Field Trip: Monterey, CA

This may be a bit of a non sequitur, but since we just got back from Monterey I thought I'd share a few of our favorite family friendly places.

Eat:

• The Wild Plum - our go to for delicious pasteries and tasty lattes.
• Lopez Restaurante - delicious margaritas for you, milk for the kids, fajitas all around, sounds good to me.
• Pepper's - "fancy" Mexican food, but in a very casual atmosphere. Their mole kicks butt!
• Paris Bakery - another great go-to place for pasteries, a quick sandwich or dessert. 
• Red House Cafe - their grilled cheese comes with aoili, I feel gluttonous just mentioning it. 
• Pastries & Petals  - this is a little bit of a drive down to Carmel, but it's worth it, yet another pastries and yummy breakfast place. 

See/Do:

• Point Pinos Lighthouse - head over to Pacific Grove to see a beautiful view of the ocean, plus you can tour the lighthouse!
• Monterey Bay Aquarium - why else are you in Monterey? 
• Dennis the Menace Playground - this place brings out the kid in everyone, a perfect (and free!) way to get out that last bit of energy before the end of the day. 
• MY Museum - a wonderful children's museum with the perfect amount of space and activities. 
• Marsha Beach - I don't know if this is an official beach, but it's a tiny little spot near Berwick Park and it's absolutely quiet, secluded and lovely. Monterey and Pacific Grove are full of these mini beaches, find one and make it your own!
• Bike ride along the coast - take the Monterey Peninsula Recreational Trail from one end of Monterey to the other, it's well worth it (but wear a jacket/pants for when you hit the sand dunes)
• Monarchs Pacific Grove - if you're in the area in October you can catch the wintering monarch butterflies.  
• Point Lobos - another gorgeous view of the ocean! We come in March to see the seal pups and do some marine mammal/bird watching.  
• Drive down highway 1 - another obvious one, but if you're looking for some spectacular views, you don't have to go too south far past Carmel to find them. 

PS
Most hotels offer deals for the Monterey Bay Aquarium, you just have to ask. The one we stay at offers two days for the price of one, which takes the pressure off trying to see everything in one day.