Such a great place to go to for all young ages! We've gone with 1-6 year olds and they have all…read moreloved it. Their soft play is perfect for the under two's and they have the section marked off as off limits for the older kids. But the over two's have so many options to choose from: dress up, tree house, sciencey stuff, and crafts! We easily spent half a day here and probably could have stayed longer if there wasn't a nap time to plan for one of them. Something for everyone and as long as it's not too busy, it's relatively easy on the parents to let their kids roam and calmly monitor versus anxiously chasing after!

What a great place for kids.Lots of activities to do. They can learn how things work .Place is…read moreclean and friendly

I had not been to this museum in about 20 years but I returned this past weekend and I was so glad…read moreI did. The entire place has been remodeled. It is a small museum but an absolutely beautiful one worth visiting. As a birder, I loved the cases of taxidermied birds, one of the largest collections of this type on the West Coast with over 400 specimens. I was even more enchanted by the jade room full of jade pieces and artwork derived from right here on the Central Coast, the giant Grizzly Bear, the gorgeous nature field guide mural/artwork upstairs, and the imaginative Room of Wonder full of items that had long been stored in the Museum basement and now brought back to viewing public in artistic settings. This room is mesmerizing and hard to describe but you should definitely see it for yourself. Native Americans are included as well as Asian Americans in the different displays, which I appreciate and feel contributes to the holistic and unified way in which the natural history of our state is explained here. One of the highlights, though, was meeting Bill, a volunteer guide at the museum. He gave so many interesting facts, helped with cool photo ops, and conveyed his genuine love for nature and the community. He is the heart of this fine place. We hope to see him again! If you haven't been to the Natural History Museum, I highly recommend a visit. Locals can get in free.

Made an effort to stop by during open hours, really cool location. Very kid friendly, and the staff…read morewere very helpful. We had a great conversation about the albatross we had seen whale watching the day before. I really liked the model Chinese fishing village.

Wonderful little museum packed with beautiful artworks. Came for the Mary DeNeale Morgan show but…read morewas impressed by the total amount of art in this small museum. Even great art in bathroom and basement hall. Especially loved that many watercolor paintings were displayed. If you're a student (any age) you can get a discount!

This is a cool museum and a wonderful diversion from some of the more touristy spots in the area…read more We came for the Biennial California exhibit. A photo of mine was on display. It is truly humbling to see your work displayed alongside other fantastic artists. It is a wonderful space. The staff is extremely friendly. My exhibit is over, but check out their next exhibition.

The current exhibition is Salvador Dalí. It's a fantastic menagerie of art and history. I truly…read morethought I knew so much about his work until my recent visit. The stories of his work and inspirations had me reading every last tidbit. The black and white photos of Dalí preparing his own work were mesmerizing. I could've spent the whole day here. The whimsical arrangements throughout the rooms gave me the notion that I had stepped into a secret space that made me think differently. It's hard to describe. It was beautiful.

I found this little museum quite interesting. I love learning new things about places I visit. On…read morethe lower level, the museum focuses mostly on early settlement in the Monterey area with wide coverage of the World War II era and the entire Pacific fleet not exclusive to Monterey. On its upper level more exhibits can be found directly related to Monterey's fishing industry and the history of Cannery Row. There are two exhibits that caught my eye. The first one can be seen as soon as you walk through the doors as it is situated on the open floor between the museum's entrance and the Monterey County Visitor Information Center. The Bixby Bridge is located in nearby Carmel, CA but you can see a masterful sculpture carved out of old growth redwood by artist Michael Miller (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/8FhwlcREHuMFeNISkhSz0A?select=C8WBeFH2NGi9JdxTfwQsjQ). Take the time to observe the fine detail that the artist puts into the sculpture. It's truly a masterpiece. The second exhibit is probably the biggest item inside the museum and can be seen to the left of the museum's entrance doors and that is the huge historic Fresnel lens once housed at the Point Sur Light Station (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/8FhwlcREHuMFeNISkhSz0A?select=TvlZXZSWAjVb7Bz9ej2ICg). The highlight of the exhibit is the 580 glass prisms which makes up the lens. There is a nice assortment of information surrounding the exhibit as well as some interactive stations. The museum's collection is worthy of 5 stars, but I found some serious design flaws on several of the exhibits which detracted from my viewing experience. Simple things like accent lighting pointed directly at a glossy painting whereas the viewer can not experience the artwork but simply a burst of yellow light on glossy canvas. Several of the exhibits had a sheet of clear plexiglass protecting them which is wonderful for prolonging the life of the exhibit but it doesn't work when accent lighting and direct sunlight hits it from different directions causing a triple image because of shadowing. I found a lot of simple things just like that on both levels which were just distracting. The museum is open Tuesdays through Sundays from 10 AM to 5 PM. There is no admission fee, but donations are accepted and appreciated.

Stevenson history: California Historical Landmark #352…read more We stopped by to see where the author lived, formerly the French Hotel (now called Stevenson House after him and dedicated to his memory). Robert Louis Stevenson is most noted for Treasure Island and Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde and also wrote the poem, The Lamplighter. We saw a man come out from the back, perhaps a groundskeeper, and we asked him if the garden was open to the public. He was nice and said that we could come back tomorrow when the gates are unlocked and we could visit inside. Free to the public. We came back the next day. The museum is closed. We peeked inside the building and it didn't look much like a museum like it was going through some type of renovation and they abandoned the job. Stevenson only lived here for a short while and the two-story adobe building is uninspiring. He was sick and in poor health and was cared for by his friends while here but the full story is that he was in town chasing a married woman, Fanny Osbourne. The garden was not big in size but it had lots of shaded trees. There were benches in parts of the garden which was nice. Flowers were in bloom but the garden could use a little upkeep. I've included photos of some of the flowers in the garden. Review #1901

Robert Lewis Stevenson was an early days bohemian, not much different than your run in the mill…read moreliberal. He looked at life and sought time to develop his writing materials, enjoy warm pleasant weather, play some chess and smoke. The French Hotel is where RLS came to be and eventually marry his love of his life. Today... the museum is lucky enough to be here houses his very own personal artifacts, rare book and actual furnishings all obtained from his family members. A perfect and free treat for history buffs, writers, architects, lighthouse engineers, and photographers. This might be a bit boring for kids, but maybe if you first hand them the book Treasure Island, and then brought them here... they might get into it. You need to check ahead if you wish to get inside, the place is always closed. His actual bedroom (upstairs) is closed to the public, thanks to our own self imposed wheelchair accessible rules.

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).

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.

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.

Third Thursday at MMA La Mirada: Open until 8:00 pm the third Thursday of the month…read more So here I am, fresh from a four hour drive across our beautiful state, fresh from checking into my hotel, ready to spend a little time looking at some beautiful local arts n culture. Now, pay careful attention to your GPS, folks, because I totally missed the drive the first time. I arrived, but was afraid I had arrived at someone very fancy's personal estate. It was dark, oh so dark. But there must have been 30 cars, so I parked with all the others and walked toward the building. I guess first I walked around the building. There were two places I could see light coming from, and I picked the one on the left. Folks, go for the one on the right. I walked around back and into the rose garden. I was still a little afraid the master of the house would set his royal guard dogs on me for prowling. Back to my car. I'm hustling. I'm thinking, "there was a sister museum that was also advertised to be open late, maybe I should go there!" (apparently that was wrong anyway, cause it;s First Friday at MMA Pacific Street not Third Thursday, but in retrospect I was pretty confused all around). But first I try the other place where light beckoned. It is an adorable, old fashioned door. And all of a sudden, I'm on the other side and inside this beautiful land of art, curated by beautiful people and enchanting enclosed within a historic estate (see, eg., chandeliers, dainty little bathrooms, gift shop in what feels like a dining room). Almost everyone was already in a lecture about art restoration, so I slowly wandered through the collection without having to navigate a crowd. It was super enjoyable. The kids area/library was a place I'd like to spend more time, and the gift shop was well priced. I'd definitely like to go back and see the outdoor area. It was, as hinted at above, almost pitch black at night.

Words cannot describe how lovely La Mirada is! I was married there May 18, 2013, and it was…read moreeverything I had dreamed of and more. The setting of the estate is intimate, comfortable, warm, and the roses add amazing color. For our May wedding, the roses were in their first bloom. They were gorgeous and the scent during the ceremony was heavenly. The guests enjoyed having cocktail hour in the rose garden; they were snapping photos of the blooms and it made for a beautiful back drop. Reading some of the other reviews; it makes me sad to think people picked this place apart! My husband, family, and I had a wonderful experience from start to finish. Our events coordinator was Mel Cota. She is FANTASTIC! This gal does not skip a beat! Not only is she kind, detailed oriented, compassionate, and communicative; she was able to turn my vision and my wants into a perfect wedding day. The day of flowed effortlessly and was seamless, all thanks to Mel. Having recently received my wedding photos from Michele Beckwith Photography; I am so thankful we went with La Mirada. The grounds of the venue came out amazing in the photos. Classy and elegant! Being able to take photo's upstairs in Elizabeth Taylor's room with my groom was such a treat! This place truly is a five! Thank you La Mirada! - Alixandra

Snug little place packed with arcade games~…read more For $10, you can play unlimited games which is pretty well worth the price. We were so shocked to see smash on n64 as an option! Overall, fun place to spend some time with your people!

We were in downtown Monterey looking for something fun to do with our son. As we were walking the…read morestreets we came across an arcade that looked fun and inviting. I decided to check it out. I arrived on a nice sunny Saturday afternoon. High Scores Arcade is located in a nice area off Alvarado street in downtown Monterey. Parking is free and accessible along the streets and the nearby parking lots. The arcade games collection are classic, vintage, and from the 80's-90's. The space is on the smaller side but has just enough video games to look reputable. The decor is vibrant, bright, and playful. In the front is the counter where you purchase your admission, snacks, and alcohol/non alcoholic drinks. The admission is fairly priced. 1 hour of unlimited play is $10.00. All day unlimited play is $22.00. Overall we enjoyed our experience at High Scores Arcade. The staff were friendly and accommodating. The vibe was nostalgic and bustling. It was nice to introduce the games I use to play back in the day and play along side with my son. We hope to be back when we are in the area.