Nestled between the Monterey Bay, the Pacific Ocean, the city of Monterey, and Del Monte Forest, the scenic town of Pacific Grove is distinguished by the gentle fogs that creep in on cats’ feet and fireplaces that burn yearround in cottages, restaurants, and businesses, making “PG,” as locals call it, a warm, romantic, and inviting destination.
Founded originally as a Methodist Retreat in the 1870s, Pacific Grove is the world-famous winter home to Monarch butterflies (this city has called itself “Butterfly Town U.S.A.” for nearly seven decades). Every spring, brilliant flashes of orange cover the trees of Pacific Grove, indicating that the butterflies have traveled as far as 2,000 miles to this place where they are fiercely protected by citizens and docents alike.
A great way to see Pacific Grove is with a walking tour with Picture Postcard Tours through the chamber of commerce. These tours cover downtown and feature some of the little-known places, including the 11th Street cottage where John Steinbeck lived off and on from 1930 to 1936, and where he wrote Pastures of Heaven and Of Mice and Men.
Pacific Grove also has a world-class 18-hole golf course, ranked by Zagat Survey as one of America’s best golf courses. Pacific Grove Golf Links, known as “PG Muni,” overlooks the Monterey Bay and shares its space with the oldest continuously operating lighthouse on the West Coast. Built in 1855, Point Pinos Lighthouse’s beacon still guides sea going vessels along the rocky coast.
Enjoy a leisurely drive or bike along the paved coastal trail from nearby Lover’s Point to Asilomar State Beach and explore the tide pools or the Julia Morgan-designed buildings across the street at Asilomar Conference Grounds.
The Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History is a mustsee for visitors; its permanent exhibits showcase native plants, animals, geology, and aboriginal populations of Monterey County.
The nonprofit Pacific Grove Art Center houses four galleries, two classrooms, and 17 artist studios and always has something worthwhile to offer art aficionados in its 10,000 square feet of space. If you’re interested in exploring the art scene, there’s no better place to start. Don’t miss the Pacific Grove Art Walk.
For shopping and dining, Lighthouse Avenue offers many exciting and special experiences. Owned and operated by Chef Ted Walter and his wife Cindy Walter, who helped launch the sustainable seafood movement in Monterey County, Passionfish restaurant is one of the best California dining experiences. Peppers MexiCali Café, off Lighthouse Avenue, is a great place for family dining. Lighthouse Avenue buzzes with bistros, boutiques, and galleries — and most of them are locally owned.
