One of our favorite places in the world and a place I'm certainly glad is in our proverbial…read more"backyard." Ok, so it's like 3-4 hours away, but wow, really pretty here. The natural landscape is just phenomenal. God's fingerprints all over this place. Pros: - not a bad drive down here from the touristy parts of Monterey and Seaside where we usually reside for the weekend - a bit windy, but a truly lovely and incredibly scenic twisty, turn-y road that keeps me on my toes - once you're here it's just breathtaking. - trail walk/stroll is pretty easy, nothing real rigorous as long as you're still in decent health. - more challenging "hikes" available for those who are looking for more, I've not stepped up to that (huffing and puffing doesn't sound fun), so I'm not sure where those trails are, but easy to find online. - so much fauna and flora to look at. - the coast here is just so rugged and ridiculously jawpdropping. - kids love this place too. There's a ranger station/little nature stop/house of sorts, not quite a "museum", but it's got the history, the nature, the strange facts you'd not otherwise know about unless you stopped by. - very kind and dedicated volunteers that will tell you all you want to know about Point Lobos - the nature, the creatures of sky, sea, and land, the past, present and future, whatever you want. - Plus they often have binoculars they will let you use to look out at the coast for seals and sealions and otters and more galore, oh my! Cons: - parking is the suck here. It's not too expensive to get in, but most people seem to park along the main road/highway that leads to Point Lobos which is kind of dangerous and a good trek to get to the State Reserve, so you've got your exercise before you even start exploring. That could be a plus? All in all, a magnificent and marvelous natural state reserve, well preserved, more than maintained, must see to appreciate.

Views, trails, tide pools, ocean waves, shells, and lots of poison oak!…read more Parking is limited and we arrived later than we wanted. We were able to park on the side of the road like a lot of others, but other than that it's a worthwhile stop. Gorgeous state park, easy walking trails, there was even a park volunteer at the trailhead with maps answering questions and giving good advice (both when we got there and a different volunteer posted there when we left!)

We had a nice stay at Saddle Mountain RV. We reserved site #24, Premium lot. The lot was perfect…read morefor a party of 2 and 1 dog. I love the big tree for shade, turf grass and a beautiful vine, floral plant lining for privacy. The campground is well-kept clean. People were respectful when it was quiet-time between 9:00pm - 7:00am.

Saddle mountain is a very nice area to stay in. We decided to book cabin 10 through Airbnb for a…read moreweekend. Staff were incredibly communicative and responsive. There were a lot of open activities to do on this campground. We decided to play some corn hole. There's a pool for people to hang around and a fire pit area! Unfortunately we only stayed for a night so we didn't get to go around as much. The cabin itself is decent size. It is a bit smaller than we thought; but it's okay. The living area for people to sit is a bit tight too but expected since cabin was small. Overall, I would visit again. I would hope to try the glamping areas!

Working with the people here to schedule our Land Rover experience was easy. I did have a few…read morequestions to begin with, so I gave them a call and they were able to answer them quickly and went ahead and made the reservation right then. The instructor was very knowledgeable and tailored the experience to our level of driving abilities. We enjoyed this so much I am planning another experience next year for the more advanced techniques. For the price we got everything we wanted out of it.

We had a blast! Came here to see what Rovers could do, having bought one recently…read more My wife was apprehensive about the whole idea, but towards the end of a 4hr. tour she was also driving the course and she was absolutely stoked! They go over some really fun terrain and it was much dicier than most of what we usually cover on our journeys down forest roads. I would have passed on some of the steeps prior to today. Not now! Our guide Cole was great! Excellent instruction and confidence-building in the onboard tech as well as technique. Great guy to have in the passenger seat! Yes, as some have mentioned, this is not Baja. You're not going 70mph across the desert. That's not the point - you're in 4 low...for a reason. Totally worth it if you just bought one (and intend to actually use it how it was designed to be used) or are kicking around the idea of buying one. Even if you're not in the market, this is a great adventure and a great way to spend some time doing something very unique while visiting the area. I Highly recommend!

Such a fun and beautiful day in Marina, CA to experience being in an Electric Rail Bike. My husband…read moredid most of the pedaling! The Crew, Jake, Wes and Sarah were amazing and very knowledgeable and cheerful individuals. They really added to the experience! The views of the landscapes were very scenic and when you get to the top of the loop, you see a beautiful view of the coast! This adventure is about an hour long and definitely worth it! You get to enjoy the beautiful outdoors and get in some not too strenuous exercise too. Sadly, this business will be closed permanently at the end of August 2025. This is a must before then and you'll definitely enjoy every minute!

First time Everything was pro, friendly and organized…read moreMore of a workout than I thought Overall was great Will come back

I love Garland ranch. There are several different walking trails. They have a visitor center and…read morebathrooms. Make sure you have on good hiking shoes and bring sunblock and water on warm days. Bring your dog or come solo, the beauty of nature is always so peaceful here. Our kiddos definitely enjoyed getting out to enjoy the area, we will return!

Wonderful park to explore and hike if you are ever in the Carmel Valley area. Plenty of parking…read moreboth on the street as well as in a designated parking lot. Much of the area in the lower section is flat and easy to walk around, however, there are also some trails with steeper elevation climbs for those who want to get more of a scenic view of the area. Cool historic barn is easy to get to and on hotter days you will definitely want to take some water as some of the trails are exposed to the sun. There is a public bathroom area by the visitor center.

Sambosa means "Three Jewels," and stands for the Buddha (teacher), Dharma (the teaching) and Sangha…read more(spiritual community.) This tranquil Temple was created in the early 70's, and is the first Korean Buddhist temple ever built in the U.S. They opened their doors to the public and on opening day, 400 people, including the mayor of Carmel and other prominent monks, flooded Sambosa. The Temple has had its shares of ups and downs, including an unfortunate fire in the 1980's that burned down the main Dharma Hall. But it has withstood the test of time and still remains a graceful and quiet symbol of peace in the Valley. The current abbot is Bom Hugh Sunim, and his teachings explore his particular vision of a nonsectarian approach to religion, philosophy, and life. My mother was friends with one of the followers of the Temple, and being the same age as her twins, we often played together. It's a beautiful place to reflect and slow down, even if you are not a practicing Buddhist...although it seems like the ideal religion for every walk of life.

When i was about 5 yrs old my father and 4 friends moved to Carmel to build this temple. I remember…read moreplaying by a river with two of the boys who also were living on the property during the build. We lived in these dome shaped Yurts with wood construction covered with a heavy plastic. Very cold in the winter. It was an adventure for a kid my age. Almost like a long camping trip. I believe we were there only one season. That was a long time. I dont remember a lot but my father has some great pictures. Most of the construction process and the builders hoisting up these very large beams. Some of around the camp and of the builders. I'm now in my 50s and would love to visit this magical place again. I will be taking all the photos with me to compare.

My son literally said "this sand feels expensive" hahaha. Seriously though, the sand is so fine…read moreand soft. White smooth sand. A bit of a hill to climb back up from the beach, but the views are gorgeous. Nice walk from the shops and restaurant area. Very lucky for those that live around. Definitely detected auras of either a rich local, rich tourist speaking foreign language but can afford to go on international trips, or out of town visitor like me who can't afford to live there or anywhere near 'by the sea'

Briefly stopped by the beach after having lunch in downtown Carmel. Now clearly understanding why…read morethe beach is loved so much. Carmel Beach is recognized as having the 'whitest' sand in the United States, and number 14 globally. This color comes from quartz deposits eroded by the waves. There is a parking lot at the north end of the beach on Ocean Avenue (maybe 30 spots or so), that is usually filled, meaning people are constantly idling in the parking lot, waiting for a spot. The parking lot is elevated from the beach, requiring carefully going down a sand bank. My wife and her mom decided to admire the view by sitting on a retaining wall at the top of the bern, while I happily went down to the shoreline to admire the views. The sand here is more golden than white. The road that runs parallel to the beach and boardwalk in Carmel is Scenic Road and we took it as we headed back to our cottage. There was street unmetered parking spots available and I noticed how much brighter/whiter the sand was in this area (a lot less crowded as well). Thinking back, wish we had stopped so I could have admired this part of the beach a bit more.

Amazing ride with expert guide. Steve was a great, friendly guide. He tailored the ride to our…read moreskill level and experience. I would rate this as a "do not miss out experience"!! The trail itself was breathtaking, winding through scenic landscapes. The horses were well trained and appropriate for beginners and experienced riders.

Steve is top notch in all ways imaginable. I can't tell you how many trail/beach rides I've been on…read more(too many to count) and In all honestly, NONE of them compare to what Steve offers. Real talk, he goes above and beyond to make sure you're really enjoying your time with these amazing horses and creating unforgettable memories which are honestly priceless. He has so many stories, jokes and wisdom to share. His passion for horses and ability to make people feel as ease is a true gift. Thank you, we'll for sure be back again! ;)

We stopped to walk along this trail in Pacific Grove for a while, and it was a gorgeous day for it…read more Our 13-year-old dog, Zoey, cannot walk far anymore, so we brought a stroller. This path is not the best place for one, but we made do. First, though, we took her down to the water. We did not explore the tidepools on this occasion, but Zoey had a great time walking in the ocean water. In this area, the tide moved in a gentle motion, yet it still managed to sneak up on me and get my shoes wet! The path was alive with vibrant color today, and offered lovely views. Unfortunately, some cars drive faster than they ought to on this road considering how close the walking path is situated to it.

Nice trail with bike lanes. Lot of things to see. There are lots of seals laying on the beach after…read moreyou passed the Hopkins Marine Station. It's a pleasant walk along the shore.

i came in for my first visit and the ambiance was beautifully put together. kylie at the register…read morewas very helpful in helping me pick my drink as i was unfamiliar with the menu and was incredibly friendly and welcoming! my drink was perfect for me.

One of the best lattes I've ever had!…read more Must visit his place if you are in Carmel. It's extremely crowded do keep time on hand