They have moved their office closer towards Downtown. Jennifer was amazing and set me up for…read moreinteresting places to explore in the surrounding area. I definitely recommend stopping by to get the vast amount of brochures available.

Having been born and raised in the area, it really wasn't necessary for us to stop here but it was…read morea nice rest stop to determine what we were going to do for the remainder of the day in Monterey. The lake nearby is called Lake El Estero, and is surrounded by El Estero Park. Located within the park is the famous Dennis the Menace park. El Estero Boating is located on the shore of the lake opposite Dennis the Menace Park and is where you can rent a paddle boat. What's nice is from the visitors center you can see both the paddle boat area and the Dennis the Menace Park so you can easily map out, and plan your day. With so much to see and do in Monterey I can see why at times it could be overwhelming to a person visiting the area. So this place is designed for a visitor who just doesn't know where to start. We did not go inside the building but I enjoyed the scenery behind the building. The Monterey County Visitors Bureau provides you with all the information you need about visiting the Monterey Peninsula. They have information on individual attractions, hotels, and restaurants. I heard they sometimes have coupons available too. The staff is there to provide guidance and give directions to locations throughout Monterey County. They are open daily from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. They are closed on major Holidays such as Thanksgiving, December 25, January 1 and Easter Sunday. I can see how a family can easily spend a pleasant day at the park surrounding Lake El Estero. There were plenty of geese, seagulls, and ducks swimming around in harmony. We were only there a short while but there is a walking path that goes entirely around the lake. Along the walking path there is a unique exercise course with equipment and instructions. Plenty of benches and grass to have a little picnic. Just be aware that the birds can be a bit aggressive and I believe you are not permitted to feed them by law. There is a dog park and I believe there is also a skate park for skateboarders. Dennis the Menace park has always been a favorite with the kids with their one-of-a-kind fun playground equipment. Admission is free however the paddle boating rentals do have a fee. The last time I checked you can rent a paddle boat for a half an hour or an hour. In conclusion, if you are a visitor of the Monterey Peninsula, and are not sure where to go, this is the perfect place for you!

The Pilot Travel Center in Salinas is often one of our stops as Dear Hubby and I traverse up and…read moredown Highway 101. It's kept clean, the gas is fairly priced compared to competitors, and the cashiers are usually friendly. They keep making improvements - subtle and otherwise - to their food / beverage area to the left as you enter the shop. It's like a mini-mart on steroids as far as the options that are available in the organized aisles. The also have just about every kind of beverage you can imagine. Their snack and quick meal choices are where they keep making changes and improvements. One highlight is that they seem to stock every kind of condiment one might want, whether it's flavored creamers for the coffee, or toppings for hot dogs. It seems like someone put a lot of thought into offering choices that people actually like and use at home, instead of cheaping out with generic and minimal offerings. The restrooms get a lot of use, but are usually well stocked with essentials and kept as clean as possible. The center is shared by passenger vehicles and big rig trucks, but it's laid out in such a way that they don't intersect and get in each other's way. This seems to be a well-run establishment.

dude with the glasses suck 11pm, just poor attitude and open a lane if you see the line long smh or…read morego fix the fountain drinks that's water down lol dang

Adorable little country store right off Highway 1! Nice wine selection and thank goodness they are…read moretaking masking seriously during the pandemic. Great place to stop and get supplies during a roadtrip. Please support this small business!

Place blows went in bought a 12 pack and 2 Yerba mates, eggs, and some ice and it cost $75. Asked…read morethe guy for a refund and he said he couldn't refund it.

December 7, 2025 - Turlock, CA…read more "I can't comment on the restroom facilities since I didn't use them, but the pet area was nice. It's a well-maintained space with a combination of grass and bark, plus a few trees. The area felt clean, safe, and convenient, and it was a great spot to let our dog stretch her legs. Always appreciate when a stop puts real effort into their pet facilities."

Clean restrooms. Easy off and on the freeway. Doggie area. Lots of parking for both passenger…read morevehicles and big trucks.

This place is one of the prettiest places I have stayed overnight. If you are looking for peace and…read moretranquility, this is the spot. Getting up in the morning and walking down to the shallow river with your complimentary room coffee is Heaven. Then sitting on the provided river chairs and listening to the running creek is so relaxing. The staff is nice. Most of the staff have been working here for many years. I have read some negative comments about the cost of the rooms. Yes, the rooms at a little over $800 a night may be high, but remember this Motel is in a unique location of #Big Sur and I don't know of any other motels in Big Sur that can offer a river view just steps away from the water. So for me this was worth every penny. If you are wanting to explore the Big Sur area and spend time away from this Motel resort than you may want to use a budget motel. This motel was designed for rest and relaxation. The pool on site is a plus. The rooms don't have a microwave, fridge, or kitchen, so you will have to pack sandwiches and snacks in a cooler. Otherwise, the restaurant food is good and the general store next to it also sells deli style food, pizzas, hot sandwiches, and wraps. Oh, and the burritos are big enough to feed two. I highly recommend this place for a special occasion or for a wonderful memory to look back on.

For the restaurant: The food was incredibly bland and overpriced. We ordered a (very dry)…read moreunseasoned chicken sandwich, another unseasoned beef burger, and pasta. We requested a little parmesan for the pasta and they told us it'd be $6... Then after paying, the waiter shoved the tip screen in my face, which surprised me because it was not my credit card, but my dads. He took my surprise as hesitation to tip so made an annoyed face. It was super uncomfortable and forceful but whatever still tipped 20%. I hope they train their staff better. Maybe consider not charging for every little thing. Sitting out in the chairs, almost made up for how underwhelming and weird it was in there

This is a gas station and a convenient store called Love 's Travel Stop z…read more It has gas stations, Arby's for food and Love 's store for all your travel needed . Enclosed are photos of their gifts section . Many leather handbags, wallets and key rings . The wild animals gift figures are very nice . I like the wolf , buffalo and skeletons of the wild animals . The leather purses are Mexican Indian designs and nicely made. There is a huge mobile shop inside for your car . Very nice shops .

Funny how Ive heard so many people talk about Loves Travel Stop but never knew what they…read moremeant...lol... So basically I've never been. So it's a stop, gas station and convenience store. Basically something off the freeway that's kind of in the middle of nowhere. We stopped by for the restroom which would be the first time here. Honestly, it wasn't much to it. It's like walking into a 7'11 or your local AM/PM. Your traditional gas station with your basic. Chips, candies, snack, convenience store. Loads of drinks, of course the hot station with hot dogs and nachos where you help yourself. And then there's the selections of random souvenir you would only see at gas stations. They did have a decent gas station as well as a little dog park that's right next door for the pets to release themselves and get some fresh air. That's a nice little thing added to it. I can say that everyone working there was very sweet and friendly. They greeted everyone that walked through the door which majority was for the restroom. And thanked everyone for stopping by. You don't get that often at places like this. Nothing major but was nice to actually go to one and see what it was all about.

This is a lame joke, not a rest stop. Keep driving on the 5N to the John Chuck rest area. Peace!read more

Well maintained rest area. Clean, ample parking, toilet paper, soap and hot air dryers. No litter…read moreon the ground either. Appreciate this little stop!

Honestly not bad. There was toilet paper, seat covers, hand soap. One stall that I checked didn't…read morelock in women's bathroom and the floor was flooded in one of the stalls, but overall there wasn't a smell and the toilets flushed.

Women's restroom on the right side is the one that is usually open. It only has 1 out of 5 working…read moretoilets. It's been this way for months!!! (over a year, actually) And the ADA Bathroom Stall is unusable to anyone who needs to use it because there is NO DOOR. It's gone missing. How does that happen? Anyhow, one would normally think that it is a violation to have no usable ADA accessible restroom stall ... however in today's time, 2025, is it possible that the Americans with Disabilities Act has been defenestrated? (They rarely open the women's restroom on the lift side; door is always closed/locked. This restroom has more functional toilets.... but it is rarely open for use. Like 99.9% of the time, the cleaner & more functional left side women's restroom is closed.) Problems in the right side women's restroom include : -- Only 1 fully working stall out of 5 stalls total. -- No usable ADA accessible restroom stall. -- 1st stall is unusable : closed "out of order" (closed for many months). -- 2nd stall is unusable : has missing toilet seat & the door does not lock. -- 3rd stall is unusable : closed "out of order" (closed for many months). -- 4th stall has working toilet & the door locks. -- 5th stall is unusable (large ADA stall) : has NO DOOR. In summary : Only 1 working toilet stall out of 5. Four out of five stalls are not fully functional (including the ADA stall). So the weird thing is that this rest area had been closed for a few weeks during the last month or two. After it reopened , NONE of the issues in the women's restroom were resolved. What did they do during all that time it was closed and blocked off to cars? .

Stayed a couple nights and loved the hotel for its location, friendly staff, and views from the…read morebalcony in the room. The restaurant in the hotel feels like you are on a boat which is cute. The food was perfect for a quick lunch before exploring the area. Pros: Perfect location to have as a home base when exploring Monterey and the surrounding areas. Close to Carmel and has a great bike rental shop onsite, Mad Dog & Englishmen. They also have a coffee shop in Carmel that has cute shirts and cozy seating. Cons: NA

The Plaza is an incredibly beautiful hotel that overlooks the ocean. It has multiple restaurants…read moreand the customer service is fantastic. The location is key as you can walk right down to cannery row to access restaurants, shopping, and entertainment including the aquarium. Furthermore, the gym and hot tubs on the 5th floor are superb. The views are incredible and the equipment is all very nice. We have had a lovely stay at the Monterey Plaza Hotel and Spa.