This 2-hour annual show can be viewed while enjoying shopping, entertainment, and food/drinks at…read moreOld Fisherman's Wharf in Monterey. This past Sunday, boats passed by the wharf around 5:30pm (actually starting a bit earlier) and showcased their beautiful and creative light displays (some boats with music and props too), as they sailed along the coast toward Lover's Point, then passed by again on their way back to the wharf. Though they essentially line up in the form of a parade, you probably don't need to watch the entire time. I'd say either in the beginning, when each boat sails out of the harbor one-by-one, or when they return. If you want a good spot on the promenade or at the end of one of the other small piers, I'd recommend getting there early. It got pretty crowded by start time. Another option is to purchase tickets on one of the tour boats to get a better view on the water. For me, arriving early and watching from the wharf promenade for free was a lot better value. Even though the lighted boat parade already took place this past weekend (first Sunday of December), the wharf's website notes than many of the boats remain lit in the Monterey Harbor during the holiday season. A cool and unique event to get into the holiday spirit, especially if you like boats :)

Nice little area to walk with loads of wildlife to watch. Starfish all over, seals, otters. If you…read morelike to fish, this is a spot for fishing. Nice spot to stretch your legs and take in the ocean air.

Great spot to watch sea lions sunbathe!…read more Parking: Paid via app We found this spot randomly while exploring Monterey. We came on a weekday and it was fairly empty. We saw several people fishing off the pier. We walked along the pier and saw one sea lion and got super excited until we walked further and saw a TON of sea lions napping on the rocks. They were so cute and it was very cool to see them up close. I would definitely bookmark the spot for future visits!

We turned a corner driving along the Presidio in Monterey and came upon this small Museum featuring…read morethe Cavalry that was stationed at the Presidio Army Base. The museum presents the history using great artifacts like saddles, bridles, and full size horse and soldier mannikins decked out in full regalia. The history progresses chronologically since the time of the discovery of the Monterey Bay, and gives a great overview of military activity in the area. Some short videos displayed on a TV fill in the print and poster information using footage of Army activities from various eras. A very personable docent greeted us and narrated quite a bit of the historical background of the area as well, which gave some context for the displays. There are hiking trails up the hill behind the museum to the Sloat Monument, and we look forward to returning on a sunny day to enjoy the view and perhaps a picnic!

A small niche museum that really shows the military history or the local area. The visit is free…read morebut the gentleman sitting inside would always stand up and give a personal tour to everyone that walked in. He even gave information about the local area. The artifacts are well preserved. The area also has plenty of FREE parking. It's located right in town so you can park here for free and walk a few black and be right in the middle of town. The area is patrolled by the MPs so it's safe to park. Definitely a budget friendly spot to visit.

Today was the day!!! I have been a HUGE fan of the book Cannery Row and John Steinbeck for decades…read more As a lifelong local I always wondered what the inside of this place looked like! They offer free tours the first Saturday of the month. Tour lasts about an hour. I was very lucky and had the entire tour to myself! The docent was very knowledgeable about Monterey history as well as Ed Ricketts, John Steinbeck and all things Cannery Row. It was fascinating to look at the posters on the wall from the Mens club who owned the lab between the early 50's until the late 80's. The downstairs areas where the holding tanks are (visible from the outside) and the inside where the garage was. Along with things that you would know if you had read some of the books. Notably for me was the desk they built to take with them on the trip to the Sea of Cortez, that didn't fit inside the boat- so it was lashed to the outside and virtually never used. There it was! I touched it! If you're a lover of history and Steinbeck I highly recommend it!

I hesitate in writing even this…read more I wrote a lengthy review and deleted it. I don't want to give it away. I don't want it to cheapen it with more [censored] trotting around and trying to steal off of it or from it. But this, this is a holy place of sorts. You can go to the missions for religion. Or you can come here. But please don't.

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.

These enchanting homes, often called the Comstock cottages, are a hallmark of Carmel's unique…read morecharacter. They were designed and built primarily in the 1920s by Hugh Comstock--initially to showcase his wife Mayotta Brown's popular "Otsy‑Totsy" rag dolls. One of the most famous ones is Hansel and Gretel, created in 1924, and located Torres Street, between 5th and 6th Avenues. Enthralled by the first cottages, Carmel residents began commissioning Comstock to build similar homes. Over time, this blossomed into a small architectural movement--by the late 1920s and into the 1930s, around 21 Comstock cottages had been built across the town. Absolutely stunning!!! Suggested route -- and the route we took is: 1.) Go to the Carmel Visitor Center on Ocean Avenue between Junipero Street & Mission Street. Park your car nearby and do a self-guided walking tour. 2.) Pick up a map at the Visitor Center, take a "fairy-tale cottages" handout or take a picture of the handout. 3.) The walking tour is about 1-1.2 miles only. Very enjoyable walk. Small elevation. Wear comfortable shoes. Enjoy!!!

While in Carmel by the Sea we did a nice stroll into the neighborhood looking for the Hansel and…read moreGretel Cottages. I am giving 4 stars for the peaceful and scenic walk away from the hustle and bustle of the main street tourist area. I would give the walking tour 3 stars as the houses are not clearly marked and difficult to determine what we were looking at. That being said the cottages we stopped to look at were beautiful and very well maintained. Its worth the effort and time to go on this adventure. There are a few dramatically modern homes built in the neighborhood as well which seem out of place considering we were looking for fairy tale cottages. The walk is a bit hilly so plan accordingly. Nice and peaceful, be considerate as people do live in these adjacent homes.

Review for Independent Marketplace - Take Two - May 3, 2012…read more (first Thursday every month) Cinco de Mayo theme... I only have less than an hour here and didn't buy any veggies besides a bunch if organic baby carrots so I didn't get a chance to leave them at the "veggie valet"... I kid you not. How sic! Tequila sampling by Surf & Sand from the lovely family that owns Bruno's Market in Carmel by the Sea... I got a good deal on a bottle of Jimador - Reposado that came in a gift box with a free keepsake glass (I've bough this same set before at Terrace Liquors on Seaside) just to get a free Jimador hat... I'm a sucker like that. Fun craft soda booth, Mundaka was there in full effect representing the 5th with churros served with a side of warm Mexican chocolate and some thin tortas using their popular acorn fed Jamon Iberico.. sold out within an hour. I had my old friend Dr. NiNi and her Mom meet me there since they were visiting from out of town, Oakland and Los Gatos respectively. Nicole and I attended York together over a decade ago so they are very familiar with 831 culture and they warmly surprised and happy to feel the buzz and the foodie forward revolution going down in Sand City. Oh the Vallarta Splash cocktails didn't hurt either!

Now that they're charging a $5 cover, I expect a bit more…read more The good: the hot food served outside (you can get this without paying a cover). Vendors vary from month to month, but on this visit my buddies had pork shoulder tacos ($4 each or $10 for three, I think) from Carmel Valley Ranch, which they said were incredible. My vegetarian tacos (2 for $4) made with Sweet Earth Natural Foods seitan were also very good, though they were rather messy, and the vendor had no forks. I also heard from friends that the Happy Girl Kitchen Thai food was good. The Penny Ice Creamery ice cream inside was also excellent (I had a variation on rocky road, and my friend had butterscotch.) Also, the proximity to the Post No Bills beer venue is nice. Crowds at the Marketplace seem to be less dense now that they charge to get in, which is a positive, IMHO. The not-so-good: the DJ inside, playing hip hop & dance music at a rather high volume. A few people were dancing, but I think most of us were barely tolerating it. I hope that live music returns to the Marketplace. Also, the funky penny they give you when you pay your cover charge is supposed to be good at vendor booths, but it's of very limited value. For example, you can buy two ice creams and get one free, or get $1 off some excellent but rather pricey artisanal cheese. Much of the space is devoted to kids/kids' activities, but it didn't seem to be getting used much by the time we got there (shortly after 6:00). Some additional seating space would be nice, too.

Love coming to the city of Monterey to change the scenery from the every day hustle and bustle…read more There's so much to do here from Visiting Cannery Row and it's shops and restaurants. There's Dennis the Menace Park for your little ones or you can paddle around the lake on a swan. If you're a seafood lover, the Monterey Fish House is a popular choice for lunch or dinner. Reservations are recommended if you don't want a long wait. If you have a sweet tooth, there's a Ghirardelli candy store and you can try one of their famous milkshakes. If you'd like thrift shopping and finding antiques and treasures, make sure not to miss their antique stores throughout the city Driving around 17 mile drive is also a good choice for a relaxing drive along the coast.

Quality/Quantity - Back in the day, we used to really enjoy hanging out here…read more Family friendly. For all ages. Great place to host guests, etc. For the most part, it is affordable. 12.29 square miles, 3.62 of which is water. 30k+ population. Things we do when here, other than eating and drinking: Monterey Bay Aquarium, 17 mile drive (you only need to do it once, unless you are hosting), Monterey Bay, Reserves, Cannery Row, Museums, Fisherman Wharf, wineries, tasting rooms, events, lighthouse, golf, etc. Honorable mentions - Dust Bowl Brewery from Turlock. Atmosphere - See above. Nearby Carmel - An art scene. Service - Good. Price - Slightly above average. Especially if you stay in the tourist areas. Owner Comment - Congrats on your success since 1770. 1850 - Incorporated.