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!

We love history and this visitor center has a lot to share with its old photos, evolution of the…read morearea and a looped video. There's a docent to answer questions and share additional info. And there's a gift shop attached. Skip the gift shop and go across the street to the lower level shops if you're looking for something. This would be a good first stop before doing the 17 mile loop so you have some context as you tour.

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.

This is one of the most gorgeous state parks in California!! I've been wanting to visit for years…read moreand we finally made it here this past weekend. We were staying in Monterey, so it was about a 25 min drive to get there, we arrived before 11am. We parked before the park entrance along Highway 1 where there were NO signs saying "No parking at any time" THIS IS IMPORTANT because as we were walking towards the entrance, there was a parking enforcement officer giving tickets to all the other cars parked where the signs were clearly posted closer to the entrance. So make sure you pay attention! There is parking inside the park too for only $10. Once inside there were park rangers helping you with questions and guiding you on deciding which trails to go on, which was very nice and convenient! We took a picture of the map and choose to do the Cypress Grove, and the Sea Lion Point Trails. We only had about 3 hrs to hang out at the park, so those two were perfect easy hikes and roughly about 2.5 miles if you do both loops. We got spectacular views everywhere, you could hear the Sea Lions and see so many beautiful birds flying around. Wish we would've brought binoculars, so bring some with you if you remember. We can't wait to come back another time and do a full day of hiking because there are so many other trails! The park and restrooms were clean and well kept too, it's definitely a must visit once in your lifetime at least!!

Absolutely stunning scenery! Easily one of the best hiking trails I've experienced! I've visited…read moretwice now, and both times have been fantastic. The coastal trails are well marked and offer breathtaking lookout points throughout the hike. Today was a little foggy but we were still able to enjoy the beauty. It's definitely worth arriving early to secure parking. The main lot was full when we got there, but we were able to find a spot along Highway 1. While it was a bit crowded, the variety of trails helps spread people out, so it never felt too overwhelming. We hiked about 3.5 miles and made it to the cove where seals birth their pups, Bird Island, hidden beach coves with beautiful blue water and tide pools. There were also docents and volunteers we spotted along the way. Next time I'd like to go further down the trail and explore more of the park.

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.

My 1st review of 2026!!!…read more I've visited Lovers Point Park twice so far, and I love it here. :) My first visit was back in April of 2025, and I remember that I parked in the residential street and walked two blocks to get to the park. The place has nice walking paths, beautiful ocean views, and pretty park area with picnic tables. The squirrels are so friendly and will approach you without any fear. So friendly! My 2nd visit was today with my boyfriend and his doggie. It was his visit here, and we got a nice walk in plus we enjoyed our bagel sandwiches here. There's a long walking path, but we didn't get to walk all of it. Next time we will do it! :) You can also walk down to the beach area and climb the rocks if you're feeling adventurous!

Great little picturesque beach area and park to visit both during the day and even at night for a…read moredifferent vibe. As with most places along the coast on the peninsula, the weekends can be pretty busy, so visit mid-week if you can.

Love love love this place, it's beautiful and serene for stunning trails and streams. It feels like…read moreevery tree has a story to tell, these giants with some as tall as 180 feet have been standing here for centuries. Must visit with your kids, friends and family for a breathtaking experience.

My family and i love this place! It's our first time to check it out and we are so amazed!!…read more We will come back to spend longer time soon and will explore more trail routes... Thank you for the people who keep this place manageable and accessible for all the hikers and visitors..You are all awesome!! See you next time!!

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.

This is my favorite place to work remotely from when I need to hammer out a bunch of tasks. It's…read morethe perfect amount of distraction and people watching when I need to decompress between tasks and context switch. When the clouds look threatening, this is my go to spot since the upstairs area isn't fully covered from the elements. So there won't be too many people sitting and staying other than the occasional tourist taking a selfie with the view. And there's a coffee bar downstairs! I got a dry cappuccino, extra hot. I don't believe they charge for alt milk so love that. I heard they will do Apple art in the foam but I didn't get it this time, so I'll have to come back again. There's a lot of people downstairs since it's the most accessible so staff was pretty busy with back to back orders. They kept the coffee bar area clean and orderly. Other side is an Apple Store where you can purchase products, test things out, and sometimes they hold classes and workshops in the open concept space. They have additional items you might not find in the average Apple Store. They seem fairly priced for branded items not found normally. This location is free to visit with free parking. Pro tip: there's a garage downstairs with even more parking. This is one of the spots I always take visitors to the Bay Area to!

I went for a class and hung out for over 2 total hours before and after class. The class was for…read morephotography on iPhone. I felt I learned a lot and wanted to try some of it out on the property. Action photos with the visitor center were perfect. I will go back and take family when they visit. A must. The Glass exhibit next to center was super cool. Thanks Apple.