This historic adobe establishment was constructed in 1847, and has been used over the years as a tavern, courthouse, and even a newspaper office. The 19th-century building, is today converted into a musem delineating tales of California's history as well as governance of the state. The interactive displays and exhibits also walk visitors through the exciting and rich history of the city of Monterey when it was the capital Alta California, a Spanish province.
This Monterey Peninsula state beach is a beautiful sandy beach with rocky inlets. It features a 1-mile (1.6-kilometer) long wooden boardwalk that cuts through the scenic dunes, and is popular with locals who love strolling along the coastal stretch. While visitors are encouraged to bask in the beauty of this picturesque beach at leisure, they are not allowed to collect or take home any natural souvenirs from the beach. As a protected site, no fishing is allowed in the area either. However, dogs are allowed on the beach as long as they are on a leash.
Among the most photographed and scenic routes in the United States, California State Route 1 has plenty of sites to see, including the formidable Bixby Creek Bridge. The reinforced concrete and open-spandrel bridge was constructed in 1932 to connect Big Sur residents with the outside world, as there was no proper road at the time. The bridge is one of the tallest single-span cement bridges in the world. The historic bridge has been featured on stamps, in automobile advertisements and on scenic California posters. Be sure to bring your camera when visiting this monolithic landmark.
Monterey Bay Aquarium is one of the best-designed aquariums in the country. A rather stand-out feature of this aquarium is the two-story tank, home to a kelp forest in which one can find sunfish, sharks, and the occasional diver tasked with squeegeeing the algae off the tank walls. Sand dabs are displayed in shelf-like tanks ideally suited to the flat fish, and a school of sardines swim in an endless circle in their cylindrical tank home. If you want to interact with some aquatic dwellers, you're invited to pet the bat rays. The jellyfish display is one of Monterey Bay Aquarium's star attractions.
This exquisite gallery is one of the premier ones in Carmel and it features an outstanding collection of fine art from artists around the globe. The proprietors bring you nearly 30 years of combined fine art experience, and they can help you with any possible aspect of fine art and/or collecting. The setting of the gallery itself is an intimate one with subdued lighting. Artists represented include Guido Borelli, Jack Braman, Guan Ze Ju, Maurice Harvey and Ernest Baber.
This space is housed in an old building that dates back to 1904 and usually has about ten major art openings per year. Art and ballet classes are offered throughout the year and there are eighteen different studios in the building, each one showcasing a different artist's work. The organization is committed to establishing a connection between the Pacific Grove community and the many upcoming artists from the surrounding area. Several other events take place here, from poetry readings to concerts and other exhibits.