Weekend Getaway to Monterey Bay

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Each room has a queen size bed and private bath. Also, the hosts provide a snack basket and bottled water in each room. The room we stayed in also included bathrobes. The hosts provide a nightly turn down service. A downside is that there is no airconditioning so on those rare days when it is warm in Monterey, it can get stuffy in the rooms, but this is very rare. They also help with reservations for activities and food for your visit.

They sell items with their logo on it and their cookbook with various recipes from breakfast and the afternoon teas. I bought one, and my husband has enjoyed the different experiments.

The House of Seven Gables was completed in the year 1886. It was one of a parade of large, showy Victorians being built along the oceanfront of the Monterey Peninsula. Whoever picked this particular site had an eye to the future. Today it stands with an unobstructed view of the Monterey Bay and the coastal mountains beyond.

Reservations are recommended many days in advance. Because of its popularity and location (right off of Cannery Row) people enjoy eating here.

I did not experience anything negative about the place. The food portions are excellent, the taste of the food was superb, and the waiters and waitresses were very professional.

Needless to say, the majority of the food is Shrimp, but they also serve other seafood as well as chicken and salads if you don't like shrimp. My favorite food is the bucket of boat trash: fried shrimp, fried mahi mahi, and fried lobster tails. Another favorite is Coconut Fried Shrimp. Salads are not included with your meal, but you can purchase one.

The waiters/waitresses will quiz you on your knowledge of the movie, and they will make sure you are definately satisfied. However, prepare for a wait. Usually you will have to wait an hour (especially on the weekends).

The restaurant overlooks the water so you might see a sea otter swim by or a seal. On good weather days, boats will be all over the water as well.

The food is freshly cooked and they only use the freshest of food. The salsa is a special blend they make each day in the restaurant. The bar does not serve hard alcohol, but if you like beer and wine, you will have a hard time deciding on the brand you want.

If you stay at any of the bed and breakfasts or motels in Pacific Grove it is a nice walk to the restaurant, if you stay anywhere else, there is parking available on the streets close to the restaurant.

Each dealer that sells within the mall specializes in different types of antiques. One dealer sells depression glass, another children's toys, another magazines, and even lionel trains. Also many antique books are available.

Instead of purchasing from each dealer separately, you can make one large purchase after you are through wandering the mall. It is quite large so be prepared to spend time looking.

Finally, if you get tired and want to rest or others do not care to shop anymore, there is a small tea room on the second floor in the rear of the building.

If you are an antique lover, I highly recommend spending time here.

Parts of the drive is through the trees, but you can see several multi-million dollar homes, but part of the drive is along the ocean. This is my favorite part of the whole drive.

It gets its name because the whole trip is 17 miles around in a circle. There are three entrances: Pacific Grove, Carmel, or off Hwy 1.

As the winding road approaches the coast, turbulent surf, twisted cypress trees and herds of sunbathing sea lions swing into view. Cypress Point, a promontory with spectacular views, is the best place to view harbor seals. In the spring, they come ashore to have their pups.

What else is there besides nature? How about golf courses: Pebble Beach, Spyglass, Cypress Point and the Links at Spanish Bay. On these golf courses you usually see herds of deer either laying down or eating. They are somewhat tame, but it is best to leave them alone for nature.

Don't forget to look for the Sea Otters in the water. They usually sleep in the Kelp floating off shore.