Carmel Mission Basilica (formal name 'San Carlos Borroméo de Carmelo') is one of six minor…read morebasilicas in the state of California (five being former Spanish missions). It is the oldest one, founded in 1770, and elevated to basilica status by Pope John XXIII in 1960. My wife, her mom, and I visited it during a late Sunday afternoon during our first day in Carmel, and found it to be a great, worthwhile experience, especially if one is Roman Catholic. The basilica is still a working parish, so parking during non-mass hours was easy to find. A ticket booth was set-up at the visitor entrance, with cost of $15 per adult ($13 for senior). There is an adjacent gift shop that doesn't require admission and sells all the various religious items that one would expect from a religious tourist attraction. We ended up spending about 90 minutes here (there is a lot of information here, along with a lot to see). -- Founding priest was Junipero Serra ("Apostle of California"). He was canonized by Pope Francis in 2015, and his shrine/remains are interned here. -- Only U.S. church visited by a pontiff during a papal visit: Pope John Paul II in 1987. He paid homage to Father Serra, and laid flowers at the tomb. This visit is clearly commemorated. -- the Munras Family Heritage Museum is worth going to, to see a short movie about the prominent Monterey family, along with early California artifacts from the family. -- the Nativity scene was one of the most intricate -- the large courtyard is a good place to stop and admire the architecture of a California Spanish mission, along with a thick trunk Cork Oak tree By the time we were leaving, the ticket office had closed (last call is at 16:30, to allow everyone to have enough time before official close at 18:00).

My friends took me to the Basilica and we enjoyed walking around the grounds and visiting the…read morevarious Chapels within the site. It is also the final resting spot of Saint Junipero Serra, the Founding Father of California. Pope John Paul II visited here in 1987 and is recognized in the Our Lady of Bethlehem Chapel, which is a beautiful, small chapel with a confessional from years ago. The Mission Cemetery is the final resting place for some members of this Parish. It also includes a symbolic cemetery representing the hundreds of indigenous people buried here and the surrounding area. These grave sites are adorned with abalone shells as an honorary recognition of their cultural presence to the area. There are several museums on site, beautiful artwork and religious artifacts as well as an extensive courtyard to wander around. Finally, there is a display of the final resting place for Saint Junipero as well as reproductions of other parts of the Basilica back in the day. The price of $15 for adults/$12 for seniors may be a little steep for families, but it is worthwhile to explore the history of the renowned Basilica.

Fantastic experience visiting Tor House in Carmel. I have visited the area many times and yet this…read moreundiscovered gem somehow never made it on my bucket list. The visit has opened the door to learning more about Carmel and its history. Inspired by the docent who hosted our tour, Anne. She had a wide breadth of knowledge regarding the poet, Robinson Jeffers, the construction of the house, and the antiquities within the home. If history, art, or architecture interests you, schedule a visit to Tor House!

Very beautiful location! We had a very informative tour guide who really seemed to enjoy his job!…read moreThe grounds are very well maintained and all of the staff were very kind! Definitely worth a visit!

I had not been to this museum in about 20 years but I returned this past weekend and I was so glad…read moreI did. The entire place has been remodeled. It is a small museum but an absolutely beautiful one worth visiting. As a birder, I loved the cases of taxidermied birds, one of the largest collections of this type on the West Coast with over 400 specimens. I was even more enchanted by the jade room full of jade pieces and artwork derived from right here on the Central Coast, the giant Grizzly Bear, the gorgeous nature field guide mural/artwork upstairs, and the imaginative Room of Wonder full of items that had long been stored in the Museum basement and now brought back to viewing public in artistic settings. This room is mesmerizing and hard to describe but you should definitely see it for yourself. Native Americans are included as well as Asian Americans in the different displays, which I appreciate and feel contributes to the holistic and unified way in which the natural history of our state is explained here. One of the highlights, though, was meeting Bill, a volunteer guide at the museum. He gave so many interesting facts, helped with cool photo ops, and conveyed his genuine love for nature and the community. He is the heart of this fine place. We hope to see him again! If you haven't been to the Natural History Museum, I highly recommend a visit. Locals can get in free.

This place was incredible we went there with our toddler with mixed expectations. Natural history…read moremuseums can be a tough sell with a 2-year old but the exhibits really captured her imagination. The "Wonder" section in particular was a bit hit. From smelling scented bulbs, to peaking through keyholes at scientific specimens and looking at seeds through a magnifying glass she was excited and engaged for a good chunk of time. We'll be back next time we are in the area and I'm sure as our daughter gets older there will be that much more for her to enjoy and learn from.

I recommend checking out the museum while hiking around Point Lobos Nature Preserve. You pay $10 to…read morepark in the preserve but the museum is free.

$10 to park. Great free museum. Love seeing the history of the place and great to know so many…read moredifferent ethnic cultures getting along and working together to make a living.

This is my second time using the Sand Guys for a team building event and all I can say is Wow!! I…read morehave referred them many times, and will many more!! This is an amazing team building event for any type of business unit, they are organized, incredibly friendly, and helpful .. in a word .. MAGICAL!! When you arrive, they have an example of what you can build .. folks arrive thinking .."This is so cool" .. "What the heck is Kim making us do??" "Really"?? Rusty the Sand Guy (as I like to call him) began by giving very clear, easy instructions on how to build your base. He got everyone started within their team then he and his partner went to each team individually to provide instruction on how to make a solid foundation, ways to build upon your base. and how to add details! teams began first by compiling a very large pile of sand .. and staring into space .. "what will we do". Within minutes your team is not only collaborating on the best way to execute, but WORKING together to create something really special. I participated the first time, I got to observe and help the second time. I learned so much about my team, who are the leaders, who is the most creative. who can advise and execute. We put this group into teams of people they did not know well, they all created and collaborated to create something very cool. You have about two hours to devise your plan and create. The entire group was fully engaged, everyone designated their own unique way of participating, and no one was left out or let their team down. Did I mention how competitive this became?? such a great day at the beach, and a new skill to show off to your kids and friends. Not only did I get amazing feedback form everyone on the team, I was told by those that laughed and thought it was silly; that it was one for the best team buildings they ever have had. I highly recommend the San Guys, the creativity and camaraderie it inspires is invaluable for all aspects of relationship building!

From the owner: Team building, corporate events, weddings, art & entertainment.read more

Fun place. Our kiddo had fun. Good price. Street parking. They have a shop in the front and…read morerestrooms in the back. Something for every kid.

It's limited. It's rather small. The areas of play are also limited. While there are many options…read moreto do things, the compact size doesn't make it very appealing for toddlers with more curiosity and growing imaginations. I feel like many may just lose interest and run off to other things too quickly, so don't expect to spend more than an hour or an hour and a half. Limited street parking also makes it difficult as a destination and more like a local spot for little ones to play for a couple of hours with friends.

Such an amazing aquarium we visited on our vacation! There was a lot to see and we spent hours…read moreexploring. Was worth every minute. Don't walk... RUN to this aquarium if you're in the area!

Came back recently and two things stood out…read more The ham and cheese at the cafe is amazing! Very crispy and delicious but it is $14 bucks for a croissant which is outlandish but worth. Probably the best ham and cheese I've had. You also get 10% off at the cafes with an EBT card :) The rays at the touch pool did not want to be touched lol so they kinda congregated in a corner and try swimming on the rocks. Highkey a vibe I suppose.

Impressionism is not exclusively French or European. California has produced many great…read moreimpressionist painters going back to the later part of the 19th Century. One of my favorites is Evelyn McCormick. She was born in California and studied art in San Francisco and Paris before moving to Monterey after the San Francisco earthquake of 1906. She painted oils in an impressionist style of Monterey's historic buildings and adobes. What I like best about her paintings is the sky, a beautiful, azure blue, Monet-like sky, dazzling and bright, heavy with swirling palette and feminine texture, framing everything beneath it, whether a historic building, or a garden, or landscape scenery, in soft and tender light. McCormick was a member of the Carmel Art Association (CAA), which was founded in Carmel in 1927. The CAA included in its membership through the years other great California painters including, among my favorites, Arthur Hill Gilbert (who painted in distinctive yellow and golden hues and green), William Silva (who didn't start painting until he was well past 55), and S.C. Yuan (whose heavy palette reflected a soul heavy with burden), and many others. Tonight I went to the Carmel Art Association for an exhibition of the works of three contemporary CAA painters, Pam Carroll, Miguel Dominguez, and Alicia Meheen. Pam paints in Trompe-l'oeil, which is an art technique that uses realistic imagery to create the illusion that objects appear in three-dimension. There are certain objects that appear as recurrent themes in her paintings, such as toys, fruits, coins, books, various tableware that give her work a very distinctive look. Some paintings that are hyper realistic become works of pure technique devoid of feeling; but, Pam's paintings are charged with human emotion and warmth and reflect her beauty as a woman and artist. She also paints portraits that invariably capture some inner essential quality of those she paints. Here's her self-portrait: http://static2.px.yelp.com/photo/A6_tOTw6csEkKeYCpM8cYg/l Stunning , isn't it....? You can feel the intensity in her eyes. When she paints she's ferocious, tearing away at the veneer on the surface of life to convey some essential magic hidden away in the mundane things that exist around us, things that represent love, friendship, family, hope, the magic of childhood, things that bind us together as human beings and celebrate our differences. On the weekend, when I'm walking through Carmel, I'll occasionally meander into the Carmel Art Association and admire the contemporary art of its current membership hanging on the walls. There are benches in the viewing rooms, just like at the MET, where you can sit and look and meditate on the art or just take a rest... The Carmel Art Association is open to the public. There is no fee to enter. Check it out. And, if you see Pam there, give her my love and best regards...

Many of the local artists featured in this gallery are foundational to understanding Carmel's…read moreartistic origins. Nothing wrong with people wanting to spend their money on fancy clothes and whatnot, but other than the beautiful natural area, the local artists is what's it's all about! Deep selection in the stacks, not just what's on the walls.

My review is not for the active San Carlos Cathedral church services. Instead it's for the Royal…read morePresidio Chapel historic federal landmark. They are both the same building. Currently the San Carlos Cathedral Catholic Church uses the Presidio Chapel. When services are not occurring, visitors can explore the interior and outside facade. There is no charge to walk about, it's free. The present sandstone chapel construction was completed in 1795. The native Americans labors built the chapel. The Monterey Presidio was founded in 1770 as the second of four Spanish Presidios. At that time, the presidio's chapel served for the Spanish soldiers and dignitaries. It's the oldest stone building in California. When walking about the exterior of the chapel take note of the marked lines to the right of the building. Those lines indicate chapel construction (where, what, and when). The current building is shaped as a cross. Directly in the back there is a plaque memorializing where the Oak tree stood in 1770 where Father Junipero Serra broke ground for the chapel construction. The tree was removed in 1905 when it was damaged. But the tree holds important place in Monterey history. In 1602, it is said that Spanish explorer Vizcaíno followed the creek from the Bay and noticed this majestic oak tree. Under that tree he and with the friars, traveling in his expedition, held Mass under the tree and claimed the area for Spain. Father Serra followed Vizcaino's directions to the site in 1770 to establish a mission and presidio. But a year or two later he decided to build the mission in Carmel instead. But the presidio continued with building the chapel. Pieces of the grand tree have been preserved and are located in various local museums. Now let's talk about out the interior. The church doors are left open during the day welcoming all inside. Inside there are paintings and statues including are originals such as the Stations of the Cross, St John, Sorrowful Mother, and Spanish Madonna. As you enter the church, look up and the exterior and take notice of the Our Lady of Guadalupe statue; it's still the original making it the oldest non-indigenous statue in California. Also throwing it out there that there are cameras all over and everything is monitored. So don't be a doofus. Just enjoy and soak in the history.

The homilies are introspectively conducted. It is a beautiful Cathedral in a beautiful, small town.read more