The neighborhood

     Kirstie’s home is located in Pacific Grove, California. It’s 11 miles from Monterey Regional Airport, 36 miles from Watsonville Municipal Airport, 80 miles from San Jose Airport and 107 miles from San Francisco Airport.
     We call Pacific Grove "Iowa with a Beach". The City's two mottos are: "Butterfly Town USA" and "The Last Hometown". It is a really friendly small town with everything you need within 1 mile of the house. We have a lovely farmers market, natural history museum, movie theater, shops, restaurants, wildlife and butterflies!
     In May 2015, Trip Advisor chose Pacific Grove as one of the top 12 Scenic Destinations in all of the United States. You'll love it here!
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Getting around:
     The Monterey Salinas Transit bus stop is one block away. In the summer, the MST trolley operates out of the same stop, and is free.

Things To Do

Restaurants we like in Pacific Grove:

• Hula’s (our favorite local’s hangout) 622 Lighthouse, New Monterey, (831) 655-4852 
• Julia's Vegetarian Restaurant (family style, VERY inexpensive, vegan and gluten-free offerings) 1180 Forest Ave. (831) 656-9533
• The Bench (in Pebble Beach, on the 18th Green 1700 17-Mile Drive) moderate (831) 298-5906 
• Red House Café (breakfast and lunch) 662 Lighthouse (831) 643 1060
• Max’s Grill (moderate) 209 Forest Ave. (831) 375 7997
• Fifi’s Bistro (moderate) French, Continental 1188 Forest Ave., (831) 372 5325
• Fandango (expensive) Basque, Continental 223 17th  Street (831) 372 3456
• Peppers MexiCali Cafe 170 Forest Ave. (831) 373-6892
• Little Chicken House (Drive-thru BBQ) 1193 Forest Ave. 655 1704
• Taste Café (continental lunch and dinner) 1199 Forest (831) 655 0324
• Tillie Gorts (vegetarian) 111 Central Ave. (831) 373 0335
• Lighthouse Coffee Company, 510 Lighthouse (831) 920-1663
• Patisserie Bechler (fabulous French pastry) 1225 Forest (831) 375 0846
• Pavel’s Backerei (pastries) 219 Forest Ave. (831) 643 2636
• Goodies (sandwiches) 518 Lighthouse Ave (831) 655-3663
• Peppers MexiCali Cafe 170 Forest Ave. (831) 373-6892
• Vivolo's Chowder House 127 Central Ave (831) 372-5414
• Butcher: Grove Market at 242 Forest Avenue, across from Pavelʼ s Backerei (831) 375-9581
  
• International Café (inexpensive for eat-in or take-out lunch, dinner) 620 Lighthouse Ave (831) 646 0447
• Ambrosia Indian Bistro 565 Abrego St. Monterey (moderate) (831) 641-0610

Golf

• Pacific Grove Municipal Golf Course (ocean-front course, great value) 77 Asilomar Ave. (831) 648 5777
• Spanish Bay Resort 2700 17-Mile Drive, Pebble Beach (831) 647 7496

Tennis, Gym, Swimming

• Pacific Grove municipal tennis courts, 515 Junipero Ave. (831) 648 5729
• Spanish Bay Resort 2700 17-Mile Drive, Pebble Beach (831) 648 7868.  We are a member of the Spanish Bay Club and can extend privileges to guests @$25 per person per day. Maximum 4 guests per day. Please advise in advance so we can give your name to the club desk. 8 tennis courts (two lighted), heated pool, hot tub, sauna, steam, massage, yoga, exercise machines, etc., are available.
• Monterey Sports Center, 301 E. Franklin St. Monterey, CA 93940. (831) 646-3730.  The cost for your family for a month is less than Spanish Bay Club will cost for a day.   http://monterey.org/msc/en-us/General-Information     It has a huge gym, babysitting, two big heated pools with a slide and all kinds of exercise classes. You can use my address: 1500 Sunset Drive, Pacific Grove 93950 to buy a membership.

Bike, Kayak rental

• Adventures by the Sea 299 Cannery Row, Monterey (831) 372 1807. (They have a vendor at Lovers’ Point in Pacific Grove during the summer.)
• Spanish Bay Resort, 2700 Seventeen Mile Drive, Pebble Beach. (831) 648-7868. Rates: $25 for four hours, $35 for the day.

Museum, Aquarium, Library

• Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History, Forest Ave @ Central Ave., (831) 648 5716
  
• Monterey Bay Aquarium, 866 Cannery Row, Monterey (831) 648 4888
• Pacific Grove Library 550 Central Ave., (831) 648 5760

Farmer’s Market

• The Pacific Grove Farmer’s Market runs Monday afternoons from 3 pm to 7 pm at Central and Grand, near the museum, library and park. It's a lovely place to buy dinner from one of the hot-food vendors and enjoy a picnic in the park. 
  

Butterflies

• Where to see the butterflies of “Butterfly Town, USA”?
• During their over-wintering season from mid-October through mid-February, clusters of monarch butterflies can be viewed at the Monarch Grove Sanctuary at 1073 Lighthouse Avenue. Open from sunrise to sundown and is free for all visitors. The best time to see the monarchs is noon to 3:00 p.m. when the sun is shining brightest on their trees and when a docent is always on duty.

Surfing

• Lots of surfers like Sunset Beach (also called Spanish Bay Beach and Moss Beach) which is south of us, just before Sunset Drive curves inland at the Fishwife Restaurant. BE AWARE THERE CAN BE A STRONG RIPTIDE AT THIS BEACH.
• It is not advisable to try to surf in front of our house because of the massive granite shelf out there. I have seen surfers go out, and return with only half a board.

Beachcombing

• There are lots of sea creatures in the rocks in front of our house. Some say Doc Ricketts (made famous in the John Steinbeck books) earned a good profit collecting baby octopi from the rocks and selling them to labs in the East.
• However, if Doc tried that today, he could get arrested! The creatures are now protected as part of the Marine Sanctuary, so enjoy them but don’t take them.
• The island we lovingly refer to as “Stinky Island” (not because it stinks… but because our son decided the bird guano on top of it must be smelly) is accessible at low tide. We do not recommend going out there because it is craggy and slippery. We especially do not recommend going out there and staying until the tide comes in, because then the “bridge” to the island will be under water. We’ve seen rescues of embarrassed people who went out there but couldn’t get back.
• Don’t ever turn your back on the waves! A rogue wave can come at any time. Be sure all your kids, and any non-swimmers, are supervised when visiting the beach.

Exploring the Dunes

• The Asilomar Dunes area where we live is home to many rare and endangered plants, and the black legless lizard. Please review the brochure on the top of the White Book at our home to familiarize yourself with the habitat, and always stay on the paths when you explore the dunes. 

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