Our favorite things to do in Monterey/Carmel/Pacific Grove

Go to Point Lobos either to hike or to admire the view. Most trails are relatively short and not too tough, and the scenery's some of the best around. It's only a couple of miles south of Carmel, so very easy to get to. It's also very windy; even if the weather's nice, bring an extra layer. Last time we were there it was nine bucks to park in the parking lot (but you can also park along the highway for free if you don't mind the walk). Favorite beach within Point Lobos: China Cove.

Note: the ones provided by Heather are all about food, somehow. . . .

Go to the Aquarium (possibly followed by brunch at First Awakenings).

Morgan's Coffee & Tea (Monterey) for lazy afternoon coffee.

Long walk (or bike) along the bike path - it goes from Pacific Grove to Monterey, which is about four miles, so you can take it in snippets as well if you'd rather.

The Memory Garden (Monterey, off the Custom House Plaza).

Buffalo Prawns (an appetizer, but do not share) at Peter B's, the pub attached to the Portola Plaza hotel (downtown Monterey).

Glass-bottom boats on Monterey Bay.

Kayaking on Monterey Bay. Get one of the open-deck ones so you can paddle your feet in the water when you get tired of paddling your boat. Wildlife will probably approach: sea otters may try to snitch your lunch, and seals may sneeze at you.

Books 'n' Things (Monterey): our mutual favorite used book store in the area.

Bay Books: one of our favorite non-used but very, very local new book stores in the area (also with good coffee and nice tables to sit at).

The Bagel Bakery - the reason Heather was never quite impressed by New York bagels.

The Wharf (offering free samples of very, very good clam chowder).

Bonfires on the beach.

Window shopping in Carmel (meaning Carmel-by-the-Sea). Also running down the big sand dune at Carmel beach, at the bottom of Ocean Street, which Cameron thinks has the best sand in the area (Heather might not entirely agree).

Driving down to Big Sur, either just for the sake of the drive, hiking when you get there, or for lunch at Nepenthe. Or all of the above.

17-mile drive through Pebble Beach. Stare at the deer lunching on the golf courses.

Biking around anywhere at all. You can rent bikes at Adventures by the Sea.
Scenic drive if you have four hours to spare and lots of gas, or want a prettier way to get back to 101 at the end of your trip: Carmel Valley. Go out Carmel Valley Road, heading east. You'll end up on 101 somewhere around Gonzales & Greenfield. We don't recommend doing it round-trip; it's better on your way in or out of the area.

We don't actually golf ourselves (those of you who have seen Cameron golfing can stop snickering now), but you can join the deer at Pebble Beach, Poppy Hills, Spanish Bay, or any of the several dozen other golf courses in the area (they spread like pampas grass).

As you probably figured out, we love this area, so not everything we love doing fits here. If you're curious, give us a call and we'll try to come up with some more lesser-known things to do around Monterey (a cave with abalone shells in Pebble Beach, more restaurants, more places to bike to, etc.) and nearby environs.