So grateful to been able to attend Sunday Mass. Basilica is so beautiful and it has so much…read morehistory and also they have free museum and a small shop. Sunday mass is full but the have lots of extra chairs in the back outside the church. Parking could be crowded so get there early.

I have been visiting the California missions throughout my life. Usually it is a positive…read moreexperience. However, I recently revisited the Carmel Basilica on a Sunday, and like other visitors I was totally put off by the commercialization of this particular church/historical monument. There are a few security guards who stand out front and a ticket booth positioned in a way that you cannot enter the church without paying first. The mission is not open everyday which is odd since it is such a beloved place visited by people around the world. The price of admission is 15.00 per person, five dollars higher per person than other missions which are also open everyday. This is quite pricey. If you arrive during mass you may not enter to look around until after mass! It seems really against the whole concept of all are welcome. Lighting one candle is 5.00! Usually it is just a donation or a dollar or two. The parking lot is small and congested. Personally, I enjoyed San Juan Bautista, which is close to Monterey and Carmel, much better. Friendlier, less expensive and open to all everyday! The setting is beautiful as well, surrounded by fields and beautiful gardens. I highly recommend history buffs stop by San Juan Bautista and other smaller missions.

Very beautiful location! We had a very informative tour guide who really seemed to enjoy his job!…read moreThe grounds are very well maintained and all of the staff were very kind! Definitely worth a visit!

What a great tour of a beautiful and interesting home. Our Docent (tour guide), Linda, was a great…read moresource of information about the Jeffers family and the Tor House. She had great back-stories and anecdotes, and showed great enthusiasm. The 90-minute tour breezed by and the cost is incredibly reasonable at just $15.

Very cool place. The taxidermy bird room alone is worth the entrance fee. I will definitely be…read moregoing back the next time I visit.

If you got a Pacific Grove, you need to see the Museum of Natural History. It's a nice little…read moremuseum. Well set up. You can learn about the fishing industry, you can learn about Jade. I found that very interesting. You can also find about the wildlife and birds in the area. They also had some very cool relief, maps of the geography and geology of the Monterey Harriet. They offer a senior discount. It's always good to support museums.

Don't miss the Convento Museum which you will see right before you exit the Mission complex. The…read morecell used by Saint Junipero Serra and where he died in 1784 is on display here. The other museum rooms present interpretive displays and provide visitors with a historical education of this beautiful heritage site

I recommend checking out the museum while hiking around Point Lobos Nature Preserve. You pay $10 to…read morepark in the preserve but the museum is free.

$10 to park. Great free museum. Love seeing the history of the place and great to know so many…read moredifferent ethnic cultures getting along and working together to make a living.

This is my second time using the Sand Guys for a team building event and all I can say is Wow!! I…read morehave referred them many times, and will many more!! This is an amazing team building event for any type of business unit, they are organized, incredibly friendly, and helpful .. in a word .. MAGICAL!! When you arrive, they have an example of what you can build .. folks arrive thinking .."This is so cool" .. "What the heck is Kim making us do??" "Really"?? Rusty the Sand Guy (as I like to call him) began by giving very clear, easy instructions on how to build your base. He got everyone started within their team then he and his partner went to each team individually to provide instruction on how to make a solid foundation, ways to build upon your base. and how to add details! teams began first by compiling a very large pile of sand .. and staring into space .. "what will we do". Within minutes your team is not only collaborating on the best way to execute, but WORKING together to create something really special. I participated the first time, I got to observe and help the second time. I learned so much about my team, who are the leaders, who is the most creative. who can advise and execute. We put this group into teams of people they did not know well, they all created and collaborated to create something very cool. You have about two hours to devise your plan and create. The entire group was fully engaged, everyone designated their own unique way of participating, and no one was left out or let their team down. Did I mention how competitive this became?? such a great day at the beach, and a new skill to show off to your kids and friends. Not only did I get amazing feedback form everyone on the team, I was told by those that laughed and thought it was silly; that it was one for the best team buildings they ever have had. I highly recommend the San Guys, the creativity and camaraderie it inspires is invaluable for all aspects of relationship building!

From the owner: Team building, corporate events, weddings, art & entertainment.read more

What a fun place for kids! We were here on vacation and used the ACM reciprocal network and entered…read morefor free. For our 23 month old his favorite was the bottle rocket activity. You crank to build pressure and see the bottle shoot up! Our 5 y/o's favorite was the craft area. What a great way to use her creativity and imagination! She also enjoyed the mini-golf :) and dressing up as a firefighter. All the people working there were also friendly and asked if we had any questions. They truly loved their jobs! When we're visiting this area again we'd definitely want to come back.

My 3 year old had a blast at this place. Actually, it was probably the longest he's ever played at…read morean indoor playspace/museum (2+ hours and could have played for longer but it was time to eat), AND we didn't even explore the entire area! The space in the museum is quite deceiving--it looks small on the outside and technically isn't super big, but it's densely packed with fun things. There's a lot of pretend play (theater, hospital, ambulance, firetruck, garden/restaurant), some science-y/cause and effect stuff, gross motor stuff, pretty much something for every kid. It's also a smart idea for them to sell a ton of toys at the front, haha. The price is really good (only $10/person for the entire day) and well worth it. The staff are also very nice!

I used to work in the area, so one day I had a short day then decided to come visit since I hadn't…read moregone in so many years. It was just how I remembered it in my youth, but I think I appreciate it more now because I now love animals more than I ever have before. I love the sea otters! They're so cute and I could watch them for hours!

I think the aquarium is beautiful and most of the animals seem very well cared for, but I was…read morereally upset seeing how tiny the octopus tank was. Octopuses are incredibly intelligent, curious animals that naturally love to explore, hide, and move around. This tank was so small there wasn't even space for the poor octopus to properly hide, which is something they instinctively enjoy doing. One of the workers told me the octopus had just been found in the ocean the other day and placed into that tank. Imagine going from the vast, beautiful ocean to a tiny glass box overnight. It honestly made me sick to my stomach. That octopus is far too big for that enclosure. Please let him go!!!! Let him go home :( The picture doesn't do it justice by the way, the tank is a lot smaller than it looks

Many of the local artists featured in this gallery are foundational to understanding Carmel's…read moreartistic origins. Nothing wrong with people wanting to spend their money on fancy clothes and whatnot, but other than the beautiful natural area, the local artists is what's it's all about! Deep selection in the stacks, not just what's on the walls.

This place is the best gallery in Carmel! No matter what kind of art you love, you are likely to…read morefind it here. The Carmel Art Association has been a tradition, a gathering place for artists and art lovers for almost one hundred years. Their heritage collection contains past famous artists and their current membership contains su h luminaries as Lucas Bloc and Richard Tette. Quite amazing!

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.

Amazing service. Recommend this church when visiting or making it your own parish. Very friendly…read moreand inviting.