Because Fall offers some of our better weather, there are many festivals and outdoor events happening in and around the Monterey Peninsula during the month of October.
Pacific Grove Historic Home Tour, Sunday October 3, 2010
Visitors will have a rare opportunity to view the interiors of Pacific Grove’s finest historic homes during the 41st annual Pacific Grove Historic Home Tour. On-site docents can answer questions about the history of the buildings and how early residents of Pacific Grove lived. Self-guided tours of these historic buildings will run from 10am to 3pm. Tickets for this once-a-year event are only $20 for adults and $10 for children 6 to 18. Children 5 and under are free.
Insider’s tip: If you have always wanted to see what it’s like to live in one of these historic homes, go on this tour! It may inspire some home design ideas of your own.
Now in its tenth year, Monterey History Fest has grown into a festival that offers a variety of programs for both residents and visitors to experience Monterey’s unique cultural heritage and historic resources. Sponsored by the
City of Monterey,
Monterey State Historic Park (California State Parks) and
Monterey History and Arts Association, History Fest has developed a plentiful schedule designed to bring Monterey’s past to life during this community-wide event.
Insider’s tip: Arrive early to get the best parking spaces!
The Healing Waters Ceremony is a spiritual gathering that is one part memorial service for past loved ones (including pets), and another part healing celebration for the water itself and those animals that live within it. This event is open to the public and free, but donations will be accepted.
This ceremony is meant to bring people together to celebrate life; remember the animals, lives, and losses of the Gulf Oil Spill–because all waters are connected; and to also heal our spirits with music, dance and prayer.
Insider’s tip: Music will be provided by our very own local GRAMMY nominated singer/songwriter, Jennifer Filzen. She’ll be performing
“Sirena”, a beautiful funeral song during the flower toss portion of the ceremony. It’ll be a nice way for participants to say hello and goodbye to past loved ones.
Admission is free for folks interested in vintage airplanes and classic cars. You can get a plane ride for a fee.
Insider’s tip: Take a dream ride in an old plane and make sure you bring your video camera so you can brag about it to your Facebook friends!
View this list of places that celebrate Halloween all month long. Corn mazes and pumpkin patches make for fond Fall memories.
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West Coast Swing is the California State dance and is growing in popularity, thanks to Lacey Schwimmer of “Dancing With The Stars” and Benji Schwimmer of “So You Think You Can Dance”.
West Coast Swing is a 6-count slot dance that can be danced to the blues, contemporary, pop, club, and country music, and the main age range of West Coast Swing dancers is between 30 – 70 years old.
If you’re interested in finding places to dance West Coast Swing, here are some of the places where local “Westies” hang out:
Tuesday nights–Carmel Woman’s Club at the corner of San Carlos and 9th, across from Sunset Center in Carmel. Call Jennifer at 831-324-0816 for class details.
Wednesday nights–Sly McFly’s at the corner of Cannery Row and Prescott in Monterey. It’s a small dance floor, but Westies are friendly about sharing slot space. Don’t be shy about asking a Westie to dance with you. We’ve all been beginners at some point and love bringing new people into the dance.
Thursday nights–On the 3rd Thursday of each month, join the Westie community at Clint Eastwood’s Carmel Mission Ranch off of Rio Road, right by the Carmel Mission. Dancing is located in the Barn, and the place gets packed.
Friday nights–Embassy Suites in Seaside has a lounge area where Lee Durley and Joe Indence sing oldies but goodies. If you’re in the mood for East Coast Swing, there’s music that will satisfy both dances.
Saturday nights–On the 4th Saturday of each month, the Santa Cruz Swing Club hosts a West Coast Swing dance at the Senior Center (behind 831 Bay Avenue and Woodworm Party Store) at the Bay/Porter Exit in Capitola. Class with a WCS dance pro start at 7:00 and the dancing goes until 11:00 PM.
If you’re uncertain about scheduling, contact Jennifer at 831-324-0816 and she’ll point you in the right direction, or consult the Monterey County Weekly newspaper or the Go! Calendar in the Monterey Herald.
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THE MONARCH BUTTERFLIES OF PACIFIC GROVE
Every fall, thousands of monarch butterflies appear at the Monarch Grove Sanctuary. They look like brown leaves on the trees in the grove, until they begin to spread their wings and flutter in and out of the tree branches when the sun comes out. The Monarch Grove Sanctuary is studded with Monterey pines and eucalyptus trees, and the temperature remains moderate all winter, giving the butterflies reason to return year after year. We look forward to their return, as we look forward to the return of many of our loyal customers to Monterey Bay Property Management, who elect to, like the butterflies, spend the winter in a temperate climate. If you are thinking that the Monterey Peninsula would be a great place to spend the winter, you would be thinking correctly! And just as we are honored each year to host the Monarch butterflies as our guests, we are honored to have you. Bring nothing but your clothes and your groceries to a fully-furnished and equipped vacation rental home where you can not only enjoy the return of the Monarchs, but all the beauty of “the most felicitous meeting of land and sea in creation (Robert Louis Stevenson).”
WHERE TO SEE THE BUTTERFLIES
From mid-October to mid-February, you can see clusters of monarch butterflies at the Monarch Grove Sanctuary at 1073 Lighthouse Avenue. The entrance is just off Lighthouse Avenue, and the park is open from sunrise to sundown. Best of all, it is free! The best time to see the butterflies is between noon to 3:00 p.m., as that is the time when the sun is shining brightly on the trees. You should find that a docent is always on duty when the park is open.
Should you arrive on the Monterey Peninsula in early October, you can be a part of Pacific Grove’s celebration of the monarchs’ arrival. The Butterfly Parade, featuring local school children dressed in butterfly wings.
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Many visitors comment on how cool it is here on the Monterey Peninsula. Like Mark Twain is reported to have said, “The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco,” and since San Francisco is close by, the same can be said of our area.
Our weather is cool during the summer for several reasons:
1. Our ocean currents run from the Arctic Circle and (North to South) and our water temperature tends to be around 49 degrees to 55 degrees Farenheit.
In contrast, the Eastern seaboard of the United States experiences water currents flowing North from the Equator (South to North) with an added bonus of the warm water originating from the Gulf of Mexico known as the Gulf Stream.
2. We have a deep underwater canyon that begins in the Monterey Bay (at Moss Landing and Carmel) and there is a lot more water depth than eyes on land can see.
To compare, the Eastern seaboard tends to be shallower and can heat up from the sun more quickly.
3. Water currents and wind churn the water up from the depths to the surface, which causes cooler water to circulate up. This makes for very happy marine life because the upwellings bring food closer to the surface.
Now you know why you don’t see Sea Lions and Otters frolicking on Florida beaches.
4. The water’s cool water temperature and wind from the ocean makes the air cooler and creates a marine layer/low cloud ceiling. When that cooler air blends with the warmer air temperature over land, fog is created. Our marine layer usually evaporates from the sun after noon.
We hope this helps explain why our air is cool and why we rarely need air conditioning. It also explains why you should always keep a jacket or sweater handy when you’re visiting the Monterey Peninsula.
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by Jennifer Filzen
The Monterey Peninsula is a distinct wedding destination for many happy couples. If you, or someone you know is planning a wedding, we hope this blog will be helpful.
First, if you’ve not yet seen it, our very own Monterey Rentals website has a wedding page. We have found that many of the same people who are looking for a vacation rental through us are also looking for local wedding vendors. So, we got smart and developed a resource guide for our clients. We hope our wedding page proves useful for you and yours.
Second, if you’re booking a wedding here and you’re doing it during the high season–which is summer–know that room rates at B&Bs, hotels, and motels go up. Believe it or not, the most economical way to stay on the Monterey Peninsula is to stay at one of our lovely vacation rentals. If you rent a house, condo, or duplex and share the cost with others in your group, it makes it more affordable and fun. Your wedding friends and family will likely have a ball at the “party house” that they’re sharing with other guests. If they can have fun and save money at the same time, everyone wins!
Lastly, if you have questions about what to do, where to send your wedding guests, tours, etc., we have crafted our website to provide helpful information for you and yours. If you don’t find what you’re looking for on our site, try visiting the Monterey Peninsula Chamber of Commerce site or the Monterey County Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Have fun planning for your big day!
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Many tourists are in a rush and don’t get a chance to enjoy the full extent of the recreation trail that extends from Lover’s Point in Pacific Grove to Marina. Due to most foot traffic staying between the American Tin Cannery and Fisherman’s Wharf, a lot of beautiful views are overlooked.
I live in New Monterey, the neighborhood just up the hill from Cannery Row. I often walk down the hill and turn right toward Fisherman’s Wharf so I can have a nice, long walk to Del Monte Beach, which is north of the Commercial Wharf.
My favorite time of year is between April through June when the sea lion pups are newly born and they hang out by the docks and shore-lining rocks. They can be a little stinky (and what baby isn’t stinky at times?) but they’re so darned cute! Hearing them vocalize and bark is so much fun.
I love the change of scenery along the rec trail. I start my walk from the hill, where the view can extend out over the blue water all they way to Moss Landing…or on a really clear day…Santa Cruz. On cloudier days, I’m satisfied looking out over the old buildings of Cannery Row.
As I head north on the rec trail from Cannery Row, I see the grassy park and Coast Guard pier of San Carlos Beach. Sometimes I’ll walk out to the end of the pier to see the snoozing and/or barking sea lions.
I then proceed north toward Fisherman’s Wharf and enjoy the view of the fun houseboats moored out in the water, right next to the colorful buildings along Fisherman’s Wharf.
Once I hit the foot of Fisherman’s Wharf, I look over at the Custom House and think about all the history that building has seen over the centuries.
I continue north down the rec trail and hear the tourists beeping their horns as they go through the tunnel. Yes, we know you’re a tourist when you honk your horn. Only tourists do that…all summer long…and it drives some of us locals a little crazy.
After the rec trail delivers me safely around the Fisherman’s Wharf parking lot, I can then visit the Commercial Wharf. If I want to check in with the commercial fisherman, I’ll walk down the wharf and see their haul. Squid season tends to be the most spectacular time of year because the boats are out on the water all night long with their lights on to attract the squid. This gives those of us up on the hill a wonderful boat light show.
Having my fill of the Commercial Wharf, I then step onto the sand of Del Monte Beach, right by the aqua-colored Adventures By The Sea building. Once my toes hit the sand, my senses are more keen to hear the sounds of the waves and smell the sea mist. I have walked as far as the Monterey Dunes Beach Resort on days where I want to walk about 4 – 5 miles.
For those with bicycles, or longer legs, you can continue all the way down the rec trail to Marina. You can see the rec trail as you drive down Highway 1, and I love seeing folks ride their bikes or walk their dogs.
The rec trail is a Monterey Peninsula treasure, and it has made our area rank high on the “city walkability” scale. Our rec trail has consistently been a site for many marriage proposals. I, for one, was just recently proposed to by my honey after a nice walk down the rec trail where he got down on bended knee on the beach at Lover’s Point.
Imagine that…the rec trail is just as romantic as it is healthy, beautiful, dog- and family-friendly…and that’s pretty special.
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If you’re visiting the Monterey Peninsula and are looking to go out dancing, join the locals at the following dance hot spots. See you out on the dance floor!
Ballroom:
Classes:
Saturday night dance parties:
Salsa:
Classes:
Thursday night dancing:
Blue Fin Billiards — Monterey
Friday night dancing:
Swing:
Classes:
Tuesday Night West Coast Swing Classes at the Carmel Woman’s Club –Carmel
Wednesday night dancing:
Thursday night dancing:
Friday night dancing:
Saturday night dancing:
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Leave it to America’s last hometown to put together an old-fashioned celebration for no good reason – but then, who needs a good reason? Just because it’s good, plain fun – reason enough to join locals and tourists alike for Pacific Grove’s Good Old Days Festival! This small town of only about 15,000 people will put on the largest event of its kind in Monterey County on April 10 and 11, 2010. There’s something for the whole family here, including a parade, live entertainment at six different venues, arts and crafts vendors, delicious food booths, carnival rides, a classic car show, a dunk tank, pony rides, historic tours and more! And what do local families like best about the Good Old Days? There is no admission cost to this once-a-year entertainment that appears out of nowhere in the middle of downtown Pacific Grove each spring.
The Good Old Days parade starts Saturday, April 10, at 10:00 a.m., and proceeds down Pine Avenue. The over 100 entries will include historic vehicles, live bands, community groups, and more. Over near the Post Office, you will find carnival rides, inflatable jumpers and exhibits that will the entire family will enjoy. The kids may want to take a pony ride at Jewell Park. Young and old alike enjoy playing eighteen holes on a miniature golf course at Caledonia Park. The youngest members of your family will enjoy the Kids’ Fair at Jewell Park on Saturday. And even the family dog is invited! Jewell Park will be the site of games for the furry member of your family as well as an agility show and other dog events on Sunday.
One requirement for getting the most out of your old-school weekend in Pacific Grove is to come hungry! Start with the Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast at Jewell Park on Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. But don’t eat too many pancakes, because there will be more than thirty food vendors on hand throughout the Good Old Days to insure that you don’t leave hungry! My favorite is the kettle corn! While you probably won’t be able to see all 320 entertainers at Pacific Grove’s Good Old Days, you will be able to see a wide variety, including theatrical performances, dancing, and all types of music. Some of the local favorites we always look for are Trusting Lucy, The Cachuagua Playboys, Peter Muse, the Chicano All-Stars, the Cypressaires Barbershop Chorus, Island Breeze, Population Five and Alli Clark and the Boys. You can see a live puppet show with the Dickens Group and a performance of Kurt Vonnegut’s play, “Who Am I This Time?” The dance genres represented include tap, Brazilian, belly dancing, and more. In order to be sure you catch all your favorite live acts, check the online Good Old Days entertainment schedule to find out who’s playing where and when.
If you like arts and crafts, the Pacific Grove Good Old Days festival will not disappoint you. With over 200 artisans from across the country, it is the largest arts and crafts fair in Monterey County. And finally, you can see your favorite media personalities duke it out at the Ninth Annual Media Challenge Basketball Tournament. Or you may want to send a local official into the water at the Dunk Tank. Test your own physical prowess by scaling a rock wall in front of the Post Office. Bibliophiles can shop for books at the Wachovia location, and car buffs won’t want to miss a walk back in time at Saturday’s classic car show. Hear the best in live local Christian music on Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to Noon. Take a salsa lesson on Sunday at Chautauqua Hall from 2:00 p.m. to 4:15 p.m.
The City of Pacific Grove is concerned about the environment, and as a demonstration of its concern, has committed to making the Good Old Days celebration a carbon-neutral event. You can find out more about ways to increase your environmental savvy with the Sustainable Environmental Fair on Saturday at the corner of Pine and Forest Avenues.
More events are constantly added, and the City of Pacific Grove will publish an official program in the near future.
For accommodations for you and your family in Pacific Grove, see www.PacificGroveRentals.com for vacation rental homes that can be reserved for two nights or longer. And by the time the Good Old Days happens, Monterey Bay Property Management will have our new branch office open at 650 Lighthouse Avenue, right in the middle of the action of the Good Old Days! So if you are in town for the fun, stop in and say hello!
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No tsunami on the California Central Coast this weekend, and the Monterey Bay is as beautiful as ever! A drive that started at Lover’s Point in Pacific Grove, meandered through Pebble Beach, and wound up in Carmel yielded some of the most spectacular scenery ever! 
While the rain threatened but never materialized, the sun fought to break through, eventually putting in an appearance that reminded those of us lucky enough to be here today just how fortunate we are! What a beautiful place!
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We just wanted to drop you a quick email and thank you for setting us up in our terrific little ocean condo. We had a marvelous time: the condo was lovely and the location superb.
http://www.montereyrentals.com/VacationRentalsDetail.php?585OV-5-130
Thanks for your flexibility and willingness to match our scheduling needs. Next time we come back, we’ll book for a month.
You made the entire process effort/hassle/stress-free. The result: we had 10 marvelous days in Pacific Grove and have become fans of Monterey Bay Property Management.
Thanks again for your assistance.
Penny and Chet
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