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).

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.

Awesome experience and excellent tour guide in Lucas! It was a windy and overcast Feb day and that…read moremade the tour even more cool. Great history and grounds. Highly recommend for tourists and locals alike. Take the secret staircase up the tower!

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.

Don't let the size fool you--the Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History is full of interesting…read moreexhibits, local history, and fascinating facts. The artwork is beautiful, and there are plenty of fun, interactive activities for kids. It's a wonderful place to learn, and explore.

Don't miss the Convento Museum which you will see right before you exit the Mission complex. The…read morecell used by Saint Junipero Serra and where he died in 1784 is on display here. The other museum rooms present interpretive displays and provide visitors with a historical education of this beautiful heritage site

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

Such a great place to go to for all young ages! We've gone with 1-6 year olds and they have all…read moreloved it. Their soft play is perfect for the under two's and they have the section marked off as off limits for the older kids. But the over two's have so many options to choose from: dress up, tree house, sciencey stuff, and crafts! We easily spent half a day here and probably could have stayed longer if there wasn't a nap time to plan for one of them. Something for everyone and as long as it's not too busy, it's relatively easy on the parents to let their kids roam and calmly monitor versus anxiously chasing after!

SO MANY OPTIONS for the kiddos! Love this place! Loads of fun! A must stop anytime I'm in the area.read more

The Monterey Bay Aquarium is hands down the best aquarium I have ever been to. The aquarium is…read moreextremely large. Addmission is pricey but oh so worth it! Parking can be difficult to find, I recommend parking in one of several parking structures for a fee. Monterey Bay aquarium has so many exhibits! There is so much to see, do and learn at this aquarium! When you enter the aquarium you can view the schedule for the day so you can plan your visit. We can easily spend an entire day here. They have great gift shops, a great dining area with a variety of food options. The restaurant comes with an ocean view depending on where you sit. It can get pretty busy & loud from children. I'd recommend coming on off peak times so you can enjoy it more. If you are lucky to visit Monterey, you definitely should visit this aquarium.

Damn, the last time I was here was 10-years ago?!…read more This place still (kind of) holds up, but it is showing its age and the price leaves something to be desired. This was my kid's first trip and at first they were infatuated. They loved the jellyfish section, the kelp forest, and the otters (of course), but after a while I could they were getting restless. There's only some much fish watching kids, in a 2026 world, can do before they get bored. I'd love to see the aquarium offer more hands on activities or demo for the kids. As an adult, I love walking around and taking my time at the exhibits, but that's almost impossible with small children. All of us did enjoy their new exhibit "Into The Deep" which did offer a few hands on activities and a up close look at some truly unique and still unnamed creatures. You can get through the aquarium pretty quick because most of the attractions are just looking and walking. We got here around 9:30 am and wrapped around 1pm... which is why I feel like the ticket prices need to be adjusted. We paid about $265 w/ tax for four tickets and only spent 3+ hours here. We paid that same amount for Universal Studios, but it covered two days worth of rides and activations for four people. Either add more activities or lower the prices, because justifying close to $300 for a few hours is tough these days.

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.

This place is the best gallery in Carmel! No matter what kind of art you love, you are likely to…read morefind it here. The Carmel Art Association has been a tradition, a gathering place for artists and art lovers for almost one hundred years. Their heritage collection contains past famous artists and their current membership contains su h luminaries as Lucas Bloc and Richard Tette. Quite amazing!

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