Visiting a new town that is known for its different side streets and courtyards?…read more Carmel Visitor Information office is your first stop. Extremely friendly staff who quickly was able to assist us with all the useful information and maps

the staff was friendly and knowledgeable. she gave us a great steer of the best places to visit in…read moreCarmel. thanks!

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!

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.

I don't like to give bad review because it's a waste of my time and energy but this place is an…read moreexception. I have never encounter The RUDEST and INCONSIDERATE information center. I have two toddlers and one of them is currently potty training and the guy didn't even allow us to use the restroom and told us he needs to call the plumper. There were no greeting or eye contact. Felt like I was talking to a wall. This place needs to close down because the guy is useless, unfriendly and completely lazy. He's by far worse than a robot. Avoid this place if possible. Best to do your research online and if you need to use a restroom for your kids just go any place beside here. This will save you from having a bad day.

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.

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.

Not to much to hype up. Recent visit was Early October - way too early in season. Best time is…read moreduring Thanksgiving weekend - super crowded with butterflies and people. LOL.... Nice trail and a cool place to check out when visiting the Monterey Pacific Grove area....also cool rocks and tide pools nearby...Will be back later on this season.....

Purchased and maintained by the City of Pacific Grove in collaboration with the Dept. of Fish and…read moreWildlife, Monarch Grove Sanctuary provides a sanctuary habit for Monarch Butterflies during the winter months of Oct through Feb. Be aware that the butterflies here are protected and there is a $1K fine for touching any butterflies. We unfortunately arrived a bit too early in the year so there were no butterflies to be found. We walked around the accessible areas that were not roped off, but ultimately there is not a lot to see when the butterflies have not flown in yet. Parking is available for free at street level on either entrance of the Sanctuary.

If you're in the Carmel/Monterey area with kids, you have to stop here. It's a total hidden gem…read more There are so many wonderful play structures that kept our kids (ages 2 and up) entertained for hours--everything from the suspension bridge to the hedge maze and the classic steam engine. The park is also very well-maintained and clean, which isn't always a guarantee with public playgrounds. It's the perfect place to let the kids burn off some energy in a safe, fun environment. Highly recommend!

PLEASE place updated schedule on website/Yelp!!!!!…read more Went on a Tuesday and it was closed. Other than the aquarium this was the main reason we chose to come to Monterey and stayed an extra night just to have the day to visit the park. Lucky (I guess) I saw a worker and asked why it was closed. He said if kids are in school, then Tuesdays is when they close for maintenance.

Took my two dogs here today. It's nice and shady great parking and ok facility. Lots of tall grass…read morewith foxtails. Bark covering dirt. Secure fence on both the small and big dog fenced areas, trees, benches for humans. Too bad people don't pick up their dogs' poop. Watch where you step. Trash cans on site,

This park could be so great. The views of the lake are really lovely. But the park itself needs a…read morelot of improvements. 1) There's no fresh water provided. This is pretty standard at every other dog park. Why would you not have a faucet and some bowls available? 2) The park doesn't seem to be maintained at all or at least not frequently. The trash can was completely overflowing, and there was a ton of old dog poop all over the park. Weeds were growing up in several spots through the wood chips. 3) The wood chips. Wow. There's a lot of them. For the big dogs, I'm guessing it wouldn't be too hard to navigate, but smaller dogs would have difficulties wading through such a thick layer of substrate. My sheltie did not look particularly comfortable as she tried to walk through it. 4) Other reviews have commented on this as well, and I have to agree. There is definitely a creepy element to the people who are hanging out in their cars next to the park. One guy was parked right next to the entrance to the small dog section, and he stared at us the entire time we were there. It wasn't pleasant. I really wanted to like this park, the location is so great and the view of the lake is really nice. But the park feels so neglected and forgotten. It wasn't enjoyable for me or my pup.

Haven't been here in over a year since moving away. It was fantastic to see the regrow th from all…read morethe rain in CA this past year. And the pond at the top of the trail looks like it did from years ago when I first hiked here. They had done some major work around the pond and sort of landscaping. The view at the top is a still gorgeous! Views of Carmel Valley sand the white sand beach. A new building with restrooms is at the front too. Nice change from all the port a potties. Enjoy nature and get out there. Cheers and happy yelping.

So beautiful, full of a variety of wildlife and sweeping views of the ocean and surrounding…read morelandscape. Highly recommend.