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.

Made an effort to stop by during open hours, really cool location. Very kid friendly, and the staff…read morewere very helpful. We had a great conversation about the albatross we had seen whale watching the day before. I really liked the model Chinese fishing village.

The current exhibition is Salvador Dalí. It's a fantastic menagerie of art and history. I truly…read morethought I knew so much about his work until my recent visit. The stories of his work and inspirations had me reading every last tidbit. The black and white photos of Dalí preparing his own work were mesmerizing. I could've spent the whole day here. The whimsical arrangements throughout the rooms gave me the notion that I had stepped into a secret space that made me think differently. It's hard to describe. It was beautiful.

I found this little museum quite interesting. I love learning new things about places I visit. On…read morethe lower level, the museum focuses mostly on early settlement in the Monterey area with wide coverage of the World War II era and the entire Pacific fleet not exclusive to Monterey. On its upper level more exhibits can be found directly related to Monterey's fishing industry and the history of Cannery Row. There are two exhibits that caught my eye. The first one can be seen as soon as you walk through the doors as it is situated on the open floor between the museum's entrance and the Monterey County Visitor Information Center. The Bixby Bridge is located in nearby Carmel, CA but you can see a masterful sculpture carved out of old growth redwood by artist Michael Miller (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/8FhwlcREHuMFeNISkhSz0A?select=C8WBeFH2NGi9JdxTfwQsjQ). Take the time to observe the fine detail that the artist puts into the sculpture. It's truly a masterpiece. The second exhibit is probably the biggest item inside the museum and can be seen to the left of the museum's entrance doors and that is the huge historic Fresnel lens once housed at the Point Sur Light Station (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/8FhwlcREHuMFeNISkhSz0A?select=TvlZXZSWAjVb7Bz9ej2ICg). The highlight of the exhibit is the 580 glass prisms which makes up the lens. There is a nice assortment of information surrounding the exhibit as well as some interactive stations. The museum's collection is worthy of 5 stars, but I found some serious design flaws on several of the exhibits which detracted from my viewing experience. Simple things like accent lighting pointed directly at a glossy painting whereas the viewer can not experience the artwork but simply a burst of yellow light on glossy canvas. Several of the exhibits had a sheet of clear plexiglass protecting them which is wonderful for prolonging the life of the exhibit but it doesn't work when accent lighting and direct sunlight hits it from different directions causing a triple image because of shadowing. I found a lot of simple things just like that on both levels which were just distracting. The museum is open Tuesdays through Sundays from 10 AM to 5 PM. There is no admission fee, but donations are accepted and appreciated.

Third Thursday at MMA La Mirada: Open until 8:00 pm the third Thursday of the month…read more So here I am, fresh from a four hour drive across our beautiful state, fresh from checking into my hotel, ready to spend a little time looking at some beautiful local arts n culture. Now, pay careful attention to your GPS, folks, because I totally missed the drive the first time. I arrived, but was afraid I had arrived at someone very fancy's personal estate. It was dark, oh so dark. But there must have been 30 cars, so I parked with all the others and walked toward the building. I guess first I walked around the building. There were two places I could see light coming from, and I picked the one on the left. Folks, go for the one on the right. I walked around back and into the rose garden. I was still a little afraid the master of the house would set his royal guard dogs on me for prowling. Back to my car. I'm hustling. I'm thinking, "there was a sister museum that was also advertised to be open late, maybe I should go there!" (apparently that was wrong anyway, cause it;s First Friday at MMA Pacific Street not Third Thursday, but in retrospect I was pretty confused all around). But first I try the other place where light beckoned. It is an adorable, old fashioned door. And all of a sudden, I'm on the other side and inside this beautiful land of art, curated by beautiful people and enchanting enclosed within a historic estate (see, eg., chandeliers, dainty little bathrooms, gift shop in what feels like a dining room). Almost everyone was already in a lecture about art restoration, so I slowly wandered through the collection without having to navigate a crowd. It was super enjoyable. The kids area/library was a place I'd like to spend more time, and the gift shop was well priced. I'd definitely like to go back and see the outdoor area. It was, as hinted at above, almost pitch black at night.

Words cannot describe how lovely La Mirada is! I was married there May 18, 2013, and it was…read moreeverything I had dreamed of and more. The setting of the estate is intimate, comfortable, warm, and the roses add amazing color. For our May wedding, the roses were in their first bloom. They were gorgeous and the scent during the ceremony was heavenly. The guests enjoyed having cocktail hour in the rose garden; they were snapping photos of the blooms and it made for a beautiful back drop. Reading some of the other reviews; it makes me sad to think people picked this place apart! My husband, family, and I had a wonderful experience from start to finish. Our events coordinator was Mel Cota. She is FANTASTIC! This gal does not skip a beat! Not only is she kind, detailed oriented, compassionate, and communicative; she was able to turn my vision and my wants into a perfect wedding day. The day of flowed effortlessly and was seamless, all thanks to Mel. Having recently received my wedding photos from Michele Beckwith Photography; I am so thankful we went with La Mirada. The grounds of the venue came out amazing in the photos. Classy and elegant! Being able to take photo's upstairs in Elizabeth Taylor's room with my groom was such a treat! This place truly is a five! Thank you La Mirada! - Alixandra

The Sunset Center in Carmel is a historic venue for live performances and community events. Built…read morein 1926 as Sunset School, the Spanish Colonial Revival building was saved and transformed into the Sunset Center, giving it new life as a cultural hub. Good lighting and clear acoustics here, and performances are enjoyable from all 718 seats in the main room. For the show we attended, sponsored by Folk-Yeah, our seating was assigned & we picked physical tickets up at will-call --no electronic tickets. It felt relatively small and well organized for a concert venue. Wine is sold in non-spillable sippy cups, a smart, practical detail. For our show, the merchandise line spilled out the front door and moved slowly. More than enough bathrooms at the venue. The ushers are helpful, though pocket lights and seat assistance during the performance can be distracting. Overall, an intimate place to see a live act in Carmel.

I really enjoy volunteering here, for many reasons. The presentations and performances are top…read morenotch. Entertainers, artists, musicians, comedians and others adore visiting Carmel by the Sea and the Monterey Peninsula. The venue maximum is about 700 guests in the main theater and 50 for the studio 105 shows. So not overwhelming crowds, thank goodness. Many outdoor patio shows and big screen theater movies are complimentary, to all. As volunteers, we work usually less than 4 hour shifts and see the shows, for free. We earn credits for next season tickets, with Bravo lounge status. Maxed 4 tickets, 10 shifts per ticket. We choose the shifts and shows to volunteer, then get assigned. Older very nice group of people, the majority are women. Exciting to be involved with such a fabulous team. Thank you kindly!

Located at Tyrrell Park with a $5 admission fee for adults (free for kids), and no charge for entry…read moreon first Fridays of each month. Museum permit parking on Pilkington if you're lucky to find a spot (you do need to obtain the permit inside). A nature walk to explore and learn about the tide pooling at Scott Creek is among various programs and workshops offered by the museum regularly. And the lady at the front counter was friendly and shared interesting stories behind some of the items on display. There were a few live critters on site like the rosy boa near the fake snakes, and guests could even touch the sea creatures in the tide pool. Also, see and learn about plant and animal fossils and the history of paleontology in the Santa Cruz area. The animal displays were creatively set up, as well as a redwood tree ring. Lots of bird species, ducks, owls, and the golden eagle, even an interactive exhibit where guests could hear the bird calls of the song sparrow, hermit thrush, and pacific slope flycatcher, among others. My favorite exhibits were the banana slug display describing the importance of being slimy, and of course the black-tailed jackrabbit, cuz I like all things "rabbit". I also checked out the gift shop before leaving, with a variety of cute and creative products and souvenirs for sale, a great way to support the museum.

A beautiful museum with fascinating, local natural history. The gift shop is also fantastic.read more

If 4-6 people are going, might as well get a family membership for a year, it's the same price or…read moreless. Great collection. Takes a few hours to see everything. Recommend downloading the app ahead of time, the audio tour was pretty neat. Gardens are nice too, and open to the public. There's a small parking lot if no street parking's available.

Great museum with friendly staff and interactive exhibits! They do a great job of making each…read moresection super interactive. For example, they have a place where you can play ancient Egyptian games with friends, exhibits that require guests to push buttons / ask questions, and even a passport book where people can collect stamps and write notes! It doesn't just have to be for kids - I was entertained as an adult doing these activities They have a lot of artifacts, model replicas, and even a mock tomb area. It was great for being able to 'visualize' what everything would have looked like back then. It did seem like quite a few artifacts were casts of the real thing though. There was plenty to see and we spent a few hours there. The staff are also very friendly and passionate about the subject. Even when we were just looking at exhibits, they told us about different facts / activities that the museum was hosting. Outside, there was plenty of parking and even a garden you could visit. I really enjoyed coming here and highly recommend visiting if you get the chance!

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.

What an impressive, thoughtful arrangement of his life, works, and accomplishments! I'm not a fan…read moreof his work but was pleasantly surprised by the layout and contents. Two of our group members are big fans and thoroughly enjoyed the museum taking over 2 hours to explore and interact with the exhibits. The downtown Salina's area has restaurants and shops to explore making it a full day's adventure should you choose.

You HAVE to visit this place at least once as a Bay Area native--especially if you like spooky…read morethings! We've been so many times over the years--as a family, for special events, and even as a Girl Scout troop! Weird and strange and spooky and fun! Little pricey. Parking is easy. Great gift shop.

I have come here for the Halloween special and their regular guided tours…read more For their Halloween event, I highly enjoyed it! They make a lot of effort to decorate and set up a spoooky ambiance. The cast were really into character and it was really fun. I also enjoyed their Halloween styled drinks - it truly set the mood! For the regular tours, I was pretty disappointed. For the following reasons: - tour was WAY too big (could not hear and it was hard to follow along) - tour content was a bit lacking. I came in with a rough idea of who Sarah Winchester was and didn't learn much beyond that. Might be different if you don't know anything about the area though - tour guides were kind of cranky. Our tour guide seemed pretty annoyed throughout the whole thing and I saw multiple other tour guides (ours included) yell at guests which was super awkward Nonetheless it is amazing to have such a historic landmark nearby. The staff do an amazing job of preserving it and it is very well maintained. You can tell they all take pride in working their and in conservation of the house, which was nice to see

"do you remember the... christmas tire?" this was wayne a few years ago. i had met him at a time,…read moredecades later, we termed our missing years... maybe you had some of those? days you can't account for, likely stuck somewhere because you chose wrong, turned down a backstreet and came to a deadend. nothing to do then but hope another bus comes along soon to get you out, and wary that your next move goes wrong, too. at such times, heed the advice given to weekend hikers: "if you get really lost in the woods, stay right where you are and wait... someone will find you". what isn't included in that conventional wisdom is the caveat: "sooner or later". all this came to me as i enjoyed the oxtail stew at the basque cultural center. I'd been curious about it for quite some time and finally decided to check it out. Basque restaurants have been one of my guilty pleasures since i made the wrong choice that lead to those missing years. since then I've sought them out when around Fresno, Bakersfield, Reno and smaller towns like Gardnerville and Los Banos: flat, grassy, agrarian places suited to sheepherding, which as far as I know was originally the main occupation for new immigrants from the Pyrenees where it's something of an artisanal career today. Since the 1800s Basque boarding houses were also in SF and LA, all gone now. Newly arrived Bascos heading to the country for work were advised to get off the train and look around for a place called, usually, the Santa Fe Hotel. The menu at the restaurant was then and is still basic: choose chicken, steak, lamb or pork chops as a main item and the rest is the same regardless (soup, salad, beans with ice cream at the end). There's also a preliminary dish, an "appetizer" that is essentially a separate entree in itself. this varies everyday, often oxtail or lamb stew. That's more or less the offering around today, and would have been all I likely ever knew except for my travels a few years ago to the Basque homeland in the Pyrenees. Basque cuisine is much more diverse there than you'll find at the Cultural Center, but you're closer to here than to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port. Everything from the meat department is very good, but I suggest avoiding the fish entree unless it's the daily special. My favorite was the oxtail stew, reminding me of the same dish at the Santa Fe Hotel in Fresno, during the time when I lived nearby during those lost years, longer than I care to remember. In fact, as I enjoyed the meal I recalled my thoughts after wayne mentioned the "christmas tire". at first i completely blanked, what was my old friend talking about? then slowly it came to me, like a dim memory of something said or done during a particularly white and active night before, something so off-axis that the next morning your left eye looks funny and hurts. it was our second christmas in a small farmhouse near madera. i had stupidly purchased it... leave new york to live here forever? ever wanted to grab someone, someone also rootless, and just walk out the door, run away with less than a half-baked plan about what happens next? well that's exactly what we did, my runway model friend of the moment and i. by the end of the 70s we had developed a nasty habit quite common then, not a true physical addiction mind you but a very real psychological dependence. in the end we couldn't pay our "bills" and needed to be somewhere else, like now!, hard to find for awhile. at that moment a portal of change opened, deux ex machina!: a job offer in the middle of nowhere, relo expenses et al. i accepted without ever visiting madera, ca. i suppose after all this you might wonder what that tire thing was about? i, too, wonder. christmas was memorable in my early years but then something unforgettably sad happened, such that i've disrespected religious events since. for a time i took to making odd abstractions of what alternative forms a "christmas tree" might take. that particular year i covered an old truck tire with that canned "snow" you spray on trees to approximate a "white christmas." but this result wasn't a tree at all, instead the remains of one that had been cut down to be decorated elsewhere, leaving a snow-covered hole in the ground where the tree had rooted. That was the concept, merry christmas perhaps you can see from this that my creative energy in this period ran high... wayne and i spent many and regular hours testing various brandy beverages i was hired to develop. but the lovely Dierdre fell back on pricier habits we had vowed to leave behind when we left the apple. soon after she caught the next bus out of town in the form of a wealthy melon farmer. fortunately none of this mattered much after awhile. all that aside, i highly recommend the cultural center for its displays of Basque art and artifacts, a full gymnasium for Basque games, and of course its excellent traditional cuisine.

Service was great Waiter very personal…read moreRack of lamb was delish Glad they had mint jelly Brocolinni tough

Had a blast spending New Years 2022 here. From the decorations to the food and the balloon drop…read more Thank you to the board members and the club manager as well as the president of the club for a great evening!

It's A Bingo Thing! Nice people get together to socialize,…read moreplay a bit of bingo and have fun. This easy to find club has been around a long long time. Two different groups sponsor the non profit bingo games on various nights. The hall may be rented out. Hot and cold food is available for purchase. Good Luck!