It's tiny but manages to pack some interesting history into a short trip…read more If you spend time reading every single sign and walking the short easy path (most of which have stair or ramp options) you may be here 45 minutes at the most. Now if you are like me and try running your eyes over every visible rock surface in the hopes of finding petroglyphs ... you may be here longer. (I did not see any :/). I'd actually like to take a guided tour if there is one... I saw they do them for kids but I'd be interested especially when it couldn't possible take more than an hour or so. I've lived here for nearly four years and not a mention of this this place to me ... I just happened to drive by it one day and looked up the info. The park is apparently over four acres... very little of which you are free to explore. However you can see visible artifacts along the short walk that are thousands of years old ... such as bedrock mortars etc. It's definitely worth a stop or two for a mostly shaded short walk through a bit of interesting history.

We came here on a field trip to do a self-tour because the docent tours were already booked up for…read morethe whole school year. Unfortunately, we didn't really get to enjoy the park because as soon as we arrived, the ranger gave us a hard time for not making reservations and pushed for us to leave. Supposedly, we must get a permit to visit this county park outside of the docent-led tours. She eventually allowed us to look around as long as we stayed away from the main exhibit and out of sight of all official tour groups. We walked part of the trail and looked at the informational boards for 10 minutes. It was a pleasant walk around, but we didn't get to see the main attraction at the front and center of the park because we were told to stay away. We were so uncomfortable by the situation that we ended up leaving immediately. It was an almost 2-hr round trip drive for this park, so we were extra disheartened by the treatment. After sharing this experience with other teachers, they also said that they were strongly discouraged from visiting without a tour reservation when they tried booking. The park does live virtual tours with a ranger, though, which the kids enjoyed.

Kirigin is our new favorite winery in Gilroy and Monterey bay!!! Simply amazing wine and even more…read moreamazing wine clubs!! They have a huge selection of reds and their desert wine is to die for. They also host large events. I absolutely love the ambiance of the tasting room, which includes a very long tasting bar for those crowded days. By all means, allow a couple of hours for this tasting, you'll enjoy your time here. The downside, I'm currently living in MN and there's no shipping offered to that state, otherwise we would have joined a wine club.

Had a pretty disappointing experience here on my first visit for a girls' wine day. We came in…read moreexcited to try somewhere new, do a tasting, and hopefully buy a few bottles to enjoy on the grounds, but the service immediately felt cold and uncomfortable. The staff member behind the bar greeted us with a blank, deadpan stare (otherwise known as a "GenZ Stare") that made the whole interaction feel awkward from the start. When we mentioned it was our first time visiting and that we were excited to be there, there was no warmth, no enthusiasm, and no effort to tell us about the wines or the property. Even the pours seemed careless. I know this is Gilroy and not Napa, but I still expected a welcoming experience and better wine service. Unfortunately, both the service and the wine itself were disappointing. The best part of this place was definitely the beautiful grounds, which would make a gorgeous wedding setting. Maybe this place is better suited as an event venue than a wine tasting destination, but based on my experience, I would not return. The two stars are for the beautiful grounds.

May 31, 2026 and I stopped in today on my way home from Pismo Beach because it is apricot season…read more.. The pies there are made fresh daily and absolutely delicious!! Plenty of parking and friendly staff.

Here's another one- no clue what the trip was for. Strawberries, maybe? All I know is, it's 4-star…read moregood. Time for a road trip! I'll take a look at the pictures and imagine the outing.

San Juan Bautista State Historic Park is one of those truly special places that feels timeless. No…read morematter how often we visit, it never loses its charm. The mission church is absolutely breathtaking--built in the late 1700s, it's incredible to stand inside a structure that has been standing for centuries. The architecture, the craftsmanship, and the peaceful energy of the space make it impossible not to pause and take it all in. It's beautiful, humbling, and deeply moving. We happen to live only about 20 minutes away, which makes this place even more meaningful to us. We come out here religiously, sometimes twice a week, and it has become our little hideout. It's where we go to slow down, walk the grounds, clear our heads, and reconnect--with history, with the surroundings, and with ourselves. Every visit feels grounding. The surrounding area is just as special as the park itself. The historic downtown has an old-fashioned charm that's hard to find these days. It almost feels like a quiet ghost town frozen in time--in the best possible way. The preserved buildings, wooden walkways, and relaxed pace make it feel like you've stepped into another era. There are also some great local restaurants nearby, perfect for grabbing a meal and making a full afternoon out of your visit. What makes San Juan Bautista so unique is that it doesn't feel overdeveloped or commercialized. It's authentic, peaceful, and full of character. Whether you're a history lover, architecture enthusiast, photographer, or just someone looking for a calm, beautiful place to escape for a bit, this spot delivers every time. Founded in 1797, this place is a true California treasure. We're incredibly lucky to have it so close to home, and it's somewhere we'll continue coming back to again and again. Highly recommend--this is a must-visit.

San Juan Bautista State Historical Park is well maintained, the grounds are well maintained and…read morelandscape beautifully manicured. The buildings and historical items are in great shape. From wagons, carts, saddles, furnishings, hotel, mission, stable, etc. all beautifully preserved. Rangers are super friendly, helpful, professional appearance in uniforms and easy to locate. They are knowledgeable, offer helpful tips. Entry fee for me was $3. If you can donate extra $$ please do so. They will give you a receipt for tax purposes, if needed. Lots of history here. Gifts and souvenirs if you want them along with books about the history. Lots of space for kids to run around on grassy areas. Adjacent shops, restaurants within walking distance. Ample parking on surrounding streets. I had a nice time, memories of visiting here when I was in the 4th grade.

We had such a lovely time at the Steinbeck House Mother's Day Tea. The service was exceptional, and…read moreknowing that the staff are all volunteers made the experience even more special. Everyone was so warm, attentive, and welcoming. The food and tea were absolutely excellent -- beautifully prepared and delicious. And of course, the house itself is charming, with gorgeous table settings that made the afternoon feel elegant and memorable. Everything was done with such care and attention to detail. A wonderful way to celebrate Mother's Day!

My wife and I had an amazing lunch on Thursday for our anniversary. The food is always terrific and…read morechanges monthly. Our server told us about the free monthly tours which included all three floors of the house and one was this Saturday, today. The tour was great and there was so much information on John Steinbeck and the history of the Salinas area. Our tour guide was John and he did a terrific job and had so many personal stories that he added into the conversation. Probably from over 12 years experience and knowledge of Steinbeck. Highly recommend and chicken mushroom crepe is hard to beat. Thank you and we can't wait to be back!

I stopped by the mission after dinner with my 10-year-old niece to say a quick prayer. The church…read moredoors were open when we entered, so we assumed it was available to the public. As we were leaving, a man who appeared to be supervising a school choir approached us abruptly and told us the church was closed and that we needed to leave. The tone and manner felt unnecessarily rude and unwelcoming. I understand there may have been a private event or restricted access, but the doors being open created confusion. More importantly, the interaction itself was disappointing--especially in a place that is meant to feel welcoming. Could you please clarify the policy on public access, and ensure that visitors are treated with courtesy in the future?

In July 2018, my friend Jinsol and I went on a road trip around California. We had initially…read moreplanned on going east (departing from/returning to the Berkeley area), however due to wildfires we ended up going thru the Bakersfield area, Los Angeles, Malibu, Big Sur, and San Juan Bautista. On our drive we had been seeing a lot of signs denoting the highway we were driving on as a historic route. Since we were nearing our return, we decided to check out one of the next historic sites, enter Old Mission San Juan Bautista. The Old Mission was a very enjoyable walking adventure. The grounds and buildings were well kept/maintained and had information available about the site and its founding, the corresponding church, and some of the smaller items - such as describing different parts of wheeled vehicular transport or blacksmith tools. A main building was also available to explore and included information about what daily life was like/included for inhabitants of the mission in the past. Both of us thought it was a satisfying last stop for our road trip and helped ease us back into our graduate school information-frenzy culture.