Monterey Bay Vacation Rental – Hilltop Haven – Seaside

Neighborhood House with Panoramic Ocean Views

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1160 sq. ft. | 3 Bedroom | 2 Bath | Sleeps 6 (2Q, 2T, 1A)
Max. Occupancy 8

This 3-bedroom, 2-bath home in a residential area of upper Seaside is perfect for a longer stay. The main living areas – with panoramic ocean views – are on the upper level, along with the master bedroom and a full bath. Downstairs, two guestrooms (one Queen and one twin trundle) share a second bath (also with a tub/shower).

 

This home features multiple areas for enjoying the outdoors. A small deck off the living room has a gas barbecue, and on sunny days the ocean view balcony off the master bedroom will be your favorite hangout… unless you’re in the yard, serving wine and cheese on oak wine barrels under a vine-covered arbor… or warming yourself around the fire pit (Duraflame logs only) after the sun goes down.

The living room has bamboo floors, a large TV, and a gas log fireplace. The kitchen has tile countertops, a gas range, a side-by-side refrigerator and a breakfast bar (there’s also a glass-topped dining table with seating for four). But in this location, cooking is optional: take your pick from fast food, delis, diners, and a gamut of international cuisines: Thai, Chinese, Mexican, Japanese, German, Italian, and more.

Single car garage. Sleeps 6 in beds: 2 Queens and one twin trundle (plus air mattress for extra guests).

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Monterey Vacation Rental – Oakwood – New Monterey

Looking for a Quiet Neighborhood & Ocean Views?

Monterey vacation rental

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865 sq. ft. Condo | 2 Bedroom | 1 ½ Bath | Sleeps 4 (2Q) | Max. Occupancy 5

Make yourself comfortable on the leather sofa or the swivel rocker-recliner facing the large flat screen HDTV (with DVR), or enjoy oak-framed views of Monterey Bay from the deck.

Time to cook? The remodeled kitchen has high-end stainless steel appliances (Fisher-Paykel side-by-side, Bosch dishwasher, and a GE five burner gas range).

Two bedrooms share a hall bath with a tub/shower – and there’s a private half bath in the master. The living areas feature easy care laminate floors; both bedrooms are carpeted.

Part of a three unit complex, this condo has a single car garage below (with room for bikes and storage), and a shared coin op laundry in the basement. It’s just one mile to the Aquarium, and a half-mile to supermarkets, restaurants and cafes. Public transportation is a block away, and commuters will enjoy the easy access to Highway 68.

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VACATION RENTAL Park Place – Pacific Grove

Park Place in Pacific Grove – Walk To Beach Home

Park Place in Pacific Grove - Walk To Beach Home

3295 sq. ft. | 4 Bedroom | 3 ½ Bath | Sleeps 8 (1K, 2Q, 2T) Max. Occupancy 9

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Location, location, location! (And space, space space!) Not only is “Park Place” super close to the beach and town, but the family room is the size of a small house. Divided into three sections, it has a seating area around the fireplace, a bar table in the center, and a “man cave” area with dual leather recliners and swivel chairs facing a 75” TV.

Need more space? There’s a sitting/reading room with a table, four chairs, and two desks that opens to a small deck. And a formal living room downstairs. And a patio with a redwood table and chairs (and barbecue) facing the enclosed, landscaped yard.

The dining table is set in a delightful glass-enclosed sunroom (seats 8), there’s a separate “breakfast nook” for cozy, intimate dining, and the fully-appointed kitchen has stainless appliances including a five-burner gas range.

There are two bedrooms downstairs: one, with a Queen, has an en suite half bath, the other has two Twins, and there’s a hallway bath with a tub/shower. Upstairs, there’s another guest room with a Queen bed, and a hall bath with a toilet, vanity, walk-in shower and a washer/dryer (there’s another set in the two car garage).

And last but not least, the master suite: a King bed, a balcony, and a private bath with a walk-in shower, jetted tub, two lav sinks, and a separate toilet compartment.

From this desirable location you can walk everywhere… to Lover’s Point Cove, Caledonia Park, the Farmer’s Market, numerous shops, galleries, restaurants and cafes. Walk to the movie theater and stroll to the ice cream store afterwards for a cone. Come experience for yourself why Pacific Grove is called “America’s Last Hometown.”

Pacific Grove Transient Use License #393

 

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Otter Days Event at Monterey Bay Aquarium

Otter Days Event at Monterey Bay Aquarium

Sept. 21–22 (Sat.–Sun.) 10 a.m.–6 p.m.

Included with Aquarium admission – More Info

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Kick off national Sea Otter Awareness Week with “Otter Days,” our annual celebration of all things otter, including special feeding and training sessions and opportunities to meet our sea otter staff. Be sure to check out our “Otter Spotter” station where you’ll have the chance to find otters in the wild with the help of high-powered optics and knowledgeable staff.  – More Info

The Jellies Are Coming…

Another cool new exhibit is opening at the Monterey Bay Aquarium.

The magical world of jellies—”graceful, dancing drifters that pulse and glow, flash colorful lights and often pack a powerful sting”—will come alive in a blaze of psychedelic glory when “The Jellies Experience” opens March 31.

The exhibit promises to envelop visitors in a sensory extravaganza: from a room that immerses you in a living moon jelly swarm to exhibits of jellies that pulse like living rainbows.

This 7,000 square foot, $3.5 million exhibit focuses on animals that have “no heads, hearts, brains, bones or true eyes”— yet have survived for hundreds of millions of years (and are considered among the ocean’s major predators).

“The Jellies Experience” is included with aquarium admission: $34.95 adult; $29.95 senior (over 65) and student (full-time college, with I.D.); $19.95 children and the disabled; under 3 free.

The Aquarium is open every day except Christmas, and it’s located on historic Cannery Row in Monterey, right behind our office. Stop by and say hi!

Oh, Baby! Free Passes to See Baby Great White Shark at Monterey Aquarium

The words “cute” and “Great White Shark” are not usually found in the same sentence.

Try telling that to the visitors who are currently oohing and cooing at the newborn baby great white shark at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. The “little guy”—a 43 pound “bundle of sharp teeth and predatory instincts”—was collected off Malibu in mid-August.

There’s no way to determine his exact age, but his size suggests he’s about two months old, and he is the smallest great white the Aquarium has ever exhibited.

Currently the Aquarium’s newest addition is chowing down on mackerel and salmon while on display in the one million gallon Open Sea exhibit. Like all six of the Aquarium’s previous great whites, this shark will eventually be released into the wild when his size—or behavior—warrants it.

Monterey Bay Property Management is offering two free Aquarium passes at any of these fin, er, fine ocean view vacation rentals within walking distance of Cannery Row.

831F: Bright, open one bedroom/1.5 bath sanctuary with gorgeous art plus ocean and city light views.

193B: This oceanfront one bedroom/one bath duplex has spectacular views of Monterey Bay – just hop on the seaside recreational trail and head to the Aquarium.

215A: Spacious two bedroom/two bath vacation condo just three blocks from the water—and ocean views from every room.

901BH: For twosomes, a one bedroom/two bath with a peak of ocean, a fireplace and a jacuzzi tub.

Contact: Reservations@MontereyRentals.com or call (831) 655-7840.

Monterey Bay Aquarium’s “Cooking for Solutions”

Great chefs.  Gourmet cuisine.  Fine wines.

p_galaMonterey Bay Aquarium’s 10th Annual Cooking for Solutions event kicks off Friday, May 20, with the Cooking for Solutions Gala featuring gourmet dishes by celebrity chefs and 70 outstanding restaurants, organic wines from 60 premium West Coast wineries, a sushi lounge, a silent auction, and book-signings by Rick Moonen, Cindy Pawlcyn and P. Allen Smith.

A host of activities over “three delicious days” are planned around the theme of discovering how our choices protect the health of the soil water and ocean wildlife:

Celebrity Chef Cooking Demonstrations • May 21 – 8-11:30 am
Featuring sustainable seafood by Michael Cimarusti (Providence, Los Angeles), William Dissen (The Market Place, Asheville) and Virginia Willis (author & TV personality). Includes a continental breakfast and take-home recipes by all the chefs.

Coastal Living Pavilion Presentations • May 21 – 9:30 am-4: 30 pm, May 22 -10 am-3 pm
Laugh while learning about protecting the planet during two days of special presentations and cooking demonstrations from the Food Network’s Alton Brown and Robert Irvine, author and TV host P. Allen Smith, and Nathan Lyon, host of PBS’ Growing A Greener World.

Food & Wine Adventures • May 21 – 9:30 am-3:30 pm
Take part in one of six group events led by our celebrity chefs-each exploring sustainable foods in the kitchen and on the farm. Depending on the adventure, you’ll join John Ash and Peter Pahk; Seth Caswell, Eric Warnstedt and Ed Kenney; Cindy Pawlcyn; Bun Lai; Rick Moonen or Charles Phan.

Saturday and Sunday Salon Series • May 21 and May 22
Intimate events with leaders in the sustainable and organic food movement. Programs range from compelling conversations to cooking demonstrations – all in a small-group setting.

Sustainable Foods Celebration • May 21 – 10 am-6 pm
With Sam Choy, Mark Dommen and Lee Richardson. Learn more about sustainable seafood, organic agriculture and sustainable winemaking at information booths as you visit the aquarium galleries. Attend cooking demonstrations by celebrated chefs and sample sustainable seafood. Mingle with local growers and producers and graze on local produce and artisan foods while the kids enjoy making crafts, photos and trying healthy snacks in the Kids’ Zone.

Savor the Gulf Coast Champagne Breakfast •  May 22 – 8-10 am
A Korbel champagne/mimosa reception plus live music with a Cajun flair, followed by a seasonal, sustainable breakfast buffet – Southern-style. With Virginia Willis, Lee Richardson and Regina Charboneau, who’ll share their love for the Gulf region and its cuisine.

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P.S. Need a fabulous place to stay by the Bay? Pamper yourself in this spiffy ocean view Monterey Penthouse – or check out our inventory at Monterey Rentals.com

What The Locals Know–What’s New At The Monterey Bay Aquarium?

The Monterey Bay Aquarium is the Monterey Peninsula’s crown jewel of tourist attractions. Though the aquarium has been operating for over 25 years, they do an outstanding job of keeping things fresh and new for visitors and locals alike.

Here are some of the highlights of what’s new at the Monterey Bay Aquarium:

Meet Kit, the newest sea otter pup. Not only is she on display in the Sea Otter Tank, but the Aquarium staff have done a great series on Kit’s behind-the-scenes adventures with her surrogate otter mom, Mae. From her first days of meeting Mommy Mae, to the adventures of crab hunting, we learn a lot about otter life from watching Kit grow up.

The Hot Pink Flamingos exhibit is still bringing in a lot of interest from visitors…especially after seeing the impact that the Gulf of Mexico Oil Disaster had on our nation in the first half of 2010. This compelling exhibit tells the story of climate change through the eyes of tropical wading birds, green sea turtles, the colorful creatures that inhabit coral reefs, hypnotic jellies, playful Magellanic penguins and other ocean animals. You’ll also hear stories of hope involving people and communities that are fighting climate change and making a difference.

Sign up for daily activities and guided tours for an up-close-and-personal view of the Aquarium. Don’t miss a chance to see Makana, our beautiful Laysan albatross, up-close. The Penguin feeding is informative and fun to watch. The kids can really get into the hands-on exhibits in the Splash Zone, the touch pools, and at the interactive games found throughout the Aquarium. The behind-the-scenes tours are really neat and you can even sign up to help prepare the food for the animals.

Insider’s Tip for Parking: You’ll find free parking if you don’t mind parking along Ocean View Drive and walking down the Recreation Trail to the Aquarium. It’s best to get there early in order to find a good, free parking space.

Insider’s Tip for the Aquarium: If you want to avoid the bulk of the crowds and see the animals at their best, either get to the Aquarium immediately after opening, or show up late in the day, between 4:30 PM until closing time. The animals that are shy, like the octopus and the whelks, tend to be more active when no one’s watching toward the end of the day.

Another Insider’s Tip for the Aquarium: Having a membership at the Aquarium is a terrific way to avoid lines and get a discount in the gift shops. Signing up to volunteer at the Aquarium is very popular among locals, but there are plenty of volunteers who commute from the Bay Area and the Central Coast. If you’re an ocean lover, you may feel like donating either your money or your time to the Aquarium. Volunteers get additional discounts in the gift shops, in the cafeteria, and get invited to the highly-celebrated Annual Volunteer Gala.

What The Locals Know–Hot Spots For Young Families

The Monterey Peninsula is a favorite weekend destination for Bay Area families. The beaches, sunshine and beauty attract the parents, while the kid-friendly attractions motivate the kids. Here are a few local destinations that are favorites with young families.

Dennis The Menace Park is Monterey’s famous playground within El Estero Park and offers lots of fun places for young children.

Monterey Skate Park is a skateboard park for the older kids, also found within the El Estero Park complex. Parents can picnic within view of the skateboard park and keep an eye on the munchkins.

El Estero Lake is filled with bathing birds and paddle boats on sunny days. Rent a paddle boat for a 1/2 hour and we guarantee your legs will get a great workout!

Monterey Bay Aquarium is the major destination for most visitors on the Monterey Peninsula, and rightly so! It’s beautiful, educational, fun, and lots to see. Membership to the aquarium will help you get inside quicker and earn you discounts in the gift shops, so consider getting a membership if you visit Monterey often.

The Recreation Trail runs along the water’s edge through Pacific Grove, Monterey, Seaside, and all the way up to Marina. Between Lover’s Point and Fisherman’s Wharf is where most people are found riding rented bicycles and surreys.

Del Monte Beach is across Del Monte Blvd. from El Estero Lake. To find easy parking, pull into the paid parking lot at the corner of Del Monte Blvd. and Figueroa, right at the foot of the Commercial Wharf #2. Del Monte Beach is dog-friendly, offers lots of sand for sandcastle builders, and is a safe beach where small kids can run and play in the waves. Picnic areas are available, as are kayaks and paddle boards. If you visit Del Monte Beach, please make sure you pack all your trash, shoes, plastic toys and such so you don’t pollute the water. People forget that high-tide will sweep all that refuse into the water and it harms our sea life.

Cannery Row, made famous by John Steinbeck, is a street filled with candy shops, restaurants, souvenirs, and holiday memories. The Monterey Bay Aquarium is at one end of Cannery Row, and San Carlos Beach park and the Coast Guard pier are at the other end. In between, at the corner of Prescott and Cannery Row, families will delight in yummy yogurt at MYO Yogurt. During summertime, you’ll see MYO’s brightly colored yogurt cups in everyone’s hands as they cruise around Cannery Row. Make sure you properly dispose of the yogurt cups and other refuse in the trash, however, so we don’t pollute our shores!

Old Fisherman’s Wharf is another top tourist destination after the Monterey Bay Aquarium. It’s from Fisherman’s Wharf where you can grab a bag of salt-water taffy or depart on a whale watching tour. Visit a gift shop or restaurant on Fisherman’s Wharf, or head for the sea on a chartered sail boat. There’s lots of stuff to do at Fisherman’s Wharf, but remember that you’ll need to budget for parking, and higher food prices because of the stellar location. At the foot of Fisherman’s Wharf, check out the Custom House and take a history walk in downtown Monterey via Alvarado Street’s Portola Plaza.

Insider’s Tip: In summer, from May to September, ride the free trolley through town. It makes a loop from Fisherman’s Wharf and downtown to the Monterey Bay Aquarium and back. Click here for the map.