We have multiple children at All Saints and we couldn't be happier with our experience. From the…read moremoment our kids step out of the car at drop-off, they are truly seen. Every faculty member knows their name. Even the older students in middle school greet them with smiles and "Hi, we're so happy to see you!" That feeling of belonging is something we value deeply. Socially, All Saints is incredibly tight-knit for both families and children. As parents, we've made some of our closest friendships here because everyone seems to share similar values: involvement, kindness, and a genuine commitment to their children's well-being and academics. The students, too, have made wonderful friendships, and you can feel the sense of community everywhere on campus. Academically, our children amaze us with what they're learning at just four and six years old, but what sets All Saints apart is its equal focus on character building. Above all else, we want our kids to grow into good humans, and the school puts so much intention into raising kind, thoughtful, confident young people. It's truly special. The campus is beautiful, the teachers are passionate and deeply caring, and the after-school offerings are fantastic. Our kids love being at school so much that during breaks they ask, "How many days until we get to go back?" To us, that says everything. All Saints has created such a joyful, supportive, and enriching experience for our children. We genuinely couldn't imagine being part of any other school. We love, love, love All Saints. Go Saints!

All Saints has been an incredible gift for our family. It's a small, nurturing environment that has…read morecompletely captivated and motivated my children. They walk through the front door every morning excited to be there, and they actually beg me not to pick them up at the end of the day. The personalized learning, the warmth of the teachers, and the feeling of a tight-knit, family-like community make this school truly special. Every child is known, supported, and encouraged to thrive. The academics are excellent, but equally important, the school fosters curiosity, kindness, and confidence. We feel so lucky to have this kind of resource here in Carmel Valley. All Saints' Day School is a gem, and our family couldn't be happier.

Kelly and Chloe our chefs offer great food and deserve a…read morenew kitchen to do their work- music at lunchtime needs an upgrade with the piano players -should be more professional, not beginning folks "practicing" Lori Lewis is a good standard to follow.

This is a truly special place for seniors - defined as 55 and up. The Carmel Foundation enables…read moreseniors to be connected with other seniors in an environment which seems to attract truly special members, with its truly kind, loving and attentive staff, excellent dining room, auditorium, lecture hall, raised stage theater, dance hall, movie room, library meditation garden, green house, chess, arts and crafts, discussion groups, field trips, walking tours, card games like Bridge and Texas Hold-em ... Are still reading? Why? Get to a phone, call and become a member today! Tell them the "Rev" sent you!

The workshop I attended with guest artist Ruo Li was a rewarding experience. Owner/partner Rich…read moreBrimer creates a warm creative atmosphere. I learned from Ruo as well as Rich and all the other students. It was a great way to work with a master without feeling overwhelmed. . The studio itself is bare bones, so you need all your own supplies (easel, brushes, paints, mediums, etc.). The lighting is great and there is room to paint outside on the brick walkways and deck. Come early and indulge yourself with some of the best bake goods on the planet at the Lafayette bakery in the same Barnyard complex.

This was an a great experience for my company offsite. I called Rich on Monday and we were able to…read moredo a 10 person team painting event on Friday. Rich was informative, laid back, great host. Recommend this again!

Coolest shop with lots of interesting and artistic gift items. Handmade jade jewelry, stained…read moreglass pieces and repairs, quirky greeting cards and stickers, original art - and so much more! Absolutely worth a visit!

Had a great time at the stained glass workshop with Jen. She was very knowledgeable and patient to…read morewalk through all the steps: glass cutting, grinding, wrapping in foil and soldering. So much fun and love the final product. Highly recommend following their instagram (@studio171.pg) to see when glasses are offered! There are four separate studios within this one shop with lots of cool items.

We actually just kind of stumbled on this place after seeing the train museum and stopping by. Such…read morea great experience and I'm so glad we went! Our tour guide was so sweet! Full of information, guided us through all the rooms with great anecdotes. The house had ALL the original furniture too which is so rare! Really got a glimpse back at the time period, and with our guide we were filled in in a way we couldn't have been by just browsing by ourselves. Also very unpretentious and happy to let us take pictures and ask questions. What a little gem! Stop by if you are in Salinas and want to learn some interesting history!

There are times in any adventure when an item that you didn't plan for, didn't expect, and didn't…read moreanticipate becomes a treasured trinket of a memory. Our stop at The First Mayor's House was the highlight of our day. Our tour guide spent a dedicated thirty minutes to provide us a detailed tour of the building and the grounds....just the two of us. It was a personal experience the likes of which you don't typically enjoy. I've visited many historic homes from California to New Orleans to New York to Moscow, and during some of those experiences you are asked not to take pictures, or shuffled along quickly and efficiently so the next paid group can plod along after you, so much so that you may feel a bit like cattle and you lose your opportunity to make a connection with the place and its history and its soul. But here, we were given time to enjoy, encouraged to take pictures, shown original items and received a nice overview history of both the residents of the house and its role in Salinas history. One thing you don't often find on these types of tours is the original furniture, most have period authentic furniture, but from the beds to the dressers to the clothing, the items here were original and truly authentic. Now, even though the tour is free, take a moment to sign the guest book and leave a tip, because these types of adventures don't come along too often.

Sofanya came through for us to make our wedding dreams come true despite super chaotic…read morecircumstances. When our wedding venue fell through a week before our wedding because they refused to let us put up a canopy to get out of the rain, she was kind enough to let us rent our cottage two days early and gave us several location options for our ceremony, whatever would suit us best. She helped me get ready & offered as much love, kindness & support as she could offer. Then, when the weather turned south & started storming extremely heavily during our outdoor ceremony, she generously opened up her own home to us in the top floor of the beautiful dome house to complete our special day. She truly saved the day for us, and treated us like family. The location couldn't be more beautiful. Everywhere you look, beautiful art peeks through the landscape as if placed thete by fairies, and the beauty of nature here creates a sense of tranquility among the redwoods crawling with ivy. Beautiful photo opportunities everywhere you look. A true hippy paradise! The Cala Lily Cottage was cozy, private and intimate, and we felt right at home. PLEASE avoid wasting your money at overpriced, inhospitable cabins/campgrounds out at big sur and come here instead, where you'll be treated like a treasured guest. My new husband and I look forward to returning on an anniversary!

What an aptly named little slice of paradise. Only a few minutes from breathtaking views of the…read morecoast, you take one turn and suddenly you are immersed in a lush redwood forest. This place is magical. I have so many good things to say about the Jewel in the Forest and Sofanya. I feel connected to them now as they are a part of my story, and I'm so grateful for that! On October 1st, I married my best friend in a small 10 person ceremony at the Jewel in the Forest. It was the most perfect day of my life, and there could not have been a better place for it. We rented out all 4 of the cabins on property to accommodate all of our guests. That allowed us to stay together and bond through the whole experience, while still providing ample privacy and sleeping space for our guests The Dome House is the most beautiful place I have ever stayed in my life. From the skylights that allow you a peek of the tops of the redwood trees, to the eclectic and beautiful furniture and decorations, to the wood burning heater, topped off by Sofanya's amazing artwork, it is truly an immersive experience. Sofanya provides games, movies, books, musical instruments, and a full kitchen. Everything you need for the perfect escape. We cut our cake and drank champagne as a group of about 12 in the living space comfortably. Most of our guests stayed at the Jasmine house, which has 3 private rooms and a large living space where we all enjoyed dinner the night before the ceremony. Sofanya even strung up the cutest string lights on the patio for us so we could enjoy the outside space as well. My parents stayed in the adorable Calla Lily cabin, which is perfect for a couple or small family. It is cozy and charming. Our photographer stayed up in the adorable Lotus Blossum, which had the most spectacular windows and a one of a kind outside bathroom. So cool! We held our ceremony near the stream amongst the redwoods. It was breathtaking. Overall, the space was beyond perfect for what we needed. Each of the cabins are unique and have so much character. I recommend that EVERYONE visit and escape from reality to this magical place at some point in your life. You won't regret it. Now, I have to say a few things about Sofanya. She is wonderful! She really went above and beyond making sure our wedding was perfect. She hung the aforementioned lights for me, provided several bouquets around the property, received packages with things for my wedding for me ahead of time, and ensured everyone's comfort the whole stay. Thank you so much for all you did to make my wedding truly perfect Sofanya.

The Pacific Grove Art Center always has a wonderful variety of art. Many times they display our…read moretalented youth's efforts. Every space is imbued with a history of creativity. If those walls could speak, oh the stories they would tell!

The Art Center was formed in 1969 the year Pacific Grove sold alcohol for the first time. The Art…read moreCenter during its first opening that July 4th weekend served alcohol. Ironically the woman, ElMarie Dyke, who was it's first director and founder was a staunch prohibitionist. The green awning over the front door can't possibly prepare a first timer for what will unfold once the stairs have been climbed. Four galleries, 16 artist studios, a ballet school and an art classroom, The Art Center completely changes all of their exhibits every 7 weeks. It is the busiest gallery space in Monterey County. Run by an all volunteer board and a skeleton crew. If you are thinking about donating to the arts you will get your money's worth here. The Art Center specializes in exhibiting unknown, local and controversial artists. Some of my favorite shows have been by: Hurricane Katrina victims, Center for Non-Violence, Carol Baker's silk paintings, Kira Corser, Kim Weston, Richard Greenberg, The Metal Arts Guild. I consider PGAC the jewel of downtown Pacific Grove. You haven't seen PG until you've seen this place. A testament to the conviction of it's local citizens to the arts who have cared for it over 40 years I am sorry it is not wheelchair accessible. They have tried for may years to get an elevator but they do not own the building.

Walking into Carmel Middle School sometimes felt like entering a dystopian movie where joy goes to…read moredisappear. The halls were filled with stress, endless rules, and an atmosphere so cold it could freeze sunlight. The administration seemed to operate like emotionless overlords, appearing only to hand out punishments or ignore problems completely. Students were expected to keep up with mountains of work while getting little understanding in return. Asking for help often felt pointless, like shouting into the void. Social drama spread through the school like wildfire, and the environment could feel exhausting day after day. By the end of the year, it felt less like surviving middle school and more like escaping it.

Two of our kids have gone here. Great school! Thank you to all the hard working teachers and…read morefaculty! Special thanks to Principal Morgan, Ms. Wells, Ms. Little, and Ms. Silva!!