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CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA, Calif. (Oct. 6, 2016) -- The answer is "Clint Eastwood, former mayor of this town, is Grand Marshal of its Centennial Celebration Parade." With apologies to Alex Trebek, the question quite naturally is, "Where is Carmel-by-the-Sea, California?" Indeed, Eastwood will be serving as Grand Marshal of the parade, which starts at 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 29, features six professionally designed floats, and winding through the streets of downtown Carmel in front of hundreds of spectators.

While Carmel-by-the-Sea readies to celebrate its 100^th anniversary with the parade at month's end, many of the town's lodging properties are offering their own special Centennial packages, allowing visitors to mark the occasion along with the locals. Many of the deals run well into December and some may yet be available leading up to, during or after the parade weekend.

Here is a closer look at some of the Centennial specials:

• Carriage House Inn, Wayside Inn, Candle Light Inn, Svendsgaard's Inn (Inns by the Sea): All four downtown Carmel properties' Centennial packages feature a $100 dining certificate with stays of three nights or more. For a list of partner restaurants, visit the "explore" tab on the website. Valid Nov. 1 through Dec. 23. Call 831.624.0101 or visit innsbythesea.com. Use code CML100 when booking.
• Tradewinds Carmel, Mission and 3^rd. Reserve a three-night midweek stay in a garden level or partial view room and receive a $100 nightly discount off the posted rate. Valid through Nov. 1. Call 831.624.2776 to reserve and mention "Centennial Celebration." tradewindscarmel.com
• Carmel Country Inn, Dolores and 3^rd. Guests reserving a king studio or deluxe king suite for two consecutive midweek nights receive a complimentary split of champagne and box of chocolates. Call 831.625.3263 or visit carmelcountryinn.com; online offer code is "centennial." Valid now through Dec. 22.
• Hofsas House, San Carlos Street between 3^rd and 4^th. With a minimum three-night stay, guests receive 15 percent off the room rate plus a free copy of "Stories of Old Carmel: A Centennial Tribute," a limited-edition book published for the city's 100^th anniversary. Rooms must be reserved before Nov. 15. Call 831.624.2745 and mention "Centennial Travelsite Offer" or visit hofsashouse.com.
• Horizon Inn & Ocean View Lodge, Junipero and 3^rd. The "Centennial Package" includes a bottle of Monterey County wine and keepsake ornament from a Carmel shop. Reservation must be for three or more midweek nights. Valid through Oct. 31, and also includes Wednesday evening Centennial receptions hosted by owners. Call 831.624.5327 and mention the package. horizoninncarmel.com
• Lamplighter Inn, Ocean and Camino Real, and Forest Lodge, Ocean and Torres. Guests who book a three-night stay at either of these neighboring properties receive a deluxe room plus a bottle of champagne for $600 plus tax. Call 831.624.7372 and mention "Carmel100" or visit carmellamplighter.com. Valid through end of the year.
• Normandy Inn, Ocean between Monte Verde and Casanova. The property's "100^th Birthday Package" includes a three-night midweek stay for the price of two nights, with accommodations of either one king or one queen bed. Call 831.624.3825 and mention the package; valid through Dec. 31. normandyinncarmel.com
• The Hideaway, Junipero and 8^th. A "sip-and-stay" Centennial package celebrates with overnight accommodations, two bottles of award-winning Cabernet Sauvignon wine, and complimentary tasting for two at PlumpJack Winery for all of 2016 and 2017. Available through December. Call 831.625.5222 and reference the package or visit hideawaycarmel.com.
• Best Western Carmel's Town House Lodge, San Carlos and 5^th. Reserve a three-night midweek stay and receive 15 percent off room rate plus a free bottle of champagne. Call 831.624.1261 and mention "Centennial" offer, which is valid through Dec. 22. carmelbestwestern.com

To view all the Centennial deals and special packages being offered by Carmel-by-the-Sea lodging properties, visit CarmelCalifornia.com, click on "Exclusive Offers," then "Exclusive Centennial Packages." Certain restrictions apply with all the packages.

For guests planning October visits to Carmel, there are two Centennial-related art exhibits being staged at Sunset Center's Marjorie Evans Gallery. The "Carmel Centennial Exhibit of Historic Photographs" and "Then/Now: Carmel Heritage Celebrates the Mayors of Carmel" are available for viewing by the public from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday, through Oct. 31.

It's never been easier to get to Carmel-by-the-Sea. Monterey Regional Airport (MRY) is just a 10-minute drive away and served by direct flights to and from San Francisco (SFO, United Express), Los Angeles (LAX, American Eagle/United Express and Alaska Airlines), Las Vegas (LAS, Allegiant Air), Phoenix (PHX, U.S. Airways), and San Diego (SAN, Alaska Airlines). San Jose International Airport (SJC) is just 75 miles north.