I dropped a valuable bike part on Saturday and called 4 days later to see if anyone had turned it…read morein. A lady in the management office named Marilyn came to my rescue and searched high and low and texted some tenants and eventually found it with her landscaper or janitor. She mailed it to me without even waiting to get my Venmo for the postage. You just don't see people this considerate anymore. Maybe pre-Covid :-) Thank you Marilyn!

Great shopping area off the beaten downtown area. Amazing…read moremaze of stairs and walkways through shops. We find ourselves going to From Scratch restaurant.

The Steinbeck Museum was a wonderful literary stop in Salinas. We also visited the Steinbeck House…read moredown the street, which made the experience feel more complete. As a tribute to Steinbeck and his connection to the area, the museum was thoughtful, engaging, and well worth the visit. I especially enjoyed the quirky gift shop, always a bonus when a museum shop has personality. The drive into Salinas was also unexpectedly lovely, with so many fields and vegetables growing. It gave the whole visit a strong sense of place and helped connect the landscape to Steinbeck's writing. A great stop for literature lovers, history fans, or anyone looking for something meaningful to do in the area.

Drove down from San Jose (1.5 hours) only to find the museum had closed early due to an event…read moredowntown. This closure wasn't listed anywhere on their website, and it looked like one of the workers was putting up the announcement when we got there around 2:30. I understand closing early for a special event, but not putting up any notice of reduced hours is completely unacceptable. No one there seemed to care at all

Four different shops inside the Cannery Row Antique Mall . One shop F2 downstairs has lots of bar…read moreware art books and new bubble lights! Upstairs S1 all lanterns and antique chinoiserie. A really cool shop and check out L1 for beautiful ocean views with English china linens and rare items also some mantiques . You won't be disappointed

Noble Savage is located inside Cannery Row Antique Mall in the heart of Cannery Row. Located at the…read moretop of the stairs in space S-1 they feature the most gorgeous Chinese lanterns there. They also have beautiful antiques specializing in art, vintage kitchen, linens, vintage clothes and antique and vintage Asian. They also have a small spot downstairs, F-2 with really cool vintage art by Monterey Peninsula artists and SF bay area artists. Well worth the stop. The google view on the mall's website:canneryrowantiquemall.com shows both the spots. Check it out

One thing about going to a new city is how you imagine an area in your mind's eye, sometimes…read moredoesn't match the reality. Knowing that this outdoor shopping center was 3 stories and had over 30 stores, I expected the area around it to be like a city center, with heavy foot and car traffic, lots of noise, and business advertisement. Instead, I wasn't sure if we were in the right place, because the neighborhood looked residential. The city planners/architects did a really nice job to implement this intention. The shopping center first opened in 1960, as an open-air courtyard style with a luxury department store, unheard of at the time for a town that small. Throughout the years, it hosted a major department store chain (Saks Fifth Avenue) as well. Now, in keeping with Carmel's intention to not have any national brand retail in it's city limits, the majority of stores/restaurants at this mall are local (though there are exceptions like Tiffany & Co, Anthropologie, and Brunello Cuccinelli). We got lucky and found free street a block from the center. Even on a Monday late morning, it was quite busy with tourists and locals alike hanging out in the main courtyard. A really nice feature was the large outdoor gas firepit that people were using to keep warm. We had come for a particular restaurant, but were informed that they were closed for the day for a private event (no signs or mention on their website)...I guess that's how this particular business rolls.

One of the places we always come to when we arrive in the Monterey Bay, Carmel plaza Shopping has…read moresome great shops with a variety of products, clothes, and other items which we enjoy. The center has three different levels with stairs in the middle and each side or if you desire an elevator, there is one on the end. During the weekend or summertime when it's busy, parking can be a challenge. There is a parking garage not far away if the street is full. If that is full, you may need to walk a bit. There is also some great places to eat such as The Flying Fish, a coffee shop, and a wine maker or two. In the center of the plaza, there is space to sit and enjoy the environment-just find some shade if it's warm!

Went to Pilgrim's Way Community Bookstore and Secret Garden for the first time, and I'm so glad I…read morefinally had the chance to visit! I had heard about this little gem, known as the last bookstore in Carmel, but hadn't had the time to stop by until this trip. The selection of books was decent, and the service was good. I was even able to find and purchase a book that had been on my to-read list. The books were reasonably priced but some of the garden stuff was pricey. The Secret Garden was especially relaxing and beautiful. I really enjoyed walking through it, taking my time, and simply taking it all in. Definitely a lovely little spot to visit while in Carmel!

If you're in Carmel, you have to visit Pilgram Bookstore and Secret Garden. Run by a lovely…read morehusband-and-wife team, both spots feel like hidden gems. Pilgram Bookstore is cozy and has an amazing selection of books for being so tiny. It's easy to lose track of time here! Just a short walk away, Secret Garden is the perfect spot to relax. With its peaceful atmosphere and beautiful plants. Both places are full of charm and heart. Highly recommend them!

Colorful and full of personality, Somewhere in Carmel's second location on Ocean Street has a…read moreslightly different vibe, focusing more on tourist-friendly finds and Carmel and surf-inspired clothing. This shop features design and coffee table books, hats, T-shirts, cards, candles, and design-friendly souvenirs and gifts. The service experience was hands-off at this location. We were not greeted or welcomed, despite being the only guests --a missed opportunity.

Small shopping center that meets your basic needs Shopping…read morecenter is right off the freeway and the location makes it convenient to stop. Burger King Valero Gas Grocery Outlet Toms Liquor Saritas Mexican Restaurant Oreillys Auto Parts Creative Nails just to name a few

This is small ish professionally run shop specializing in all things local to monterey with a focus…read moreon decor and kitchen things. Located in custom house plaza this is pedestrian only so the parking you find will be wherever you go for downtown/fishermans wharf-which are both a short walk away. The building is the original pre-united states mercantile. While they've added electricity it's pretty much the same as it was a century ago. If you were ever curious to see what shopping was like at the dawn of the 19th century drop by. The goods for sale are a range of local foodstuffs, decor items, gardening stuff and in general light gifty shopping that visitors might be interested in. The staff are all volunteers and so far on my visits they are hugely enjoyable to talk to. Be warned they are gardening obsessive hobbyists so bringing up anything plant like can lead to protracted conversations. Pricing isn't any too bad helped along by the tax free status due to the non profit what runs it, and the historical nature of the square. Hours are dependent on volunteer availability but generally are 11-4 ish most days. Not a must do perhaps but a very pleasing browse if you are in the square.