I dropped a valuable bike part on Saturday and called 4 days later to see if anyone had turned it…read morein. A lady in the management office named Marilyn came to my rescue and searched high and low and texted some tenants and eventually found it with her landscaper or janitor. She mailed it to me without even waiting to get my Venmo for the postage. You just don't see people this considerate anymore. Maybe pre-Covid :-) Thank you Marilyn!

Great shopping area off the beaten downtown area. Amazing…read moremaze of stairs and walkways through shops. We find ourselves going to From Scratch restaurant.

This is suchba clean and gorgeous plaza with little shops to check out! There's extensive…read moresuperchargers available too.

This is a small shopping center but great stores there! I hadn't been there in a while and I was so…read moresurprised to see free people there and Anthropologie! There is a variety of stores from high end and your typical stores you see at the mall. Also there are food options to grab and go or sit down at a restaurant!

This is small ish professionally run shop specializing in all things local to monterey with a focus…read moreon decor and kitchen things. Located in custom house plaza this is pedestrian only so the parking you find will be wherever you go for downtown/fishermans wharf-which are both a short walk away. The building is the original pre-united states mercantile. While they've added electricity it's pretty much the same as it was a century ago. If you were ever curious to see what shopping was like at the dawn of the 19th century drop by. The goods for sale are a range of local foodstuffs, decor items, gardening stuff and in general light gifty shopping that visitors might be interested in. The staff are all volunteers and so far on my visits they are hugely enjoyable to talk to. Be warned they are gardening obsessive hobbyists so bringing up anything plant like can lead to protracted conversations. Pricing isn't any too bad helped along by the tax free status due to the non profit what runs it, and the historical nature of the square. Hours are dependent on volunteer availability but generally are 11-4 ish most days. Not a must do perhaps but a very pleasing browse if you are in the square.

One thing about going to a new city is how you imagine an area in your mind's eye, sometimes…read moredoesn't match the reality. Knowing that this outdoor shopping center was 3 stories and had over 30 stores, I expected the area around it to be like a city center, with heavy foot and car traffic, lots of noise, and business advertisement. Instead, I wasn't sure if we were in the right place, because the neighborhood looked residential. The city planners/architects did a really nice job to implement this intention. The shopping center first opened in 1960, as an open-air courtyard style with a luxury department store, unheard of at the time for a town that small. Throughout the years, it hosted a major department store chain (Saks Fifth Avenue) as well. Now, in keeping with Carmel's intention to not have any national brand retail in it's city limits, the majority of stores/restaurants at this mall are local (though there are exceptions like Tiffany & Co, Anthropologie, and Brunello Cuccinelli). We got lucky and found free street a block from the center. Even on a Monday late morning, it was quite busy with tourists and locals alike hanging out in the main courtyard. A really nice feature was the large outdoor gas firepit that people were using to keep warm. We had come for a particular restaurant, but were informed that they were closed for the day for a private event (no signs or mention on their website)...I guess that's how this particular business rolls.

One of the places we always come to when we arrive in the Monterey Bay, Carmel plaza Shopping has…read moresome great shops with a variety of products, clothes, and other items which we enjoy. The center has three different levels with stairs in the middle and each side or if you desire an elevator, there is one on the end. During the weekend or summertime when it's busy, parking can be a challenge. There is a parking garage not far away if the street is full. If that is full, you may need to walk a bit. There is also some great places to eat such as The Flying Fish, a coffee shop, and a wine maker or two. In the center of the plaza, there is space to sit and enjoy the environment-just find some shade if it's warm!

Didn't have reason to go to this shopping center before but I'll be back now that I saw the mix of…read morebusinesses! Great restaurants and entertainment

Selection of restaurants, stores pretty good. Parking lot is pretty extensive…read more The one down side is the quality of character of some of the people attracted to the shopping center. No one wants to listen to the banging & yelling of skateboarders while they're trying to enjoy a relaxing dinner, and last time I was there, one driver in the parking lot was yelling obscenities at another driver & threatened to "cap" them. This doesn't create an atmosphere that's going to attract families or out-of-town visitors. Perhaps it's time for University Plaza to invest in a security guard or two.

The Steinbeck Museum was a wonderful literary stop in Salinas. We also visited the Steinbeck House…read moredown the street, which made the experience feel more complete. As a tribute to Steinbeck and his connection to the area, the museum was thoughtful, engaging, and well worth the visit. I especially enjoyed the quirky gift shop, always a bonus when a museum shop has personality. The drive into Salinas was also unexpectedly lovely, with so many fields and vegetables growing. It gave the whole visit a strong sense of place and helped connect the landscape to Steinbeck's writing. A great stop for literature lovers, history fans, or anyone looking for something meaningful to do in the area.

What an impressive, thoughtful arrangement of his life, works, and accomplishments! I'm not a fan…read moreof his work but was pleasantly surprised by the layout and contents. Two of our group members are big fans and thoroughly enjoyed the museum taking over 2 hours to explore and interact with the exhibits. The downtown Salina's area has restaurants and shops to explore making it a full day's adventure should you choose.

This store is fun and offers a wide variety of items for anyone who loves sea otters…read more They sell items like t-shirts, hoodies, plush toys, jackets, magnets, and much more, all centered around those adorable and lovable sea otters. Store employees were friendly, helpful, and seemed to enjoy their work. The store was busy when my family and I were shopping. Prices were very affordable.

I have shopped at Sea Otter Shirts more than once and I have always been impressed with the…read moreselection of products that have otters on them. I especially love their T-shirts with "Hairy Potter" on them...classic! If you are looking for anything otter related or you know someone who loves otters, this is the place to go to, you won't be disappointed.

Colorful and full of personality, Somewhere in Carmel's second location on Ocean Street has a…read moreslightly different vibe, focusing more on tourist-friendly finds and Carmel and surf-inspired clothing. This shop features design and coffee table books, hats, T-shirts, cards, candles, and design-friendly souvenirs and gifts. The service experience was hands-off at this location. We were not greeted or welcomed, despite being the only guests --a missed opportunity.