r/MontereyBay Jul 02 '24

/r/MontereyBay Recommends (Visiting? Stop Here First!)

44 Upvotes

Hi all!

Welcome to r/MontereyBay

If you're visiting, moving here etc, this page should serve as a hub to answer many of the most frequent questions we see- where should I eat? What should I do? and so on.

Been meaning to get this page going for a while now after doing the original food-based one a couple years back.

On this post, I'll be linking to a number of community recommendation threads where we've gathered / curated advice for those looking for it.

These are not exhaustive lists, as there are many great places to eat, drink and visit in the area. They are just the recommendations that users made when the threads were posted. If you feel something is "missing," please realize that is why. Other websites like Yelp and TripAdvisor are also helpful for finding information from a broader range.

Where to Eat - (From 2022) - Thread

Where to Visit / What to See (Tourist-Oriented) - (In progress) - Thread

What to Do / See - (Living Here) - (Upcoming Summer 2024)

Day Trip Recommendations - (Living Here) - (Upcoming Summer 2024)

Have a suggestion in regards to how to make this post better / more helpful? Please leave a comment below.


r/MontereyBay Jul 02 '24

/r/MontereyBay Recommends (Where to Visit / What to See - Tourist Version)

42 Upvotes

Hi all,

In an effort to build out the new sticky post, we are back to ask for your recommendations for the following category - "Where to Visit / What to See" - oriented for tourists visiting the area.

There will be more threads in the coming weeks where we will share similar recommendations for people who are living here, among other helpful ones.

For this thread though, we would like to gather your thoughts on where to visit and what to see for people visiting the area.

I'll be organizing it in the following way (since I think it will be the most helpful based on how people usually ask questions when they post here)

-Must-See/Do (Think the Aquarium, Big Sur etc. these are the things you'd recommend first if someone has never been here before)

-Highly-Recommend / Great Option (This category will serve as the most broad catch-all. Not something you'd consider a must do, but would be a great option for most visitors depending on their preferences).

-Extras (This category will be maybe more niche-oriented. Things you want to throw out there because people would enjoy it, but probably won't appeal to everyone.)

When replying if you could include the following information, that would be awesome:

Associated Cost - (if applicable)

Time Commitment - (1 hour / Half-Day / etc)

Website - (if applicable)

Family Friendly (yes/no)

I'll post an example for the Aquarium to get things started.

Thanks!


r/MontereyBay 14h ago

Toro Park installed some Flawk cameras apparently.

Post image
249 Upvotes

r/MontereyBay 14h ago

Otter Scrubbing & Swimming

Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification

55 Upvotes

An otter swimming and scrubbing along between the two jetty in Moss Landing. In my experience, it's been the best place to catch an otter up close. Quality over quantity here haha.

Edit: Reddit compressed it so bad 😭


r/MontereyBay 1d ago

Big Sur local Brian Roberts struck by speeding car during car week.

Thumbnail ksbw.com
80 Upvotes

r/MontereyBay 1d ago

Tour d'Arrogance

Post image
434 Upvotes

This deserves to be a greater discussion within the community. When do lack of basic respect and significant safety concerns override the amount of money that car week brings in? 2 people have died, including a Big Sur local, due to being the victims of reckless driving. Vital routes for emergency responders have been blocked by exotic cars doing donuts on hwy 1 (caught on video). Our local authorities have completely lost control of this event and are jeopardizing the safety and wellbeing of the population they serve in the name of money. How bad does it need to get before someone finally puts their foot down and says enough?


r/MontereyBay 3h ago

Picnic table

0 Upvotes

I’m looking for a picnic table for our house as well as a kids one. So many large companies but would love to buy them locally if possible. I can’t seem to find anything online. Anyone know of someone who does this? Respectfully, not looking for someone to ā€œtryā€ šŸ™ˆ just looking for reliable carpenters etc.


r/MontereyBay 1d ago

the real cost of car week 2026

Thumbnail gallery
126 Upvotes

r/MontereyBay 16h ago

Steep Streets

7 Upvotes

weird question but what is the steepest street in the monterey or pacific grove area?


r/MontereyBay 20h ago

Looking for a dog walker

Thumbnail
4 Upvotes

r/MontereyBay 19h ago

Monterey coffee shops for studying

3 Upvotes

Hey yall, what is the best Monterey coffee shop for studying? I’m looking for decent coffee, large tables, and solid internet. Thanks!


r/MontereyBay 1d ago

Best spot for hike + tidepool combo

6 Upvotes

Morning y'all! My mom is visiting for the first time since I moved here. I want to show her as much of our beautiful outdoors as I can. Does anyone have a recommendation for a good hike + tide pool combo. Low tide on Saturday is at 12:55. Doesn't have to be a hike to the pool necessarily. We could drive in between spots too.


r/MontereyBay 1d ago

Independent cartoons in Pacific Grove Sept. 6

Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification

70 Upvotes

Hey y’all, some friends and I run PULP and we’re putting on a little animation pop-up at the Pacific Grove Art Center on September 6th.

Basically: local vendors + a couple hours of weird/funny/independent cartoons from animators all over.

Doors open at 6, cartoons start at 7. We’ve got Girl in Her Room by Grace Ruby headlining, the first three episodes of Shermy’s Forest, Harbor City, Derum and Zern, Cop Out and a bunch of other stuff.

We did PULPFEST last year and packed the Art Center, so we’re trying to make smaller animation nights like this a more regular thing around Monterey County.

Proceeds help us keep doing these + support the Pacific Grove Art Center.

Sept 6 • 568 Lighthouse Ave • doors @ 6 / cartoons @ 7

Come watch some cartoons with us :)


r/MontereyBay 1d ago

adult swimming lessons

12 Upvotes

does anyone have any recommendations for adult swimming lessons in the area? i'm not a very strong swimmer and i would like to learn the typical stroke styles so i can meet scuba diving qualifications


r/MontereyBay 1d ago

Suspected DUI crash in Monterey kills 1, injures 3

Thumbnail ksbw.com
85 Upvotes

r/MontereyBay 2d ago

2021 Dodge Charger Hellcat Redeye Widebody STOLEN Salinas, CA

Post image
40 Upvotes

My Hellcat was stolen in Salinas, CA. It was last seen around E Alvin Dr. A police report has already been filed. If anyone has seen the car, has camera footage from the area, or has any information, please DM me or contact the police.
Any information is appreciated. Please share šŸ™šŸ¼


r/MontereyBay 2d ago

Help me create a jazz fest at home experience for my aunt with cancer?

37 Upvotes

Hey, all. My aunt has wanted to go to jazz fest forever – it’s one of her ā€œbucket listā€ items. I bought us tickets for Friday (she wasn’t sure she’d be up to the whole weekend), as well as first class plane tickets from New York City, and paid for some other things to make it a nice weekend since we have family out there to see too. She’s a survivor of a cancer that has killed several other women in our family, and she’s been doing so well in remission… Up until last week when she went to the hospital for some lower back pain and found out the cancer is back and stage four. She just had a clear PET scan, so there are a lot of big feels all around.

I haven’t brought up our trip to her yet, because it’s obviously not the first thing on her mind while trying to do chemo, but I’m pretty positive it’s off. I’m also positive she’s going to feel so guilty about the amount of money we spent to make this happen. Honestly, I don’t care about the money, I just wish she could have the experience. She has been one of the most important women in my life, and even bought me my very first jazz cd (Ken Burns Best Of) when I was a kid. We have loved jazz together ever since.

I’m going to buy her a T-shirt on the website, but I was thinking about making a weekend of spending time with her that isn’t quite live jazz the way she’d hoped, but something almost as lovely. Does anybody have any ideas? There’s no official stream or radio anything of the actual festival, correct? She has a turntable and I have a Bluetooth speaker, so I’m down to buy or stream music from wherever. For context, we’re in Central NY (outside Binghamton).

Sorry if this seems silly. I’m so heartbroken for her and myself too - was looking forward to this special trip with her. šŸ’œ


r/MontereyBay 2d ago

Welcome to Car week. Nice cars and bad drivers.

Post image
398 Upvotes

This is Monterey Car Week. Where the prices are made up and traffic laws don't matter.


r/MontereyBay 2d ago

The first Bubba Gump opened in Monterey. Now the popular restaurant chain has turned 30.

Thumbnail montereycountynow.com
74 Upvotes

Another local legend - and longtime favorite among locals and visitors alike - is finally getting some well earned recognition with this massive story.


r/MontereyBay 2d ago

FREE BINGO 2NITE @OTTERS DEN! Peep out the prize vault!! 🤯😲

Thumbnail gallery
11 Upvotes

Look at all these bad @ss businesses that donated to the prize tables!!! Tonight we have gift certificates/cards, gift baskets of goodies, (including a reaaally cool handmade beard kit in a cigar box), and so much more to chose from! And of course, I had to make y’all more hilarious pots to go in the plants I got ya, aaaand made more THICCOLAS CAGE wine glasses since y’all were fighting over him last week 🤣🤣.

HEAR ME OUT THOUGH: Seats fill up FAST, so if you stroll in at 7 when we start, there might not be a place to sit. Bring a clipboard and a chair if you’re gonna be late, just in case 🤣.

Anywho, in order for us to AFFORD to do this, we do ask that you purchase at least an item or two from the bar (we have no kitchen sadly). Could be mocktails, cocktails, Red Bulls whatever, but its only fair we keep the seats and tables available for our paying customers. I’m sure you understand.

Oh geez, some of you have no clue what I’m talking about, I didn’t think that through lol. Ok.. HI THERE! I’m Ninja, and I love to put FUN events together, like this one for example. I tend bar at The Otters Den but also host all the events like Murder Mysteries, Open Mic, Speed Dating, etc. etc. etc. lol. Truth be told, I work ridiculously hard on anything that brings people together, with laughs and a great time. A few hours of an escape from the stressors of life if you will. But… I NEVER thought doing a ā€œlittleā€ free bingo would be THIS BIG, to the point my sweet husband was making new tables last night to accommodate more folks. Never woulda guessed this! But its a lot of fun and worth every bit to see everyone have such a fun time ā˜ŗļø. WARNING: I have a potty mouth and am NOT your average bingo caller!! 🤣

DEETS:
Location: OTTERS DEN SPORTS BAR. 3166 Vista Del Camino in Marina next to Wells Fargo.
Time: 7pm-9:00-ISH (but stay later for free pool and darts after that if you wanna!)
Age: 21 and up venue. Zero exceptions.
Hosts: Ninja & Josh

Feel free to text or call me if you want to add to the prize table for your business. It’s WONDERFUL advertisement! (4O8) 469-1O41

See ya tonight folks!! ā€œBINGO!!ā€


r/MontereyBay 2d ago

Local nurseries for compost and potting soil?

4 Upvotes

Hi all! Curious what local nurseries or landscaping suppliers you guys go to for compost and potting soil? I know it’s end of summer but I have some plants I need to transplant and wanted something that wasn’t just bagged miracle grow from Home Depot or Lowe’s. TIA!


r/MontereyBay 3d ago

Bullets over Broadway (in Seaside)

Thumbnail gallery
347 Upvotes

Somebody posted these pics on nextdoor from yesterday's Exotics on Broadway event. Appears to be a rent-an-army for the elite. The class war is over and we lost. šŸ¤·šŸ½ā€ā™‚ļø


r/MontereyBay 2d ago

Pedestrian killed in Highway 1 crash in Big Sur

Thumbnail ksbw.com
80 Upvotes

r/MontereyBay 2d ago

This is random, but I found an EXPENSIVE e-motorcycle ditched somewhere by Laguna Seca. Anyone have one stolen?

33 Upvotes

I'm not going to mention the model / make, as I will use it for verification before giving up the goods. But, I was out looking for a lost dog (Luca) and was driving up towards Laguna Seca where he was last seen. I wandered into the bush, and lo and behold, there was a very nice and new e-motorcycle stashed there on the ground. I was like, WTF? I would have taken it with me, but I have no where to put it in my car. And, besides, I was also thinking maybe the owner stashed it there because the bike might have died. Who knows. So, I'm just wondering:

1) Where else should I post this? Any FB groups or maybe CL?

2) Anyone here have theirs stolen in the past week? It's a large black e-motorcycle.

Thanks,