What a fun place for kids! We were here on vacation and used the ACM reciprocal network and entered…read morefor free. For our 23 month old his favorite was the bottle rocket activity. You crank to build pressure and see the bottle shoot up! Our 5 y/o's favorite was the craft area. What a great way to use her creativity and imagination! She also enjoyed the mini-golf :) and dressing up as a firefighter. All the people working there were also friendly and asked if we had any questions. They truly loved their jobs! When we're visiting this area again we'd definitely want to come back.

My 3 year old had a blast at this place. Actually, it was probably the longest he's ever played at…read morean indoor playspace/museum (2+ hours and could have played for longer but it was time to eat), AND we didn't even explore the entire area! The space in the museum is quite deceiving--it looks small on the outside and technically isn't super big, but it's densely packed with fun things. There's a lot of pretend play (theater, hospital, ambulance, firetruck, garden/restaurant), some science-y/cause and effect stuff, gross motor stuff, pretty much something for every kid. It's also a smart idea for them to sell a ton of toys at the front, haha. The price is really good (only $10/person for the entire day) and well worth it. The staff are also very nice!

Very cool place. The taxidermy bird room alone is worth the entrance fee. I will definitely be…read moregoing back the next time I visit.

If you got a Pacific Grove, you need to see the Museum of Natural History. It's a nice little…read moremuseum. Well set up. You can learn about the fishing industry, you can learn about Jade. I found that very interesting. You can also find about the wildlife and birds in the area. They also had some very cool relief, maps of the geography and geology of the Monterey Harriet. They offer a senior discount. It's always good to support museums.

Wonderful little museum packed with beautiful artworks. Came for the Mary DeNeale Morgan show but…read morewas impressed by the total amount of art in this small museum. Even great art in bathroom and basement hall. Especially loved that many watercolor paintings were displayed. If you're a student (any age) you can get a discount!

This is a cool museum and a wonderful diversion from some of the more touristy spots in the area…read more We came for the Biennial California exhibit. A photo of mine was on display. It is truly humbling to see your work displayed alongside other fantastic artists. It is a wonderful space. The staff is extremely friendly. My exhibit is over, but check out their next exhibition.

The current exhibition is Salvador Dalí. It's a fantastic menagerie of art and history. I truly…read morethought I knew so much about his work until my recent visit. The stories of his work and inspirations had me reading every last tidbit. The black and white photos of Dalí preparing his own work were mesmerizing. I could've spent the whole day here. The whimsical arrangements throughout the rooms gave me the notion that I had stepped into a secret space that made me think differently. It's hard to describe. It was beautiful.

I found this little museum quite interesting. I love learning new things about places I visit. On…read morethe lower level, the museum focuses mostly on early settlement in the Monterey area with wide coverage of the World War II era and the entire Pacific fleet not exclusive to Monterey. On its upper level more exhibits can be found directly related to Monterey's fishing industry and the history of Cannery Row. There are two exhibits that caught my eye. The first one can be seen as soon as you walk through the doors as it is situated on the open floor between the museum's entrance and the Monterey County Visitor Information Center. The Bixby Bridge is located in nearby Carmel, CA but you can see a masterful sculpture carved out of old growth redwood by artist Michael Miller (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/8FhwlcREHuMFeNISkhSz0A?select=C8WBeFH2NGi9JdxTfwQsjQ). Take the time to observe the fine detail that the artist puts into the sculpture. It's truly a masterpiece. The second exhibit is probably the biggest item inside the museum and can be seen to the left of the museum's entrance doors and that is the huge historic Fresnel lens once housed at the Point Sur Light Station (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/8FhwlcREHuMFeNISkhSz0A?select=TvlZXZSWAjVb7Bz9ej2ICg). The highlight of the exhibit is the 580 glass prisms which makes up the lens. There is a nice assortment of information surrounding the exhibit as well as some interactive stations. The museum's collection is worthy of 5 stars, but I found some serious design flaws on several of the exhibits which detracted from my viewing experience. Simple things like accent lighting pointed directly at a glossy painting whereas the viewer can not experience the artwork but simply a burst of yellow light on glossy canvas. Several of the exhibits had a sheet of clear plexiglass protecting them which is wonderful for prolonging the life of the exhibit but it doesn't work when accent lighting and direct sunlight hits it from different directions causing a triple image because of shadowing. I found a lot of simple things just like that on both levels which were just distracting. The museum is open Tuesdays through Sundays from 10 AM to 5 PM. There is no admission fee, but donations are accepted and appreciated.

Stevenson history: California Historical Landmark #352…read more We stopped by to see where the author lived, formerly the French Hotel (now called Stevenson House after him and dedicated to his memory). Robert Louis Stevenson is most noted for Treasure Island and Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde and also wrote the poem, The Lamplighter. We saw a man come out from the back, perhaps a groundskeeper, and we asked him if the garden was open to the public. He was nice and said that we could come back tomorrow when the gates are unlocked and we could visit inside. Free to the public. We came back the next day. The museum is closed. We peeked inside the building and it didn't look much like a museum like it was going through some type of renovation and they abandoned the job. Stevenson only lived here for a short while and the two-story adobe building is uninspiring. He was sick and in poor health and was cared for by his friends while here but the full story is that he was in town chasing a married woman, Fanny Osbourne. The garden was not big in size but it had lots of shaded trees. There were benches in parts of the garden which was nice. Flowers were in bloom but the garden could use a little upkeep. I've included photos of some of the flowers in the garden. Review #1901

Robert Lewis Stevenson was an early days bohemian, not much different than your run in the mill…read moreliberal. He looked at life and sought time to develop his writing materials, enjoy warm pleasant weather, play some chess and smoke. The French Hotel is where RLS came to be and eventually marry his love of his life. Today... the museum is lucky enough to be here houses his very own personal artifacts, rare book and actual furnishings all obtained from his family members. A perfect and free treat for history buffs, writers, architects, lighthouse engineers, and photographers. This might be a bit boring for kids, but maybe if you first hand them the book Treasure Island, and then brought them here... they might get into it. You need to check ahead if you wish to get inside, the place is always closed. His actual bedroom (upstairs) is closed to the public, thanks to our own self imposed wheelchair accessible rules.

A super quick and free museum. It'll only take 5-10 minutes to view this spot and there were like 3…read moredifferent rooms. Pretty cool historical stuff and worth checking out if you're already in the area but don't go out of your way to come here.

It's a History to Me…read more Part of the Monterey State Historic Park, the Pacific House was constructed in 1847 and was meant to be used as storage for the US Navy during the occupation of Monterey. It has since served as a courthouse, pub, newspaper office-and even a church! These days, the two-story adobe building houses quite an impressive collection of Native American artifacts and other relics of a bygone era. The Good: *It's free! *If you're a lover of Native American artifacts, then this is a must-see. *If you're a history buff, then this place is def a must-visit, as well. The Meh: *Place can be a bit cramped if you're an ogre such as myself. The Ugly: *Parking to get here is a bit tricky. There is some free street parking, but you're limited on time (please read the signage), which is OK as you can really see the whole State Park in probably less than 2hrs. Unless, of course, you want to convince your visit to the nearby wharf, in which case you might want to think about paying at an actual lot. TLDR: Fantastic place for lovers of history of all kinds. Highly recommended.

So grateful to been able to attend Sunday Mass. Basilica is so beautiful and it has so much…read morehistory and also they have free museum and a small shop. Sunday mass is full but the have lots of extra chairs in the back outside the church. Parking could be crowded so get there early.

I have been visiting the California missions throughout my life. Usually it is a positive…read moreexperience. However, I recently revisited the Carmel Basilica on a Sunday, and like other visitors I was totally put off by the commercialization of this particular church/historical monument. There are a few security guards who stand out front and a ticket booth positioned in a way that you cannot enter the church without paying first. The mission is not open everyday which is odd since it is such a beloved place visited by people around the world. The price of admission is 15.00 per person, five dollars higher per person than other missions which are also open everyday. This is quite pricey. If you arrive during mass you may not enter to look around until after mass! It seems really against the whole concept of all are welcome. Lighting one candle is 5.00! Usually it is just a donation or a dollar or two. The parking lot is small and congested. Personally, I enjoyed San Juan Bautista, which is close to Monterey and Carmel, much better. Friendlier, less expensive and open to all everyday! The setting is beautiful as well, surrounded by fields and beautiful gardens. I highly recommend history buffs stop by San Juan Bautista and other smaller missions.

I didn't know that I loved lighthouses until I had the tour of the Point Pinos Lighthouse in…read morePacific Grove. Now I am drawn to lighthouses for their beauty, their history, and their unique mystique. The docents at Point Pinos Lighthouse were extremely knowledgeable and friendly. The grounds are impeccable, and the exhibits within the lighthouse are a slice of living history. The setting is stunning, right at Asilomar Beach. You'll want to leave time to walk along the water after you explore the lighthouse. Even if you are not into history or the military or lighthouses, you should definitely drop in to visit this space. You will walk away having digested a bit of unique beauty. Check the hours online -- they are very specific and limited, and it's easy to get shut out. Many people don't know that women often worked the lighthouses back in older times. This is just one fact that stayed with me after my visit. A candle on the water helps lost sailors find their way home.

My family and I held a wedding ceremony at the lighthouse. Upon the wedding day, the communication…read morewith the staff was great. Response time for booking was quick and specifically, Deborah, was extremely helpful. It was such a beautiful and quaint place to hold such a special event. The grounds are nicely kept and the architecture and fountain really give this place a special charm that I have not seen elsewhere. I would highly recommend visiting this lighthouse!

Third Thursday at MMA La Mirada: Open until 8:00 pm the third Thursday of the month…read more So here I am, fresh from a four hour drive across our beautiful state, fresh from checking into my hotel, ready to spend a little time looking at some beautiful local arts n culture. Now, pay careful attention to your GPS, folks, because I totally missed the drive the first time. I arrived, but was afraid I had arrived at someone very fancy's personal estate. It was dark, oh so dark. But there must have been 30 cars, so I parked with all the others and walked toward the building. I guess first I walked around the building. There were two places I could see light coming from, and I picked the one on the left. Folks, go for the one on the right. I walked around back and into the rose garden. I was still a little afraid the master of the house would set his royal guard dogs on me for prowling. Back to my car. I'm hustling. I'm thinking, "there was a sister museum that was also advertised to be open late, maybe I should go there!" (apparently that was wrong anyway, cause it;s First Friday at MMA Pacific Street not Third Thursday, but in retrospect I was pretty confused all around). But first I try the other place where light beckoned. It is an adorable, old fashioned door. And all of a sudden, I'm on the other side and inside this beautiful land of art, curated by beautiful people and enchanting enclosed within a historic estate (see, eg., chandeliers, dainty little bathrooms, gift shop in what feels like a dining room). Almost everyone was already in a lecture about art restoration, so I slowly wandered through the collection without having to navigate a crowd. It was super enjoyable. The kids area/library was a place I'd like to spend more time, and the gift shop was well priced. I'd definitely like to go back and see the outdoor area. It was, as hinted at above, almost pitch black at night.

Words cannot describe how lovely La Mirada is! I was married there May 18, 2013, and it was…read moreeverything I had dreamed of and more. The setting of the estate is intimate, comfortable, warm, and the roses add amazing color. For our May wedding, the roses were in their first bloom. They were gorgeous and the scent during the ceremony was heavenly. The guests enjoyed having cocktail hour in the rose garden; they were snapping photos of the blooms and it made for a beautiful back drop. Reading some of the other reviews; it makes me sad to think people picked this place apart! My husband, family, and I had a wonderful experience from start to finish. Our events coordinator was Mel Cota. She is FANTASTIC! This gal does not skip a beat! Not only is she kind, detailed oriented, compassionate, and communicative; she was able to turn my vision and my wants into a perfect wedding day. The day of flowed effortlessly and was seamless, all thanks to Mel. Having recently received my wedding photos from Michele Beckwith Photography; I am so thankful we went with La Mirada. The grounds of the venue came out amazing in the photos. Classy and elegant! Being able to take photo's upstairs in Elizabeth Taylor's room with my groom was such a treat! This place truly is a five! Thank you La Mirada! - Alixandra

Snug little place packed with arcade games~…read more For $10, you can play unlimited games which is pretty well worth the price. We were so shocked to see smash on n64 as an option! Overall, fun place to spend some time with your people!

Good honest fun Retro vibe with extra retro prices…read morePre inflation Just go trust me!!!