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First Tee Open Returns to the Monterey Peninsula

The First Tee open returns to the Monterey Peninsula over Labor Day weekend, featuring the nation’s outstanding junior golfers and amateurs competing side-by-side with the PGA Champions Tour players. From a spectator’s point of view, it is one of the most entertaining of all golf events to observe. The skill of the senior players combined with the youthful enthusiasm of the juniors makes for a heart-warming formula, as one generation gently guides another. This enjoyable event will be played at Pebble Beach Golf Links and Del Monte Golf Course September 3rd to 5th. The First Tee is an organization dedicated to impacting the lives of young people by providing learning facilities and educational programs that promote character development and life-enhancing values through the game of golf. Monterey Bay Property Management has vacation rental housing available for First Tee Open participants, their families, and spectators.

What The Locals Know–Be Careful of Rogue Waves!

We have one of the most gorgeous coastlines in the world.  Our Monterey Bay is home to spectacular sea life and unsurpassed beauty.  However, our rugged coastline can be dangerous to those unfamiliar with the power of the Pacific Ocean, so here are a few tips to keep our visitors safe from rogue waves.

Several people have climbed out onto the rocks of Lover’s Point and have been swept off those rocks by rogue waves.  The same can be said for visitors who get too close to the the waterline at Monastery Beach, nicknamed Mortuary Beach due to its dangerous riptides.

To keep yourself safe and away from harm, follow these general guidelines:

1.  Never turn your back to the ocean.

2.  Make sure you watch the wave patterns before venturing into the water.  If the water is calm and there is plenty of flat beach, chances are you can wade in the water without any issues.  If, however, the water is rough and/or you see big waves crash ashore, that’s Mother Nature’s signal to stay clear, because she’s far more powerful than you.  Also, if no one else is in the water nearby, there’s probably a good reason why.

3.  If you are at Monastery Beach, in particular, stay several yards away from the wave break portion of the beach.  Most visitors are unaware that they are at the foot of an enormous underwater canyon and when waves crash onshore, there is a steep precipice that can literally sweep you off your feet and out into the deep water.  DO NOT go for a swim or get close to shore at Monastery Beach…and if you’re a scuba diver, exercise EXTREME caution.

4.  If you are swept out in a riptide, swim along parallel to shore until you feel the current subside, and then swim into shore.  Riptides are swift currents running perpendicular away from shore, and if you try to swim into the riptide going back toward shore, you’ll get tired very quickly.  So, if you’re swept out, remain calm, swim along side the shore until you feel you are safely out of the rip current, then swim back toward shore.  If you get tired, float and rest until you can start swimming again.

5.  If you are at the beach and see someone get swept out to sea, dial 911 and alert the rescue teams of your exact location.  The Fire Department, Coast Guard, and Parks Service are all trained in water rescue, so act quickly if you see a distressed swimmer.

Water safety is a life skill, and we hope you find these tips useful.  These guidelines are not intended to scare you away from enjoying the water.  Instead, these guidelines are meant to help keep you safe when visiting our beautiful and powerful Pacific Ocean.

What The Locals Know–Concours d’Elegance

Many who love to celebrate the automobile equally love to attend the Concours d’Elegance in Pebble Beach every year in August.

This year’s event will be held on August 15, 2010. “First conducted in 1950, the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance is often said to be the world’s premier celebration of the automobile. Only the most beautiful and rare automobiles are invited to appear on the famed eighteenth fairway of Pebble Beach Golf Links each year, and connoisseurs of art and technology congregate to see them.’

‘The annual affair, which has raised over $12 million for charity, includes a series of related events, such as the Pebble Beach Tour d’Elegance presented by Rolex, Pebble Beach RetroAuto, Pebble Beach Motoring Classic and the Pebble Beach Auction presented by Gooding & Company.” What makes a Concours car? “A concours d’elegance is, quite literally, an automotive contest of elegance.’

‘To contend in the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, an automobile must be a well preserved or accurately restored vehicle still quite capable of doing what it was meant to do—be driven. It will almost certainly have some historic value—perhaps in its day it served to debut new technology or new styling trends or it has an amazing racing record. And it will be rare—possibly a singular example of a special chassis bearing a respected coachbuilder’s art.’

‘After these criteria have been met, a concours car must be one thing more. Above all, it must be elegant. And elegance is a matter of the eye and the heart.”

Here are some famous quotes regarding the Concours d’Elegance:

“There is no such thing as a score sheet for elegance. It’s largely a matter of taste, recognition of design advantages, and knowledge of the performance and quality of the total architectural concept.”– Strother MacMinn, Renowned Automotive Designer and Former Chief Honorary Judge at Pebble Beach

“From a strictly personal point of view, my definition of an elegant car would be ‘the kind of car I would like to be buried in.’” – Ansel Adams, Photographer and former Honorary Judge at Pebble Beach

We locals love hosting the Concours d’Elegance, and we are delighted to share this event with our visitors.  Welcome!

What The Locals Know–Shopping Tips

Shopping can be terrific fun, year-round, and we are lucky to have some amazing shopping areas in the Monterey Peninsula.

For people who like the Mall experience with nation-wide retail stores, visit Del Monte Center in Monterey, Carmel Plaza in Carmel, and Northridge Mall in Salinas.

For outdoor shopping centers with large parking lots and big box stores, visit Sand City, The Dunes Shopping Center in Marina, and Harden Ranch Plaza in Salinas.

For downtown Main Street shops and boutiques, visit Oldtown Salinas on Main Street, Alvarado Street in Monterey, Lighthouse Avenues in Monterey and Pacific Grove, and Ocean Avenue in Carmel.

For tourists who are looking for souvenirs, visit Cannery Row in Monterey and The Pebble Beach Company in Pebble Beach.

What The Locals Know–Favorite Restaurants

We are so fortunate to live near a large agricultural region that is an epicenter for fine, quality foods. Ask any food broker in Salinas and they’ll tell you that many restaurants serve high-quality greens that were picked in less than 24 hours before reaching your plate, served up to you in your favorite restaurant. This is why gourmet food is king here on the Monterey Peninsula.

There are so many wonderful restaurants and it’s hard to name them all, but here are some of the local favorites:

Fishwife in Seaside and Pacific Grove (Mexican/Seafood)
Fresh Cream in Carmel (French/Californian)
Dametra in Carmel (Mediterranean/Italian)
Henry’s BBQ in Monterey (Barbecue)
Hula’s in Monterey (Hawaiian fusion)
Amir’s Kabob House in Monterey (Afghan)
Tilly Gort’s in Pacific Grove (Vegetarian)
Marinus in Bernardus Lodge in Carmel Valley (Californian/French)

What The Locals Know–Weddings and Resources

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!