Great place for interesting and unique photo opportunities. Very colorful and fun. It exists for…read moresuch a touching and loving reason; gives one a sense of love and caring between a couple. I'm so glad the people who have this property now have kept it up.

This was such a wonderful place to finally visit, especially after all the trips we've taken to the…read morearea. First off, this eclectic house was created out of the love a husband had for his wife while she was losing her eyesight. It's a really beautiful story, and I'll include the link if you want to read more: https://www.pacificgrovebutterflyhouse.com/ Because of J's love for his wife, Sonja, this brightly colorful home covered in mirrors and butterflies still stands today. It exists for such a touching reason and really gives you a sense of the love and care they had for each other. I'm so glad the current owners have continued to maintain it. During their life together, Sonja and J supported the Blind & Visually Impaired Center of Monterey County with donations from people who came to admire the Butterfly House. You can donate as well if you feel moved to do so (blindandlowvision.org). Just keep in mind that this is a private residence. We actually saw the homeowner heading inside and waited until they were in before taking a look. I'm sure they're kind and happy to share the story, but it's also important to respect that this is someone's home and daily life. Sadly, J passed away in 2020 and Sonja in 2022.

A cute experience to walk through! Lots of fun lights and displays. The community does a great job…read moreof lights and displays

Went there this year with out of town guests. I haven't been in a few years myself. I remember it…read morebeing so busy that they had to make the streets one way. This year it was easy to get into and easy to find parking. The park was definitely the most popular part of the experience. I appreciate those that still participate and put up lights at their homes. I'm not sure if it's my imagination but I could have sworn that in the past there were more participants. I remember carolers and every house light up. But anyway, it was still nice, and was fun for the kids to see, especially for the three year old when she saw the Frozen house.

Something truly amazing about this rock. I went there to check it out, and sure enough, i got…read morekissed! Don't know what it was but it was happening to other people too. Maybe something in the air there. Rock is on the path near lovers point. Easily reachable by bike from hotels from cannery row to Asilomar. Walkable from the aquarium as well. The rocks below are great for kids to scramble. Lots of tide pools. You can find hermit crabs, anemones, and more. That day we saw a pod of dolphins loitering nearby, but my phone camera couldn't get a good enough snap. Picnic area across the street. Lots of benches trash cans and parking. Poop bags for the pups, so dog owners have no excuse. Keep Monterey beautiful!

Retaining the moniker of "Kissing Rock" since Victorian times, these two massive slabs of granite…read morealong Ocean View Boulevard look very much like a couple kissing and was at one point dubbed by Life magazine as the most romantic spot in America. The view here is quite gorgeous and it's very peaceful with the waves crashing in the background. Plus there's a bench here as well if you want to sit for a spell. Public parking is available along designated areas of Ocean View Blvd.

Wow!! After a long day or traveling, this cute Victorian restaurant hit the spot! The mushroom…read moresauce was outstanding! The garlic bread was melt in your mouth! The lasanga was out of this world! Will visit again soon! Thank you! The waitress was super friendly!

We have been to Aliotti's Victorian Corner restaurant a few times over the years. I'm not sure what…read morehappened to my review, but I will write another one! It's been around forever! If you ask the locals for a non touristy place to eat, this is it! We've had breakfast and lunch here. You cannot go wrong with any of their menu options. The people working here are down to earth and friendly. We normally will ask them for recommendations. We enjoy their Classic BLT's, the Meatball sandwich, the Hot Pastrami, and the Cobb Salad. As far as breakfast is concerned, we love their chicken fried steak, Denver Omelette, French Toast, and pancakes. Overall, a great local restaurant with years of experience. The food is delicious and the employees make you feel welcomed. We will have to come for dinner next time!

Pacific Grove is a cute laid-back Citi nestled just south of Monterey Bay…read more There is parking available pretty much all over the city so don't stress about it. The city itself is more like a small wonderful town where everyone knows your name and people actually take the time to talk to strangers. Things that are noteworthy: Monterey Bay aquarium is close by. Pacific Grove has a beautiful walking trail with the front view of the ocean. If you want to spend a romantic evening, then the Seven Gables in as your spot. From November to January, the Monarch butterflies are all over the city. Lovers Point is a great place to visit. Everything is within walking distance so just park your car near the beach trail and enjoy the spectacular views.

What a beautiful city to visit. Filled with cute shops and places to eat. Lots of beautiful views…read moreof the ocean. Lighthouse ave has a lot of lovely restaurants and stores to check out. They have parking all down the street. We checked out the Vintage finds antique shop. They had these tiny hand painted scenes of the local area painted by a local artist. I thought they were beautiful. There is a farmers market taking place today down Forest Ave that we are going to check out. There is a lot to do any many things are close by, like Cannery Row and fisherman's warf.

We had a hard time finding this spot as the Yelp pin was in front of a house across the street…read more I almost gave up after looking near the beach side, but just as I turned around I saw it! It's very small, and very insignificant! I wasn't sure exactly what I was expecting, but it wasn't this. *sad face* The memorial is definitely weathered and had tons of rocks, shells and other misc items around it. While I still was glad I stopped to find it, and I got to see it, it made me a bit sad that it's really not much of anything. But again I don't know what I was expecting?

Admittedly, I was disappointed with this memorial. The fact that John Denver is such an icon in…read morethe mythos of Americana, is incongruous with the little rock memorial that is here. I knew I'd be coming to a rock, but the memorial was so small, dificult to locate based on my map location, and it seems like no one pays much attention to the site. I'm still glad that I came, because the walk in the surrounding park area was amazing and more than made up for the disappointment of the memorial. The coast is simply beautiful, and evokes such emotions that are truly hard to articulate. I walked along the trail here for a while up to the Beach Point Vista Point as labled on google maps. From here I was able to see whales breaching so close off the shore. I never imagined I would see this here, and I was rapt by the feeding show that was happening just before sunset. So even though the memorial itself isn't as grand as I had hoped, the immediate area is a beautiful place to stroll and enjoy the nature John Denver so fervently advocated for!

This wasn't on our todo list for Monterey, but we just happened across the market as we were…read morestaying in the area. It was a lovely little artsy market with a wide variety of items for sale. Some of the variety included: CBD based products (including for pets), dog leashes made from recycled climbing ropes, painting, photographic prints from the Monterey bay area, clothing, handbags, jewelry, beef jerky, custom hats from seemingly most cities in the Monterey Bay/SF Bay & Tahoe regions, soap and other various fun bits and bobs. There was also a food truck if you were hungry and kettle corn. Sign said it opens at 10, certainly were people setting up before hand but I wouldn't target to be here right at 10. Even after there was still some setup going on. We found some lovely jewelry at a good price, along with some tasty treats to take home from out trip.

Visiting the area and had to see Monterey outdoor Market to check out all the vendors and support…read moresmall business artist. Love that it's so closed to the Monterey Warf as well, there were plenty if activities besides shopping & eating.

This is one of the best street fairs I've attended. It wasn't the biggest, but it did have a lot of…read morelocal vendors and organizations. As a dog owner, it was great to see 5 different dog rescue or dog advocates booths. Also plenty of music stages. It seemed every other block had a stage. The food area had a nice variety of food. Maybe next year the organizers will try to bring in some vegetarian options.(Yes there some people who had 1 vegan option). Not a complaint,but as with all street fairs. Get there early to find parking. You may have to walk a few blocks. Final thought, it was nice to see a large police presence

Nice free family themed festival. It can get really crowded and wouldn't recommend strollers…read more Lots of artists from all over, some really nice pieces available for purchase. Huge amount of vendors with all sorts of things for sale. Live Music and other entertainment through out the event on different stages. Childrens carnival area at the end of the street. Dog friendly. Everybody and their cousins bring their dogs. It's nice to see all the different breeds. Everything here is Pretty pricey but if you look really hard you might be able to find a good deal. Only 3 stars because it's so expensive most families probably can't afford much. Lots of food and drink booths. Parking is always challenging as it's primarily street parking so you have to fight for a space among the residents.

still my favorite clam chowder spot! got the same as last time and a 1/2 order of the garlic bread…read more Service was friendly and the staff were nice. one comment, I think they could benefit from a second restroom b/c I waited a good 15-20 minutes till I got inside and who knows how long it was occupied before I got there.

Vivolo's Chowder House in Pacific Grove is a solid spot if you're looking for an unpretentious,…read moreclassic coastal seafood lunch. It's got a cozy, old-school diner vibe inside--super clean, relaxed, and completely free of any touristy gimmickiness. The clam chowder served in a sourdough bread bowl is definitely the main draw. It comes out filled straight to the brim, thick and creamy without feeling uncomfortably heavy, and packed with tons of clam flavor. Plus, getting those toasted garlic cheese bread tops on the side to dip into the soup is a great touch. Beyond the chowder, their fish tacos are surprisingly good. The fish is fried golden and crispy, topped with fresh pico, cabbage, and huge slabs of avocado on warm corn tortillas. If you want something heavier, the tuna melt on marble rye gets nice and crispy with plenty of melted cheese, and the side salads are pretty fresh too. Service is friendly and down-to-earth. The dining room is on the smaller side so it can get crowded during peak lunch hours, but it's a great, reliable neighborhood joint if you're in the Monterey/PG area.

My family and I enjoy visiting Monterey every summer. It's a wonderful and relaxing getaway from…read moreSouthern California. During each visit, we always take time to go to the wharf for lunch or dinner to see and experience the marine life and the overall vibe of the ocean, the wharf, and the city itself. One of the larger restaurants on the wharf is undergoing extensive renovation, so a big part of it is closed to the public, which diminishes the overall experience. On our recent trip, we visited the wharf twice and enjoyed our time either dining or taking videos and photos of birds, seals, and sea otters. Tip: There are many homeless people at the entrance to the wharf asking for money. Most are very polite, but one was very aggressive, so please stay aware of your surroundings when visiting.

Monterey Bay is always a nice getaway. Love the wharf, even if it's touristy, but I like that vibe…read more The shops are cute to browse and get souvenirs and gifts, it's never crowded, the views are incredible, you can spot some Marine life. It has an old-school vibe which is more than OK with me. Not a lot to do, but it can be a good stop on a road trip or you can kill time if you spend the night in town.