-the-Sea, they started to build more homes, shops, and restaurants. But, the people who lived there wanted to make sure that the city stayed beautiful and special. So, they made some rules about how buildings could be built. They said that all the buildings had to be short and cute with lots of gardens and flowers! And, they made a law that said no big chain stores or restaurants could be built in Carmel-by-the-Sea.

Now, Carmel-by-the-Sea is known for its cute houses, lovely gardens, and unique shops and restaurants. It has a long and interesting history, and people from all over the world come to visit this special place!