Just the BEST used book sale on the planet !…read more Every August. Pay the $10 admission fee to get in on opening day, Thursday. While there is no admission fee the following days, the inventory will be drastically reduced - you would not believe how many books are sold on opening day! Take a folding stool and get there EARLY - people with stools arrive several hours BEFORE the doors open. Take your own cardboard box because paper bags tear. If you own (or can borrow) a wheeled-dolly, bring it. Pushing your box of books is much easier than carrying a box of books. A box of books gets very heavy, very quickly. Keep your ticket so that you can get back in after you take your first box of books back to your vehicle in the parking lot - you got there early enough to park in the parking lot didn't you?

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!

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.

Love, love, love! A must-visit if you're in Carmel-by-the-Sea. This is such a unique bookstore…read moreexperience- I'm pretty sure we wandered and explored for about an hour and could have stayed even longer. They have a wonderful selection of books, tarot cards, crystals, and of course, the secret garden... how does it get any better than that? The garden is incredibly peaceful and zen, and every step feels like discovering something new. Tucked in the back is a charming little shop with a cute selection of décor, wind chimes, candles, and more. Absolutely loved this bookstore. As a bookstore lover, this one is definitely at the top of my list

If you're in Carmel, you have to visit Pilgram Bookstore and Secret Garden. Run by a lovely…read morehusband-and-wife team, both spots feel like hidden gems. Pilgram Bookstore is cozy and has an amazing selection of books for being so tiny. It's easy to lose track of time here! Just a short walk away, Secret Garden is the perfect spot to relax. With its peaceful atmosphere and beautiful plants. Both places are full of charm and heart. Highly recommend them!

My favorite local library. The location is awesome. If you go up to the third floor you have…read moreincredible views of the Monterey Bay. The library is the top 2 floors and the basement is the English Lab and Reading Center. The MPC Library has an awesome collection of books, dvds, etc. There are plenty of computers and even when it's busy you should be able to find one. There are also a bunch of study rooms that you can check out that are nice and quiet. I like that the 2nd floor allows talking and the third floor is totally quiet. That way you have options if you're there to study alone or there to study with a group. There are some comfortable chairs to sit in and study too! The staff is also super nice, friendly, and very helpful. I can't recommend it enough!

As a college staff member and as a student, the MPC Library has been an enormous support resource…read morefor those struggling with the new online teaching system. They are offering chromebooks, hotspots, and as many course reserves as possible to students who are currently enrolled. When it is safe for the college to open once more to students and then the community, the library staff is ready and excited to help students succeed in their educational goals.

Outstanding junior community college, I highly recommend for getting basic required courses…read morecompleted in relatively small class sizes, for cheap to no cost. They even have high school programs to earn college credits. I took extra night summer classes to complete my bachelors degree, decades ago. I took real estate classes on line and on campus to get my real estate license. Trade school classes are excellent for police, fire, nursing, medical/dental assistance, mechanics, etcetera. Many seniors take cooking, gardening, photography, exercise, art, dance, theater and other programs. Fabulous to stay active and exercise/move! Public schools are so affordable, compared to say, Williams at $70,000 plus per year! Really, if you have a child interested in higher education: perhaps they should aim for a 4.0 grade point average at a junior college, then get a scholarship at a state university for the last two years. I moved to California, after graduating one year early (at 17) with honors, from a public high school. Went to UCLA, at 17 with the hill side strangler roaming the neighborhood. Classes were 500 plus students in auditorium halls, for the basic mandatory courses. Ridiculous!!! Interesting adventure for a country girl from Massachusetts, but I do not recommend. I finally graduated UCSC, correct a banana slug: after Wheaton College, a year in Osaka Japan and other experiences. However, I always treasured the value of the community colleges, I attended. Cabrillo and MPC primarily, but the state law school I graduated from, was also excellent and cost effective (MCL). Enjoy your life and aim for less debt.

20yrs ago it was a good college. This month, the Admissions & Records Dept has caused me to become…read morehomeless and jobless. How? On the 6th of Jan 2026, I ordered transcripts to be sent to the board of nursing in Oregon for a job I had gotten. Today is Feb 1st and they have not sent it. 2 weeks ago I ordered a 2nd set of transcripts, they have REFUSED TO RELEASE MY TRANSCRIPTS per National Student Clearing House who they are contracted with. I have called about a dozen times, they never answer and they have never returned my call. Because of them basically stealing my money not once, but twice, I gave up my home in CA and moved to Oregon to start a job but could not because of the sole reason of them stealing my money and holding my transcripts from Natl Student Clearing House. I have been sleeping as a nurse, in truck stops because I have not been able to start any job in Oregon where I moved to because the Oregon Board need them to send what I paid for twice already. They are a bunch of morons there to hear me tell them my dire state over and over again in all the messages and still hold unto my transcripts plus ghost me. I will be looking to file a lawsuit on this dispicable Admissions & Records dept at Monterey Peninsula College. 0/5 stars for you lack of customer service.

I wrote several emails to this Chamber letting them know about the dishonest business practices of…read morea business in their community offering services not offered on their website. I told them that they need to revoke the business license of Signature Day Spa because I was charged close to $700 and never got deep tissue massages nor the services I made my reservations for. I was told to contact Monterey County DA's Office and nothing was done to protect consumers who have complained about this woman. I will post my email to them so others are warned.

Carmel's Visitor Center - Chamber of Commerce staff couldn't have been more gracious and helpful in…read moregiving us the information we need to make our Easter vacation in this lovely little town much more pleasant and budget friendly. They have detailed maps of downtown and an assortment of brochures and literatures which will give you a good idea of places to hit and see. I personally asked for the "Wine-Walk" map which showcases the many emerging wineries of the area. The Chamber also have the Wine-walk vouchers which allows you to hit all the participating wineries at a very reasonable cost (9 vouchers for $65.00) You could also use these vouchers to waive the corkage fee in participating restaurants in the area. We had a great experience and a big help from the Chamber of Commerce - Visitor center staff. I highly suggest paying them a visit prior to exploring this picturesque little town. Enjoy!