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.
Due to budget cuts and fire safety, the City of Monterey will not be hosting its annual Independence Day Fireworks show. However, there will still be some 4th of July events being hosted on the Monterey Peninsula — by the cities of Monterey and Marina.
Live music will be seen and heard at the City of Marina’s July 4th Street Party at the Seacrest Shopping Center (This is where the Savemart grocery store is at 270 Reservation Road at Seacreast Avenue in Marina, CA.) from 4:00 – 9:00 PM, and then they’ll have “safe and sane” fireworks from 9:00 – 10:00 PM.
See you there!
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:
How will you get to the US Open, once you get to the Monterey Peninsula? Here’s the scoop: Complimentary general spectator parking will be provided at California State University Monterey Bay, which is located off Route 1 in Marina, Calif. Complimentary transportation will be provided to and from the main admission gate. This shuttle bus ride should take 20-25 minutes, depending on traffic. For spectators who are staying in Seaside, Marina and Salinas, this is the most convenient way to get to the venue.
For those staying in Monterey, Pacific Grove and Carmel, shuttles are available for a small cost from convenient locations. The shuttle from Monterey to the U.S. Open picks up and drops off at Cannery Row and Prescott, next to Steinbeck Plaza. The shuttle will run 6am-8:30pm on Thrusday-Friday, 6am-9pm Saturday and 6am-7pm on Sunday. The shuttle leaves every 20 minutes. Tickets are $20 per person each day, free parking will be available in the Cannery Row garage. See the Cannery Row website for more information.
The Pacific Grove Shuttle to the U.S. Open picks up and drops off in front of the Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History. The shuttle will run 8am—5:30pm on Monday-Wednesday and 7am—7pm on Thursday-Sunday. The shuttle leaves every 30 minutes and free parking is available a block away on Ocean View Blvd. Tickets are $20 for each day, or $60 for a seven-day pass. Tickets can be purchased at the Pacific Grove Chamber of Commerce at Central and Forest Avenues. For more information call 831-373-3304.
Shuttles from Carmel-by-the-Sea to the U.S. Open are $20 per day, or $80 for the week, and depart from Carmel Plaza on Ocean between Junipero and Mission every 15 minutes. The shuttle will run 8am—5:30pm Monday through Wednesday, 7am—7pm Thursday and Friday and 7am—5:30pm Saturday and Sunday. Free parking is available at Vista Lobos at 3rd and Junipero. Tickets can be purchased at the Carmel Visitor Center or at the shuttle bus stop. Visit the Carmel Chamber of Commerce website for more information.
All three cities, Monterey, Pacific Grove, and Carmel, have time-limited parking in the immediate vicinity of the shuttle locations. If you find that the local garages and parking lots are full (which is highly likely!), an alternative is to drive into the residential areas and find a place to park on the street. Be sure to park legally and not to block any driveways or other accesses.
It is not recommended that you drive into Pebble Beach without a confirmed parking place. And if you do not yet have tickets, Monterey Bay Property Management has some tickets that are complete with parking inside the Pebble Beach gates.
If you are very brave and don’t mind paying a premium to park, many Pebble Beach residents within walking distance of the golf course open their driveways to parking. The prices will be hefty, though, and you will need to arrive early in the day to secure one of these unofficial parking spaces.
In any case, welcome to the Monterey Peninsula and have a great time!
One of the most visited attractions on the Monterey Peninsula is the Monterey Bay Aquarium. It is a not-to-be-missed experience, but sometimes the crowds can interfere with the enjoyment of the experience. When do the locals take their out-of-town visitors to the Aquarium? On weekdays between 3:00 p.m. and closing time of 6:00 p.m. Late afternoon visitors enjoy the freedom to stroll freely from exhibit to exhibit without having to peer over the heads of others. So when you book your vacation with Monterey Bay Property Management, plan at least one afternoon of your trip to go to the Monterey Bay Aquarium (after 3:00 p.m.!)
It’s been three months since the Pacific Grove city council voted in favor to allow property owners to legally rent out rooms and homes to vacationers for less than 30 days, and one local realty company is taking advantage of the new market.
Monterey Bay Property Management is opening up a new office in Pacific Grove at 650 Lighthouse Avenue in May. The company will still keep their second location on Wave Street in Monterey. This move comes about a month before the U.S. Open, when thousands of people are expected to flock to the Central Coast to watch the game and rent out homes for the weekend.
The city council said allowing vacation rentals will generate an estimated $200,000 dollars a year for the city trying to keep their budget balanced.
Monterey Bay Property Management will hold their ribbon cutting and grand opening at their new location on Wednesday, May 26 at 5:00 p.m.
Complimentary refreshments will be provided by the Pacific Grove Chamber of Commerce.
“Article writen by Jasmine Viel “
Where to eat on Friday night after a long workweek? Yeah, even working in the Monterey Bay seems long sometimes! But we are not without dining choices, certainly. We decided on an unlikely spot – the Best Western Beach Resort Monterey hotel on Del Monte Beach. One would not suspect that this would be a place for anything but a tourist-trap type restaurant – not so! The menu is varied, including a couple of vegetarian choices, and the food was fresh and well-prepared.
Because of the large number of people on the Monterey Peninsula for the weekend, we elected to eat early to avoid the crowds. That also turned out to be a good move in that we were seated at a window table, where we enjoyed the spectacular view of the beach and the waves crashing to the shore of the Monterey Bay. While we waited for our entree to arrive, we watched an otter frolicking in the surf, also having his dinner.
The service was good, the food was good and affordable, and the view was wonderful. By the way, don’t be deterred by the gated parking area. Take a ticket and ask the waiter to validate it for you!
Monterey Bay Property Management is located in the heart of Cannery Row, made famous by John Steinbeck, one of America’s most revered literary figures. Seventeen of his works, including Cannery Row (1945), were made into Hollywood movies. You might want to rent the 1982 movie, “Cannery Row,” starring Nick Nolte and Debra Winger, to watch either before or after your visit to Monterey. Even if you have seen it before, it will be more meaningful to you after having visited our area.
The crew at Monterey Bay Property Management enjoys operating in the midst of this historical location. We also enjoy the atmosphere that is constantly electric, as visitors from all over the world trip by our office on their way to the Monterey Bay Aquarium, just around the corner at the north end of Cannery Row, and at the former site of the major Del Mar Cannery.
Our personal attachment to the area stems from our appreciation that we live and work here, and John Steinbeck’s personal attachment to the Monterey area and Cannery Row was likely no different, as he lived in adjacent Pacific Grove. Steinbeck wrote stories spiced with the vibrant tales of cannery workers and roughnecks he knew, and their rogue spirit and energy is still alive here. Cannery Row ignited Steinbeck’s imagination, and his affection for the colorful mix of people there influenced a number of stories and characters. “Cannery Row”, one of Steinbeck’s best and most widely read fictional works, immortalized Cannery Row as a one-of-a-kind neighborhood of fish packing plants, bordellos, and flophouses, and made it the most famous street in America. Cannery Row itself is now a tourist attraction with many restaurants and hotels, many of which are located in former cannery buildings, and a few historical attractions. A few privately owned and operated fishing companies still exist on Cannery Row, housed on piers located a short distance from the historic district frequented by tourists.
If you would like to spend some time in the Cannery Row area, ask an agent about availability at property 816A, a chic pied-a-terre for two in historic Cannery Row! It is the vacation rental of choice for many visitors who want to experience Cannery Row first-hand!
The Monterey Cookhouse, on North Fremont Boulevard in Monterey, is a hit with the crew at Monterey Bay Property Management. “Great food at reasonable prices, said Managing Broker, Jan Leasure, about the Monterey Cookhouse experience. The casual dining-type restaurant offers a varied menu and service customized to the diner’s dietary preferences. While the chef routinely prepares the grilled salmon on the rare side, he had no problem accommodating a diner who requested that it be well-done; the well-done salmon arrived moist and delicious. A vegan diner in the party who wanted a pizza was not only accommodated, but delighted with a wonderful vegan pizza creation that clearly demonstrated the chef’s creativity. The Monterey Cookhouse is a restaurant that should not be missed by those visiting the Monterey Peninsula!
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!
