Great place for interesting and unique photo opportunities. Very colorful and fun. It exists for…read moresuch a touching and loving reason; gives one a sense of love and caring between a couple. I'm so glad the people who have this property now have kept it up.

This was such a wonderful place to finally visit, especially after all the trips we've taken to the…read morearea. First off, this eclectic house was created out of the love a husband had for his wife while she was losing her eyesight. It's a really beautiful story, and I'll include the link if you want to read more: https://www.pacificgrovebutterflyhouse.com/ Because of J's love for his wife, Sonja, this brightly colorful home covered in mirrors and butterflies still stands today. It exists for such a touching reason and really gives you a sense of the love and care they had for each other. I'm so glad the current owners have continued to maintain it. During their life together, Sonja and J supported the Blind & Visually Impaired Center of Monterey County with donations from people who came to admire the Butterfly House. You can donate as well if you feel moved to do so (blindandlowvision.org). Just keep in mind that this is a private residence. We actually saw the homeowner heading inside and waited until they were in before taking a look. I'm sure they're kind and happy to share the story, but it's also important to respect that this is someone's home and daily life. Sadly, J passed away in 2020 and Sonja in 2022.

17-Mile Drive was one of the prettiest parts of our Monterey/Carmel visit. We started in Monterey…read moreand exited in Carmel, and the whole route felt like a postcard. The ocean views are gorgeous, especially along the cliffside sections. There are plenty of places to stop at beaches, take photos, and just enjoy the coastline. The homes along the route are stunning, and of course, Pebble Beach Golf Links adds that classic Monterey luxury feel. This is an easy recommendation. Beautiful drive, dramatic ocean views, beach stops, golf scenery, and a perfect way to connect Monterey and Carmel.

The views make you sing: "Life is worth livingggggg"…read more Apart from the vehicle entry fee ($12) increasing over the years and no bathrooms, it's definitely worth the drive. They give you a map upon entering, which is helpful to see what spots you want to explore. Lots of stops you can make and people are always entering/leaving from the parking spots. My favorites are: - Spanish Bay - Fanshell Beach Overlook - Cypress Point Overlook - Lone Cypress Tree - Restless Sea - Point Joe - China Rock - Bird Rock

Carmel is a great escape. It has a special charm and dramatic beach landscapes with blue waters,…read morecliffs and majestic cypress trees. It is quaint, perfect for a 1-2 stop, great to stroll on Ocean Ave. and check out the art galleries, the nice shops and enjoy a fresh seafood meal. Life stops its fast pace while here. Wear layers! I always get cold here and bring comfy shoes to explore the small, cute town! A landmark of California!

Brought family down to see Big Sur. We stopped by Carmel to get some food…read more I love that this has got to be the most dog friendly city in California. Almost all restaurants and stores are accommodating. Saw couple of people picking up after their dogs. Also saw plenty of trash cans. Also street parking is still free, if you can find a spot.

Something truly amazing about this rock. I went there to check it out, and sure enough, i got…read morekissed! Don't know what it was but it was happening to other people too. Maybe something in the air there. Rock is on the path near lovers point. Easily reachable by bike from hotels from cannery row to Asilomar. Walkable from the aquarium as well. The rocks below are great for kids to scramble. Lots of tide pools. You can find hermit crabs, anemones, and more. That day we saw a pod of dolphins loitering nearby, but my phone camera couldn't get a good enough snap. Picnic area across the street. Lots of benches trash cans and parking. Poop bags for the pups, so dog owners have no excuse. Keep Monterey beautiful!

Retaining the moniker of "Kissing Rock" since Victorian times, these two massive slabs of granite…read morealong Ocean View Boulevard look very much like a couple kissing and was at one point dubbed by Life magazine as the most romantic spot in America. The view here is quite gorgeous and it's very peaceful with the waves crashing in the background. Plus there's a bench here as well if you want to sit for a spell. Public parking is available along designated areas of Ocean View Blvd.

Please bring back the PBFW experience! We loved going each year and bringing our friends. Each year…read morewe attended the Pebble Beach Food & Wine, we had a fun and enjoyable three days of food, wine, cocktails, lectures and classes. We enjoyed talking with the chefs and learning about how they brought their culinary skills to life and rejoicing in their successes. We also loved how the chefs and mixologists were so open and sharing with their recipes. I tried my first Bloody Mary at the PBFW, and I still have not found one to even come close to it. It was perfection!

Top notch event! I…read morewas lucky enough to be gifted tickets to the Lexus Grand Tasting and made the trek down to Pebble Beach on Sunday. You can leisurely wander under the giant tent sampling wine while enjoying food served up by Chefs from some of the best restaurants around. The tasting event is 3 hours long (12-3pm) which is just enough time to stop and sample all your favorites while chatting with new friends without feeling rushed. Get there early and don't hesitate to begin sampling food right away. I did see a few chefs run out before 3pm which I suppose will happen, especially if it's good grub. There are limited places to sit, so I recommend wearing comfortable shoes as you'll be standing almost the entire time. Since the event ends early, there was time to finish the day with a beautiful trip down 17-Mile Drive. Next time, it would be great to make it a full weekend and attend both tasting days (different chefs attend Sat/Sun) and one of the seminars or celebrity chef cooking demos. I most certainly will be back!

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

I see this guy out occasionally. I have yet to be able to stop him and chat. But every time I see…read morehim riding his shark, I always see people around smile and stare. Usually I see him riding going out past Lover's Point going to Asilomar where I usually go surf or just watch the waves. I had to give him props for adding flavor to the streets of Monterey and PG.

I cannot believe you got a picture of this guy. Every time I have seen him I was sans technology…read more I am .. proud... for some reason to know this cat is swimming along the street somewhere, about to attack your sense of the mundane and apathy. There were some past and future tense issues with the grammar up there, but you know... we're talking about a land shark. "I'm just a dolphin m'am"

I like walking from Carmel Beach on Scenic Drive to The Point, which juts out into the ocean and…read moreoffers great views of Pebble Beach, Point Lobos, and Carmel Beach. From The Point, you can continue walking down Scenic past the Frank Lloyd Wright house (It's the second one on your right off the water), Robinson Jeffer's Tor House, Carmel River Beach, and the Bird Sanctuary. It's as scenic and beautiful a walk as you'll ever find, especially on sunny days. Uber Yelper Wilhelm Y and I hung out together on Saturday before running the Big Sur Half Marathon in Monterey on Sunday. We had a great time checking out Carmel, the beaches, and having dinner at Crystal Fish in Monterey Here's Wilhelm at Carmel Point in front of Carmel Beach... http://static1.px.yelp.com/photo/akeT-m_1uyn5sR3Ztd1xgw/l It was fun times... Hope Y'all will join us next year in November in Monterey for the Big Sur Half Marathon....

A cute experience to walk through! Lots of fun lights and displays. The community does a great job…read moreof lights and displays

Went there this year with out of town guests. I haven't been in a few years myself. I remember it…read morebeing so busy that they had to make the streets one way. This year it was easy to get into and easy to find parking. The park was definitely the most popular part of the experience. I appreciate those that still participate and put up lights at their homes. I'm not sure if it's my imagination but I could have sworn that in the past there were more participants. I remember carolers and every house light up. But anyway, it was still nice, and was fun for the kids to see, especially for the three year old when she saw the Frozen house.

Monterey Bay is always a nice getaway. Love the wharf, even if it's touristy, but I like that vibe…read more The shops are cute to browse and get souvenirs and gifts, it's never crowded, the views are incredible, you can spot some Marine life. It has an old-school vibe which is more than OK with me. Not a lot to do, but it can be a good stop on a road trip or you can kill time if you spend the night in town.

The views are nice of the Monterey Bay and the boat harbor. Otherwise, the wharf area has become a…read morevery touristy / borderline junky collection of souvenir shops, plus a few restaurants hanging on. It feels like an area that's trying too hard to get attention and extract dollars from visitors. Dear Hubby and I normally wouldn't be visiting the wharf when in the area. Especially because I have a dear friend who lives in Carmel and knows all the best places to go from a local's perspective. We rolled in to town just as the sun was setting, and we wanted to get something simple and have a view of the water. I had Googled "clam chowder, water view" and there was a listing for the Grotto, and it was close to our hotel, so off we went. I hadn't been to the wharf in probably twenty years, and I was surprised at the transformation. I remember it as being more of a place to find / buy freshly caught fish, with a few restaurants serving tasty seafood dishes. It was more about buying and enjoying food, with only a few options for other kinds of shopping. Now it's about all the kitschy shops full of forgettable souvenirs that line the foot of the wharf. There were a number of families walking around with young kids begging and pleading for their parents to buy them stuff they didn't need. We did end up having a good meal, and the weather was pleasant with no wind or fog. That made enjoying the views out over the Bay and the boat harbor very pleasant. Paid parking is required until 8 p.m., seven days a week. I think it was $1.25 an hour. There are pay stations readily available to use with a credit / debit card to pre-pay for parking.