Carmel Mission Basilica (formal name 'San Carlos Borroméo de Carmelo') is one of six minor…read morebasilicas in the state of California (five being former Spanish missions). It is the oldest one, founded in 1770, and elevated to basilica status by Pope John XXIII in 1960. My wife, her mom, and I visited it during a late Sunday afternoon during our first day in Carmel, and found it to be a great, worthwhile experience, especially if one is Roman Catholic. The basilica is still a working parish, so parking during non-mass hours was easy to find. A ticket booth was set-up at the visitor entrance, with cost of $15 per adult ($13 for senior). There is an adjacent gift shop that doesn't require admission and sells all the various religious items that one would expect from a religious tourist attraction. We ended up spending about 90 minutes here (there is a lot of information here, along with a lot to see). -- Founding priest was Junipero Serra ("Apostle of California"). He was canonized by Pope Francis in 2015, and his shrine/remains are interned here. -- Only U.S. church visited by a pontiff during a papal visit: Pope John Paul II in 1987. He paid homage to Father Serra, and laid flowers at the tomb. This visit is clearly commemorated. -- the Munras Family Heritage Museum is worth going to, to see a short movie about the prominent Monterey family, along with early California artifacts from the family. -- the Nativity scene was one of the most intricate -- the large courtyard is a good place to stop and admire the architecture of a California Spanish mission, along with a thick trunk Cork Oak tree By the time we were leaving, the ticket office had closed (last call is at 16:30, to allow everyone to have enough time before official close at 18:00).

My friends took me to the Basilica and we enjoyed walking around the grounds and visiting the…read morevarious Chapels within the site. It is also the final resting spot of Saint Junipero Serra, the Founding Father of California. Pope John Paul II visited here in 1987 and is recognized in the Our Lady of Bethlehem Chapel, which is a beautiful, small chapel with a confessional from years ago. The Mission Cemetery is the final resting place for some members of this Parish. It also includes a symbolic cemetery representing the hundreds of indigenous people buried here and the surrounding area. These grave sites are adorned with abalone shells as an honorary recognition of their cultural presence to the area. There are several museums on site, beautiful artwork and religious artifacts as well as an extensive courtyard to wander around. Finally, there is a display of the final resting place for Saint Junipero as well as reproductions of other parts of the Basilica back in the day. The price of $15 for adults/$12 for seniors may be a little steep for families, but it is worthwhile to explore the history of the renowned Basilica.

I stopped by for a quick question and was treated very kindly and sent in the correct direction…read more Thank you for your courtesy!

CCMP is a great church for those of us who are tired of a Christianity that dismisses us for our…read moredifferences. Open to love in all its forms and appreciative of the individual, services at CCMP discuss a compassionate God but do not ignore the darkness inherit in a lot of Biblical stories. Questioning God's motivations as a way of understanding him is a very common theme here, which I absolutely love. The church also has a great staff of people who really want to work with you wherever you are on your spiritual journey.

I am a wedding planner based in Carmel/Monterey and recently worked with Church of the Wayfarer to…read morehost a wedding for 150 guests at the church after our original plan for the wedding ceremony was rained out. From my very first conversation with Allison at the church I was so impressed. Not only is the church lovely but everyone we worked with was kind, patient, accepting and just genuinely loving and supportive of my couple having to make a tough call to move their wedding from the original outdoor location they envisioned to a new location. Pastor Karla worked with the couple to customize a beautiful and thoughtful ceremony and honestly the whole thing was amazing. I am so thankful for their help and support and was really impressed by the caring and welcoming people in the church!

Terrible church... I went to a wedding here and the "minister" was trying to control everything and…read moreseemed full of anger. Made it very hard for the people getting married on what is supposed to be the best day of someone's life. Please go else where to get married. I wish I could give this star's but this is not a Christian environment.

I guess for some reason I was thinking and hoping to be in a mainline Presbyterian church like…read morePCUSA or PCA or something. But to my surprise I was not, and this is an ECO Church, which is really quite different. You can see it and hear it. The main minister is not robed in clerical robe or vestment neither is the Associate. It is very free feeling, almost as if I am in a non-denominational or Baptist church in a sense. I would not know this would be Presbyterian as I know it in the mainline sense. I come from a traditional high church Presbyterian PCUSA background with links to the Church of Scotland. I can see its Reformed in belief but has other influences. For me when looking for a Presbyterian church when out of town, I need something more structured, traditional and liturgical and Presbyterian. I can tell they are great people that love God and all, no doubt. I am sure a great home and place of visitation for many. I enjoyed hearing the service. Not sure this would be a place I would come to. I think I would stick more to another PCUSA or even UMC church either in Monterey or Carmel. That said, I do believe this most certainly can be a place for someone that would like more of a non-denominational or community style of worship and preaching.

We decided to hold mom's second memorial service here. Peg and Lily did an amazing job making sure…read morebrother, dad and I were comfortable. They recommended a florist who did a gorgeous white rose bouquet, and they also helped us with the program. Peg held her ground at the entrance and made sure everyone got a program and was properly greeted. Although mom only went here for a little bit, they made us feel so welcome and if we had been a part of the Church for years. The church itself is stunning. They have two Flat screen TVs and an LCD projector, full wiring-- it is one of the most high tech churches I have entered. What caught my eyes were the window panes. The glass shone and sparkled as the bells rung... I briefly got lost in a moment. The pastor here lived in Brazil for quite some time. He as well as the church speaks to the international relationships developed amongst several countries. Who knew a little church in Carmel would have connections in Asia, Africa and all over Central America. They also from what I hear have a strong youth group. Being of non faith I am always anxious when it comes to doing these types of services... I was put to ease. The member also put together a nice reception after the service. I highly recommend this place for a wedding or a service. Thank you all for being a part of our healing process.

Local Catholic Church, very active in social justice of the community. Now Surgeon General Regina…read moreBenjamin PhD. visited here in the weeks following Hurricane Katrina encouraging the parish to work with Catholic Charities in the Diocese of Monterey to provide aid to the small town of Bayou La Batre, Alabama.

Shoreline has been my church home for 30 years. It's the perfect place for people who want to grow…read morein their faith, but also very welcoming to people who may just be seeking. The message is delivered in a way that is easily understandable. For me, I hear it as a practical application to my daily life. The pastors and staff make it a very friendly non-judge mental environment. From the minute you walk in you feel welcome. Shoreline is a large church but has many different Bible studies and events to get involved in. This is a great way to stay more connected through Shoreline. It's also a way to meet people who are of the same mindset and are wanting to enrich their relationship with Jesus. Besides helping me to grow in my faith, I have established lifelong friendships as a result of attending Shoreline. Nina Arman

From the outside, the church looks good. They give you donuts, coffee, and a good worship team…read more There are some good folks at this church who truly love Jesus. The church is a business and ran like any other mega-church business. I've been going to Shoreline off and on for the last three years. They have all the bells and whistles and look shiny and pretty from the outside. If you're looking for connection and support of a smaller church you won't find it here. Some of the events such as the children's program in the summer are not accessible to all kids. There are no scholarships and programs available for those less privileged to have access to the program as other privileged kids. I don't feel the church is inclusive of marginalized minorities to have the ability to resources as the privileged kids and think the church can do better here. There is no support for BIPOC kids who don't have the means to attend. These kids are excluded from the community and the pews. Also, there is no benevolence fund to help members who are suffering or in need. They have a food bank and give out clothes and nothing more for those in need who are sitting in the pews. There is no support structure in place for folks struggling in the pews and no acknowledgment from the church. Support does not always mean money and they want the tithe but you are not seen or heard as a member who is suffering. The more mega the less help you can expect from them. A church of 10 will go to the ends of the earth to help you. In a church of a thousand maybe someone will bring you a casserole. Which isn't surprising. There's less of a community in a more mega church. You're just a number. A church is a community and a community should help any members who are in distress - whether this be through formal existing "emergency funds" or through informal support from other members within the organization. If someone is in that sort of situation. The church should absolutely help provide for the needs of the member. It should have nothing to do with how much the member has given in the past. So in a nutshell you decide if this is a church you want to invest your time, money, soul, and heart into.

My review is not for the active San Carlos Cathedral church services. Instead it's for the Royal…read morePresidio Chapel historic federal landmark. They are both the same building. Currently the San Carlos Cathedral Catholic Church uses the Presidio Chapel. When services are not occurring, visitors can explore the interior and outside facade. There is no charge to walk about, it's free. The present sandstone chapel construction was completed in 1795. The native Americans labors built the chapel. The Monterey Presidio was founded in 1770 as the second of four Spanish Presidios. At that time, the presidio's chapel served for the Spanish soldiers and dignitaries. It's the oldest stone building in California. When walking about the exterior of the chapel take note of the marked lines to the right of the building. Those lines indicate chapel construction (where, what, and when). The current building is shaped as a cross. Directly in the back there is a plaque memorializing where the Oak tree stood in 1770 where Father Junipero Serra broke ground for the chapel construction. The tree was removed in 1905 when it was damaged. But the tree holds important place in Monterey history. In 1602, it is said that Spanish explorer Vizcaíno followed the creek from the Bay and noticed this majestic oak tree. Under that tree he and with the friars, traveling in his expedition, held Mass under the tree and claimed the area for Spain. Father Serra followed Vizcaino's directions to the site in 1770 to establish a mission and presidio. But a year or two later he decided to build the mission in Carmel instead. But the presidio continued with building the chapel. Pieces of the grand tree have been preserved and are located in various local museums. Now let's talk about out the interior. The church doors are left open during the day welcoming all inside. Inside there are paintings and statues including are originals such as the Stations of the Cross, St John, Sorrowful Mother, and Spanish Madonna. As you enter the church, look up and the exterior and take notice of the Our Lady of Guadalupe statue; it's still the original making it the oldest non-indigenous statue in California. Also throwing it out there that there are cameras all over and everything is monitored. So don't be a doofus. Just enjoy and soak in the history.

The homilies are introspectively conducted. It is a beautiful Cathedral in a beautiful, small town.read more

This mission is one of my favorites in the state. Whether you're Catholic or not, I highly suggest…read morevisiting this gorgeous historic landmark. From the meticulously restored church to the lush gardens and open plaza, there's so much to see and enjoy here. One thing to note is that the gift shop can be very crowded. There's not a lot of space in there to begin with and it can be hard to shop if there are a lot of visitors. Plus, the gift shop is also the entrance to the paid museum. If you have some time to spare, I suggest going through the museum to see some pretty cool historic artifacts. There's also an old garden shed in front of the church that has been converted into a small museum space with a room where a documentary plays. I don't think you have to pay to access this part of the property. Parking can be an issue so be prepared to circle the neighborhood for parking if the front and back lots are full.

I had this on my "must see" list while in Carmel and was excited to visit but was disappointed…read more Though I respect the history and the church we were out of there in 20 minutes. There really is nothing much to see. There is a miniscule "museum" with a few tiny displays, a small cemetery with no information/explanation etc. At $9.50 it was to much to charge for admission. I did find it cute though to see the kids in class while we were there (during the week) This is still an active Parish.

Sai is so down to earth, the girls in the college group rock, and the worship isn't a spectacle…read more Tbh way better than shoreline (for me personally). However, please train your greeters to pray for people! A homeless man came in asking for a Bible, which they gave him, but then they just let him leave!!! Without offering to pray with him!!! Ahhhh

I was just there on September 4, 2022 The church is awesome…read moregreat pastor amazing worship and. Got to see my friend get baptized in the ocean with 2 other men great day

This is a beautiful property. The kids loved the hot tub that was right outside of our room, and I…read morecan also it as a romantic wind down spot without the kids. I loved their wine and scotch social, while the kids enjoyed the desserts. The spa was lovely with all the amenities, steam, sauna, and hot tub. We all went to the main pool where the kids had a lot of fun as well. A great property for a romantic getaway or just to relax with little ones (10yr and younger).

I'm not sure how to express how amazing my recent stay was at Casa Palmero. From the top notch…read moreservice to perfectly crisp linens, I have zero complaints. Zero. Located on hole 2 of the pebble beach golf course, Casa Palemro is perfect for those of you looking to stay on property but have a bit of privacy too. There are 24 casitas/rooms, an epic spa and great little cafe on property if you're looking to keep it a bit healthy. They also have a great happy hour from 5-7 if you're staying in property and it's full of stiff drinks and great apps. Massive shout outs to Dave & Michael for being such gracious and attentive staff members. They truest made the week special and took the overall experience to the next level. Thanks a bunch, we will see you next year!