They have moved their office closer towards Downtown. Jennifer was amazing and set me up for…read moreinteresting places to explore in the surrounding area. I definitely recommend stopping by to get the vast amount of brochures available.

Having been born and raised in the area, it really wasn't necessary for us to stop here but it was…read morea nice rest stop to determine what we were going to do for the remainder of the day in Monterey. The lake nearby is called Lake El Estero, and is surrounded by El Estero Park. Located within the park is the famous Dennis the Menace park. El Estero Boating is located on the shore of the lake opposite Dennis the Menace Park and is where you can rent a paddle boat. What's nice is from the visitors center you can see both the paddle boat area and the Dennis the Menace Park so you can easily map out, and plan your day. With so much to see and do in Monterey I can see why at times it could be overwhelming to a person visiting the area. So this place is designed for a visitor who just doesn't know where to start. We did not go inside the building but I enjoyed the scenery behind the building. The Monterey County Visitors Bureau provides you with all the information you need about visiting the Monterey Peninsula. They have information on individual attractions, hotels, and restaurants. I heard they sometimes have coupons available too. The staff is there to provide guidance and give directions to locations throughout Monterey County. They are open daily from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. They are closed on major Holidays such as Thanksgiving, December 25, January 1 and Easter Sunday. I can see how a family can easily spend a pleasant day at the park surrounding Lake El Estero. There were plenty of geese, seagulls, and ducks swimming around in harmony. We were only there a short while but there is a walking path that goes entirely around the lake. Along the walking path there is a unique exercise course with equipment and instructions. Plenty of benches and grass to have a little picnic. Just be aware that the birds can be a bit aggressive and I believe you are not permitted to feed them by law. There is a dog park and I believe there is also a skate park for skateboarders. Dennis the Menace park has always been a favorite with the kids with their one-of-a-kind fun playground equipment. Admission is free however the paddle boating rentals do have a fee. The last time I checked you can rent a paddle boat for a half an hour or an hour. In conclusion, if you are a visitor of the Monterey Peninsula, and are not sure where to go, this is the perfect place for you!

Good stop on 17 mile drive. Snacks, refreshments, golf apparel. As well as Pebble Beach…read moresouvenirs. Some are expensive. Clean restrooms. Center has golf history for fans. Tables outside to relax and have a bite. Three charging stations. Across the street is a larger shopping area.

Not at all what we were expecting as our #14 STOP. when we…read moresaw visitor center my kids and i were so excited to learn about nature, animals , etc. We have done many activities at other visitor centers (Junior Ranger Badges are something we collect) We got here while doing our 17 mile drive and its a GOLF center. Golf everything. If you are a gold fanatic its for you. For us Nature people this was a waste of visitor center. everything in here was so expensive too.

While visiting the Carmel/Monterey area a month ago we wanted to take in some of the local scenery…read more Point Lobos State Natural Reserve came highly recommended, and it did not disappoint Located just 10 minutes outside of Carmel, this incredibly picturesque seascape is a must see while visiting. There are multiple trails through the Point, and each of them showcase stunning views of the sea and saw well as flora and fauna It was barely raining while we were there and it never dampened our spirits. The trails got a little slick, but nothing too dangerous. In fact, this is more of a seaside walking path than a physical intensive hike We saw many seals and otters on our hike. There was also a rest stop that had park rangers and an interactive exhibit that was very cool. You could feel the skin of a seal, otter, and even the baleen from a whale Some tips: If you haven't explored Carmel or Monterey you are just a short drive away There are many coastal hikes and scenic points/beaches to explore. We also enjoyed a more physical hike at the Pinnacles, but that is an hour or so away Cheers!!

Adj: beautiful, breathtaking natural reserve…read more Always a nice place to visit and "hike" (really just trail walking). I love coming here. It's so serene, scenic, natural, cool, and both the botanical plantlife as well as the animals (air, land, and ocean wildlife) you can find and view here are just so amazing. Being it's in the Monterey Bay, it's almost always cool when it's hot in the valley, so it's another great place to escape to. It's just a very nice and unique point in the bay and although you can spend the whole day here, or even several days, a couple of hours will also be very rewarding for a change of scenery for those of us who are urban dwellers who want to reconnect with God's natural wonders once in awhile. Overall, Point Lobos is an authentic, breathtaking, and calming place for those who enjoy seeing the ocean and taking in all the native plants, vegetations, and all the air, land, and sea creatures one can encounter or at least observe here.

I had the unfortunate experience of visiting the Lake El Estero Visitors…read moreCenter on 11/19 and the visitor center staff member named Pam was extremely rude, condescending, and ill-tempered.

Whenever we head to Monterey we always come to the visitor center first to grab coupons and go to…read morethe restroom before we explore the city. Today, Michael who helped us was so thoughtful he saw my kids and ink stamped a post it and gave it to them, they carried it around like they won a prize. I also took a survey and received a gift of postcards. The staff here has always been welcoming and informative when I come in.

This park is great for a first stop before heading out for an adventure or watching the sunset…read morewhile dining on some pizza from Gianni's. Lover's point offers plenty of opportunities for the kids to get worn out, like a public beachside swimming pool, beach volleyball, an actual beach area just inside the cove, and a grassy area for picnicking. even though this beach/park was packed, the vibe was still super chill and didn't feel overcrowded. This beach also offers some great opportunities for people to enjoy tide pools, watch wildlife, and take-in gorgeous views. There is a public bathroom here, but if you can avoid. Not the most clean.

The waves were calm early in the day then began to rage as the day went on. Wind was low and the…read moresun began to shine bright, forcing the appearance of our tent. There were not many people out around 11a, as the day went on both sides of the beach filled quickly. There were three places on site to grab a bite to eat, caffeinate or cool down from - Creama (6:30a-2:30p), Lovers Point Beach Cafe (9a-4p) and Snack Shack (10-6). There was a clean, public restroom for men and women to the left of the cafe. Look for the yellow awnings and follow it to the black gates. Turn into that area and you will locate the restrooms. There is a volleyball court directly across from the beach, two sandy beach areas separated by a tall wall of rocks. The beach area furtherest from the parking lot had so much sea life to experience first hand - our daughter was amazed as were we. It was also quieter with fewer people using that side. There are 15 steps leading down to each beach area. The wildlife is everywhere and SO comfortable with people. A squirrel stood in front our daughter while she ate her cracker, a seagull stared at me while I opened a wrapper for our daughter. There was a parking lot that fits 20-30 cars and street parking. People were still arriving around 5p looking for parking in the lot unsuccessfully. I would definitely recommend arriving early to secure a parking spot and a preferred spot on the sand. Our daughter existed here for six hours and was still not ready to leave. She's a young one. There were lots of kids on the beach, most playing with each other and sharing buckets, shovels and seashells. We will definitely return before the summer is over. So breathtaking and fun for all ages to enjoy in and out of the water.

Lovely place, beautiful scenery and great trails…read more I drove up from Irvine,CA to this park. Driving 6 hours is painful, but the views were worth it. Campsites were overall clean and the bathrooms were new and not too rusty. Throughout the park, there were spigots of water to rinse your shoes and dishes. Also there were food shelters to store food and keep them away from animals, not many campsites have food shelters. You should come here, I really recommend camping here.

$10 day use fee. Henry Cowell has 3 great attributes:…read more- The old growth loop is stunning. It's a very short flat loop, but the trees are magestic. - It has fairly interesting hiking paths. There is an option to stay on a wider paved trail to avoid ticks and poison ivy. - Right next door is Roaring Camp railroad. You can pay for parking there, take a train ride, then hike the redwoods without paying the day-use fee.

I had not visited the park since I was 11 years old but I wanted my teenager to experience its…read morebeauty. She brought her camera and we were treated to a fun tour on a beautiful day. Our tour guide was an engaging storyteller and helped us imagine what life might have been like during the castle's heydey. The views are exquisite and that includes the architecture and artwork indoors. As documented in previous posts, the bathrooms are under renovation so you have to use porta potties outside the center. You cannot bring any food or drink on the bus or walking tour other than bottled water so be prepared to eat before or after your visit. My daughter was so impressed she would like to return for different tours.

I can easily say this castle was one of the most beautiful castles I have ever seen. Everything was…read moreamazing, pool, architecture and decoration. People in visitor center were very nice and friendly. They were very helpful in explaining how the tours work and what to expect. This castle has a gift shop too. Store employees were very nice and friendly. They have really nice merchandises to purchase and take home as souvenirs. I would highly recommend visiting the pool and taking pictures. It is very beautiful and out of this world. I agree with other reviewers California State has to do better job in providing restroom to the visitors. Parking is free and there is plenty of parking spaces.

Beautiful site with all kinds of historic buildings. We saw it as we were driving down hwy 1 and…read moredecided to check it out. Unfortunately you can only really explore the area on a guided tour which we did not take. It's next to a gorgeous stretch of beach with some wonderful views!

The extremely large woman is absolutely rude. My family and I believe there's more to this place…read morethan they say (oh yes conspiracy theorists) it says "state park" but you're not to be "alone" away from your tour guide. The part of the tour everyone goes for is OFF LIMITS (nothing to see behind the 3rd locked gates with brand new underground electrical and new huge electrical box. That area is used for "weather current studies" yuh ok. A couple guides were more careful with their words than others. This tour would be great for people that question nothing and eat what's spoon fed to them. The lighthouse and land is attached, but they charge for both separately. Use your money to go to Pfiefer or even just grab food in Big Sur.

I've been here several times to pick up products, and most of the time I just grab and go and don't…read morereally linger any longer than I need to. The staff is always warm and friendly which is quite nice especially given it gets quite busy. I've always wanted to try the coffee bar and stopped by here during my last visit. I ordered the white chocolate mocha, which came with the signature apple logo. The mocha was great. And if you are visiting here for the first time, do check out the rooftop patio and the AR experience.

I liked all the trees separating the campus from the road. If you are hanging out outside, there is…read morean installation/outdoor sculpture to interact with across the lane. The employees kept recommending the second level. The previous corporate store was more about merchandise so the selection of shirts or sweatshirts is comparatively small. This visitor center is an Apple Store with a building model and cafe.