The residents of Monterey County are fortunate. One may attribute this to the bay and its scenery or to iconic locations such as Big Sur, the Pinnacles, Pebble Beach or WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca—and those attractions are part of the appeal. Yet those who live here also benefit from tourism. Much of the county is rural. The Salinas Valley is known as the “salad bowl of the world.” The slopes of the Santa Lucia Highlands support vineyards, while the rugged beauty of Big Sur is a haven for camping and hiking. It’s a county of small towns, really, with fewer than 450,000 residents. Each year, however, the county welcomes some 5 million visitors. Monterey County certainly has its attractions. It can boast of John Steinbeck, Ansel Adams and the annual Monterey Jazz Festival. But tourism brings more—the Michelin star and other quality restaurants, the wine tasting rooms, the amusements along Cannery Row, the spas and resorts, the golf courses, mountain biking trails and all the rest exists because people are drawn here. Visitors give residents of Monterey County a wealth of things to do. From the Monterey Bay Aquarium to the art studios of Carmel to the dozens of reggae bands that gather for the Cali Roots festival, there are options for everyone. Visitors and residents alike can learn, play and relax, all in one place. We hope this guide opens the possibilities of Monterey County. For current updates on local news and events, visit montereycountynow.com or pick up a copy of Monterey County Weekly. And go have some fun. -Dave Faries Lovers Point WELCOME CONTENTS 22 EVENTS CALENDAR | 32 AT PLAY | 46 GOLF | 52 SPA 54 DRINKS | 66 AREA MAP | 68 WINE | FOOD 76 BIG SUR • 78 CARMEL • 86 CARMEL VALLEY • 89 MARINA • 91 MONTEREY • 102 NORTH COUNTY • 103 PACIFIC GROVE • 106 PEBBLE BEACH • 109 SALINAS • 112 SEASIDE/ SAND CITY • 116 SOUTH COUNTY • 116 SANTA CRUZ | 118 ARTS & CULTURE Founder & CEO Bradley Zeve Publisher Erik Cushman Project Editor Dave Faries Editor Sara Rubin Associate Editor Erik Chalhoub Art Director/Production Manager Karen Loutzenheiser Contributing Writers and Copy Editors Celia Jiménez, Pam Marino, Agata Pope˛da, Katie Rodriguez, David Schmalz Digital Producer Sloan Campi Graphic Designers Alexis Estrada, Lani Headley, Kevin Jewell Advertising Keith Bruecker, Diane Glim, George Kassal Business Development Director Keely Richter Photographers Daniel Dreifuss (except where noted) Cover Photo Waves crashing at Point Pinos in Pacific Grove. Photo by Charles Briscoe-Knight. The information in this guide was compiled in spring 2025. Changes may have occurred since publication. The Best of Monterey Bay® is published by Milestone Communications, Inc., a California corporation. The entire contents are copyright 2025. No portion may be reproduced. 831394-5656. www.montereycountynow.com. 20 THE BEST OF MONTEREY BAY ® 2025-2026 Subscribeto the newsletter: montereycountynow.com/subscribe Go to montereycountynow.com Discover Monterey County Now NEWS • ARTS ENTERTAINMENT FOOD • DRINK CALENDAR Fresh Local News Served Daily MCNOW_1-3v_VG25_kpr.indd 1 6/12/25 3:36 PM
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