Guidebook for Monterey Peninsula and surrounding
Parks & Nature
One of the most beautiful parks in the World.
309 residents recomanen
Reserva Natural Estatal de Point Lobos
62 CA-1One of the most beautiful parks in the World.
Garland Ranch Regional Park
700 W Carmel Valley RdOne of the most popular hiking areas.
Càmping Pfeiffer Big Sur
California 1This State Park is a local favorite.
Carmel City Beach
Simply one of the most beautiful beaches around.
Great park on the ocean, sandy beach and popular with locals.
15 residents recomanen
Lover's Point Beach
Great park on the ocean, sandy beach and popular with locals.
Sightseeing
Carmel City Beach
Beautiful white sand beach
The Carmel Mission is one of the best of the California missions and is where Father Junipero Serra was laid to rest.
76 residents recomanen
Misió de Carmel
3080 Rio RdThe Carmel Mission is one of the best of the California missions and is where Father Junipero Serra was laid to rest.
No trip to the Monterey Peninsula is complete without a drive down the coast to Big Sur. The drive down Highway One is not to be missed!
332 residents recomanen
Big Sur
No trip to the Monterey Peninsula is complete without a drive down the coast to Big Sur. The drive down Highway One is not to be missed!
The Seventeen Mile Drive through Pebble Beach can be accessed from Carmel or Pacific Grove. this is one of the most famous drives in the Country as it encompasses some of the greatest ocean views, golf courses, hotels and homes in the World. It is a toll road so be prepared to pay a fee.
39 residents recomanen
17 Mile Dr
17 Mile DriveThe Seventeen Mile Drive through Pebble Beach can be accessed from Carmel or Pacific Grove. this is one of the most famous drives in the Country as it encompasses some of the greatest ocean views, golf courses, hotels and homes in the World. It is a toll road so be prepared to pay a fee.
Made famous by John Steinbeck's book, Cannery Row, it has become a place to visit. There are numerous restaurants and tourist shops located on this street. The Monterey Bay Aquarium is located at the west end of Cannery Row.
25 residents recomanen
Cannery Row
Cannery RowMade famous by John Steinbeck's book, Cannery Row, it has become a place to visit. There are numerous restaurants and tourist shops located on this street. The Monterey Bay Aquarium is located at the west end of Cannery Row.
Great seafood restaurants, great views, sea otters and seals too! A bit touristy but locals enjoy going there. Whale watching tours also depart from there
18 residents recomanen
Fishermans Wharf
Fishermans WharfGreat seafood restaurants, great views, sea otters and seals too! A bit touristy but locals enjoy going there. Whale watching tours also depart from there
Discovery Whale Watch
66 Fishermans WharfCall ahead for reservations and to check the weather forecast.
If you have read any of John Steinbeck's novels you will enjoy this museum. Many of his novels were written using Monterey County as the setting. You can visit John Steinbeck's grave while in Salinas.
41 residents recomanen
National Steinbeck Center
1 Main StIf you have read any of John Steinbeck's novels you will enjoy this museum. Many of his novels were written using Monterey County as the setting. You can visit John Steinbeck's grave while in Salinas.
One of the oldest buildings in the area and one of significance to the local community. The Cathedral recently went through a major renovation and is quite beautiful.
7 residents recomanen
San Carlos Cathedral
500 Church StOne of the oldest buildings in the area and one of significance to the local community. The Cathedral recently went through a major renovation and is quite beautiful.
Entertainment & Activities
Pebble Beach Golf Links
1700 17 Mile DrOne of the finest golf courses in the world!
A world class aquarium with many fine exhibits.
668 residents recomanen
Aquari de la Badia de Monterey
886 Cannery RowA world class aquarium with many fine exhibits.
The famous Laguna Seca Raceway, home to the Historic auto races in August.
63 residents recomanen
Circuit de WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca
1021 Monterey Salinas HwyThe famous Laguna Seca Raceway, home to the Historic auto races in August.
Cinemark Monterey 13
1700 Del Monte CenterDel Monte Shopping Center
Food Scene
One of our favorite places to go. The journey and the destination are both great! Good food with a fabulous view! The also have a superb gift shop stocked with local artist's work.
94 residents recomanen
Nepenthe
48510 CA-1One of our favorite places to go. The journey and the destination are both great! Good food with a fabulous view! The also have a superb gift shop stocked with local artist's work.
Tommy's Wok
Best Chinese food we know of.
Closest Starbuck's to our home at Stone Creek Center. About 5 minutes away. Also there are a 7-11 gas station and Wells Fargo bank.
10 residents recomanen
Starbucks
133 General Stilwell DrClosest Starbuck's to our home at Stone Creek Center. About 5 minutes away. Also there are a 7-11 gas station and Wells Fargo bank.
A respected restaurant just down the road from us. Excellent food and beverages.
40 residents recomanen
Tarpy's Roadhouse
2999 Monterey Salinas HwyA respected restaurant just down the road from us. Excellent food and beverages.
This is my wife's favorite breakfast place. Everything we have ever eaten there has been great! I love their BLT's and their potato salad and she loves the pancakes and cheese blintzes! WARNING. - CASH ONLY!!! Breakfast and Lunch only.
16 residents recomanen
The Little Swiss Café
Dolores StreetThis is my wife's favorite breakfast place. Everything we have ever eaten there has been great! I love their BLT's and their potato salad and she loves the pancakes and cheese blintzes! WARNING. - CASH ONLY!!! Breakfast and Lunch only.
A beautiful dive down the coast and you are there. During the Summer they have chairs in the river to soak your feet while you have a drink! Best BLT I have ever had!
29 residents recomanen
Big Sur River Inn
46800 CA-1A beautiful dive down the coast and you are there. During the Summer they have chairs in the river to soak your feet while you have a drink! Best BLT I have ever had!
On Fisherman's Wharf Cafe Fina is one of our favorite restaurants. Great seafood and friendly staff. They have been there for awhile and treat locals and tourists well.
Café Fina
47 Fishermans WharfOn Fisherman's Wharf Cafe Fina is one of our favorite restaurants. Great seafood and friendly staff. They have been there for awhile and treat locals and tourists well.
Best Italian food period. Super friendly and everything is homemade. Save room for dessert! A personal favorite of ours.
8 residents recomanen
La Mia Cucina
208 17th StBest Italian food period. Super friendly and everything is homemade. Save room for dessert! A personal favorite of ours.
Delicious pizza. Very family oriented (not quiet) locals pizza place. About a 10 minute drive towards Salinas.
6 residents recomanen
Angelina's Pizzeria
22736 Portola DrDelicious pizza. Very family oriented (not quiet) locals pizza place. About a 10 minute drive towards Salinas.
A real local's spot for great Mexican food. Very informal. Dine in or take out.
25 residents recomanen
Michael's Grill & Taqueria
1126 Forest AveA real local's spot for great Mexican food. Very informal. Dine in or take out.
Casanova
5th AvenueAnother locals favorite restaurant! Romantic vibe.
Great selection of well sourced grocery items and deli products. Another locals favorite
Elroy's Fine Foods
15 Soledad DrGreat selection of well sourced grocery items and deli products. Another locals favorite
We love Bruno's Market and Deli! If you are headed down the coast or looking to have a picnic on Carmel beach, stop here first. Their Trip-tip sandwich is a locals favorite.
29 residents recomanen
Bruno's Market & Deli
Junipero StreetWe love Bruno's Market and Deli! If you are headed down the coast or looking to have a picnic on Carmel beach, stop here first. Their Trip-tip sandwich is a locals favorite.
Shopping
Del Monte Shopping Center
1410 Del Monte CenterApple Store, Macy's, Whole Foods and more!
REI
145 General Stilwell DrOutdoor enthusiasts favorite!
A very accessible, local merchants, non-traditional shopping mall with several good restaurants.
12 residents recomanen
The Crossroads Carmel
243 Crossroads BlvdA very accessible, local merchants, non-traditional shopping mall with several good restaurants.
Take a stroll up and down Ocean Avenue in downtown Carmel. Check out Carmel Drug store for souvenirs. They have wonderful local art galleries and high end stores like Tiffany's, Coach, etc. Perhaps best seen at night when the stores are closed!!
354 residents recomanen
Carmel-by-the-Sea
San Antonio AvenueTake a stroll up and down Ocean Avenue in downtown Carmel. Check out Carmel Drug store for souvenirs. They have wonderful local art galleries and high end stores like Tiffany's, Coach, etc. Perhaps best seen at night when the stores are closed!!
For those that are looking for Apple products we have an Apple store conveniently located in the Del Monte Shopping Center
Apple Del Monte
240 Del Monte CenterFor those that are looking for Apple products we have an Apple store conveniently located in the Del Monte Shopping Center
Essentials
Safeway
815 Canyon Del Rey BlvdClosest large supermarket - open late.
Vapor Sudden Service Cleaners
1193 10th StClosest dry cleaner and the best! About 10 minutes away.
Arts & Culture
One of the finest Photographic organizations around!
6 residents recomanen
Center for Photographic Art
9th AvenueOne of the finest Photographic organizations around!
Monterey Museum of Art
559 Pacific StMonterey's finest public art gallery.
This was the first Capitol of California and is located on Monterey's Path of History.
9 residents recomanen
Colton Hall Museum
570 Pacific StThis was the first Capitol of California and is located on Monterey's Path of History.
One of the finest photographic galleries I know of! Ansel Adams, Edward Weston, Morley Baer and many more on exhibit.
10 residents recomanen
Weston Gallery
One of the finest photographic galleries I know of! Ansel Adams, Edward Weston, Morley Baer and many more on exhibit.