This wharf is a "must walk" when visiting the Santa Cruz Boardwalk…read more The far end of the wharf was damaged a few years ago by a storm, but it has since been rebuilt, and at least one of the seal viewing spots remains for visitors. The wharf offers a great selection of restaurants and stores, along with epic views of the ocean, the coastline, and the Santa Cruz Boardwalk. We always stop to eat at Makai Island Kitchen during our walk. It offers both indoor and outdoor seating, and their drink menu is fantastic; I recommend the mai tai. You can drive onto the wharf and park, or just walk and burn off some of those cocktail calories. If you're planning a visit to Santa Cruz, check the wharf's event calendar to join in on the local fun.

Over the hill we go (weekly) to grab grub and enjoy the blessings of nature, tourists and good…read morecompany.

Growing up in San Jose, I feel like I took advantage of being so close to the Rose Garden. It was a…read morespot to walk to, around, etc. I was in town for Mother's Day and took a walk to Rose Garden after the festivities, around sunset. It was a great time. So many roses in bloom in just about every color. It was packed with people having picnics, taking pictures, walking around but still easy enough to find your own quiet space. Such a pocket of beauty in the neighborhood.

I last visited here 8 years ago, and I was so glad to finally return!…read more The weather was quite hot for July and I worried there might be limited roses left to see, I was gladly surprised, there are so many beautiful varieties of roses blooming absolutely everywhere! The city is doing a fantastic job maintaining the garden. It is such a lovely spot in San Jose!

First minor league game and of course it was out of town! We were looking for 4th of July fireworks…read morein the area but didn't want to deal with huge crowds and bad traffic in the bay. Parking is easy. Paid $15 to park in the structure next to the stadium. Getting out of the lot was a bit slow as everyone was leaving but there were guides and moved quickly after a while. We got searched and tickets scanned. For a few dollars, you can practice pitching and hang out in the bounce house. Concession are standard except for the garlic fries and the churros. My goodness, the churro is FRESHLY FRIED! None of that frozen stuff heated in the toaster. These churros were fried! The best part? It was only $5!!! The stadium experience was great! Friendly crowds. The firework show are at the end of the night? Impressive! It blew my expectations away! Definitely worth it if you like baseball and want a fireworks show! We were really happy with our 4th of July experience here!

Ao much FUN!! My…read morefirst time to this ballpark and I had a great time! It is small, but perfect for a quick neighborhood game in SJ. Food and drink stations were pretty good - I had the corndog and it was just what I needed to complement the experience. Great selection of beers and ciders. Only thing.. we sat in the SUPER SUNNY section! It was HOT! Next time we'll try to get the shade. There is a parking garage close by.... But be warned... it takes FOREVER to get out after the game. They really need to work on multiple exit points. Restrooms were plentiful and clean - TG! Would I go back? YES!! GO GIANTS!!

There are pros and cons to every place you might visit, and this beach is no different. I will…read morepreface mine with this: YES, as other reviews mention, there are homeless people who set up near and on this beach. NONE of them are mugging you, though. They want to be left alone and they leave you alone, IF you pay them no attention. Go about your day! Enjoy your stay! Second, yes, dead animals wash up on this beach. Guess what! They do that on ALL beaches worldwide. It's not unique to this one. That being said, this is one of my absolute favorite beaches in the area, for many reasons. Parking is easy and can be free. While there is a pay parking lot attached to this beach for easy access to it, we never use it. We use either the lot across the street, which offers 2-hour parking until 6pm and no limit on time until 10pm, or we go further down the street beside Dennis The Menace Park to park on the street, where it's unlimited parking all day long. It depends on when we arrive and how long we'll be there. Want to go swimming? Teaching your littlest ones about the beach and how to stay safe in the surf? THIS is the beach for it! There aren't exactly waves here. Well, there are, but they're so tiny they can hardly be called waves. They're swells that roll up onto the beach in cute little miniature "waves" and the return back to the ocean is very mild. It's the perfect place to introduce your small children to the ocean, perfect place to take people who aren't strong swimmers, perfect place for you to get in a little ocean swimming time in calm waters. You won't have to worry about boats very close to shore, as they don't come really close, won't have to worry about strong rip tides that may pull you or your child out to sea, you just have to worry about them gulping down too much salt water. ***That's not to say you should be complacent when taking your children here, but that you can be a little more relaxed knowing that it's more gentle a beach than some others.*** If you arrive at the right time of day (NO, I'm not telling you when! Sorry, but I won't give up my 'combing secrets that easily!!), you can find a good amount of shells and it IS legal to pick them up on this beach, as it is NOT a state beach. I've found sand dollars, mussel and clam shells, as well as turbans, oyster, scallop (very small ones...), and more types of shells. You might even find abalone shells if you arrive after a storm! You just have to know what to look for and be there at the right time of day - otherwise they'll already be picked over and/or pulled back out to sea. You'll also find hag stones on this beach. Hag stones are rocks that have been tumbled by water in such a way that the water bores a hole into the stone. These are plentiful along this beach and I sometimes take one if it catches my eye. They're good for hanging near your door to keep unwanted visitors away! Or just to decorate, who knows if that actually works ;) The sand here is an extremely fine type and it WILL get into everything. It sticks to your toes even well after it's dried, but it's not the type of sand that hurts you when it's stuck to your feet, so just brush it off as best you can and go about your day. :) There are bathroom facilities all around this beach. If you don't mind buying yourself something to drink there's McDonald's across the street and those will be very clean. If you don't mind slightly less than immaculate bathrooms, there's also a bathroom at the Dennis The Menace Park between the two landmark buildings at the park parking lot. Another public bathroom is at the kayak place and still more bathrooms are attached to the building across the walkway from the kayak place, and one more is at the wharf. This beach is dog-friendly, just please keep Fido on a leash. So many people bring their dogs here off-leash and it's just not the place for it. Also please be sure to clean up after your pooch. Nobody likes to step in dog doody; we *really* don't like it if it's buried in the sand so that we couldn't see it before it squished between our toes. In all, this is an awesome beach that I hate to leave a good review for because it might just attract more people to it than I care to see - LOL!! - but it is what it is and I'll brag on my favorite beach of the area any day of the week!

This is an excellent beach for sitting and relaxing. Very calm water for playing in the surf line…read more I tried scuba diving here but the water is very shallow for a long way out so was not good for diving Good place for wake boarding. Nice plac to walk along the wharf and watch all the fishermen Trying to catch something. And if they dont catch anything there is a fresh fish market on the wharf. Also good restaurants here. A wonderful place just to enjoy the beach and to wade in the cold water.

It's kind of confusing because it's labeled as the Santa Clara County Counsel, I do believe this is…read morethe Santa Clara County Administration Building nestled between the County jail and courthouse, though the men's restroom smells of urine. The rest of the building is very clean. This is where the County holds it's board meetings as well as the Valley Transportation Authority Board meetings. Not too much to say other than the building on Yelp should be changed.

it's gotta be a nice place to go since i work here. people aren't stuck up at all unlike some…read moreprivate law firms. but then again i'm the peon in the office so what do i know.

My family and I enjoy visiting Monterey every summer. It's a wonderful and relaxing getaway from…read moreSouthern California. During each visit, we always take time to go to the wharf for lunch or dinner to see and experience the marine life and the overall vibe of the ocean, the wharf, and the city itself. One of the larger restaurants on the wharf is undergoing extensive renovation, so a big part of it is closed to the public, which diminishes the overall experience. On our recent trip, we visited the wharf twice and enjoyed our time either dining or taking videos and photos of birds, seals, and sea otters. Tip: There are many homeless people at the entrance to the wharf asking for money. Most are very polite, but one was very aggressive, so please stay aware of your surroundings when visiting.

Monterey Bay is always a nice getaway. Love the wharf, even if it's touristy, but I like that vibe…read more The shops are cute to browse and get souvenirs and gifts, it's never crowded, the views are incredible, you can spot some Marine life. It has an old-school vibe which is more than OK with me. Not a lot to do, but it can be a good stop on a road trip or you can kill time if you spend the night in town.

Fantastic and knowledgable docents! Friendly gal at the gate! Offered our kids scavenger hunts -…read morewhat a treat! 10/10 Highly recommend.

I didn't know that I loved lighthouses until I had the tour of the Point Pinos Lighthouse in…read morePacific Grove. Now I am drawn to lighthouses for their beauty, their history, and their unique mystique. The docents at Point Pinos Lighthouse were extremely knowledgeable and friendly. The grounds are impeccable, and the exhibits within the lighthouse are a slice of living history. The setting is stunning, right at Asilomar Beach. You'll want to leave time to walk along the water after you explore the lighthouse. Even if you are not into history or the military or lighthouses, you should definitely drop in to visit this space. You will walk away having digested a bit of unique beauty. Check the hours online -- they are very specific and limited, and it's easy to get shut out. Many people don't know that women often worked the lighthouses back in older times. This is just one fact that stayed with me after my visit. A candle on the water helps lost sailors find their way home.

I had to go into City Hall to get a business license the other day. It was a pleasant experience…read more The staff at the finance window was extremely polite and helpful. The offices are newly remodeled and very up to date and modern. I was surprised to see amazing artwork on the wall and clean and fresh styling throughout the building. Nothing compared to what it looks like from the outside. The out side is the reason why the place gets only 4 stars. I hope in the near future they take some of the sales tax revenue (the highest in the county, 9%+) and redo the exterior to modernize the building. When you walk up to the building I felt as if I was walking into a 1970's DMV. Not the most inviting curb appeal. All staff I engaged with were friendly, knowledgeable, and professional. If you need to do business with the city of Salinas, know that the innards of that ugly building is warm, welcoming, and there to help! Enjoy!

Lived here for 17 years. Worked at the county hospital. It was a great career. I got involved…read morewith plenty of community affairs, fundraisers and social activities. But this is farm country. If you are a urban animal who considers moving here, be aware that you will not be happy unless you make and cherish a good set of friends. It's a small town with limited social life opportunities. Monterey is just 18 miles down the road, there's more entertainment available there, but even the calendar of events there gets a little old after the 15th monthly cycle. Central California is wonderful. Salinas is relatively uncrowded. Want to really feel a part of the community? Be able to speak Spanish.

Madera is a great airport to fly into and out of. The scenery below is awesome and the trek into…read moretown in only three short miles away. If your flying in, don't forget your golf clubs. They have an awesome golf course next door and within walking distance to the airport.