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Monterey Fun w/ 5 year old and a 1 year old...

We frequent Monterey a ton, we were married there and my husband is from the area... so here are our recommendations:

Monterey, CA is a VERY quiet and relaxing community-  if you are a "up early" and love to walk type of family-- this is for you!

For kids:

Best Beach:  Carmel City Beach.    Get there EARLY, parking is a BEAR!    Soft sand, large waves, (it's cold, so no one swims), and the best place for you to sit and watch the kids dig in the sand.   Although really, all the beaches are great, I love this one cause of the SAND and it's 3 blocks from the Coach outlet... SO- have hubby drop you off, you shop... then walk down and join them.

Best Eats:  Breakfast @ First Awakenings Pacific Grove (near aquarium).   Again, get there early- parking.   (note my theme.. everything is always "early" for us).      The pancakes are the size of a 12+ inch dinner plate- you have been warned.

Toddler fun:  My Museum- a  kids only museum..  what a great way to spend the day!

The Aquarium!   Duh...  for us, we do not frequent the amazing Aquarium.  Too expensive and honestly our kids have just as much fun at the park & beaches!

Dennis the Menace park:  FREE!  Probably one of the best parks ever.   Large, and careful... you can lose your children...  plan a strategy to keep them in site or they must meet you back at a certain spot every few minutes.    It is SAFE, but if you don't like losing sight of your kids- this can be super anxiety provoking!     Our big is now 6 and can manage it all on his own and knows to now leave the gates.



Dinners:   sadly, we don't do sit downs for dinner.  In-n-Out, McD's, etc...    Monterey is the land of good food, but nothing our kids need to eat (and we want to spend money on).     We did Benihanas the last time, expensive and I thought Japanese food in Fresno was better.

Family Time:  Point Lobos State Reserve.  Leave the stroller, grab that backpack you can put the toddler in and get ready for an amazing easy day hike!    The is a 3 mile all around loop that takes you to some of the most beautiful views on the bay...  you could easily spend all day there.  Careful, not many bathrooms along the hike, so talk to the ranger and maybe keep to the busier places that have the bathrooms.   If your kids are older, take a picnic and do the LOOP- I promise you will be in awe!  If you just want to hang out in the front area of Point Lobos, there are seals, great views and easy walking.   Just careful, there are some steep cliffs that can be anxiety provoking.   I suggest you look up Point Lobos first to decide if you want to attempt it.    (older kids... don't miss this place).




Our typical day w/the minions:

Up early and on the trail that is by the ocean (paved, if you have bikes- bring them).    We walk from the Naval Post Grad school (our hotel is on base) down to First Awakenings (3 miles).   The walk is amazing, runners and bikers are in abundance.    It's cold, bring layers.    
Breakfast..., then we walk back to the beach area by wharf for some playtime in the sand.   Then Dennis the Menace park..   back to the room for nap time :)     6+ miles round trip, so my Fitbit is very happy.   At night we put on movies in the hotel room and my husband and I open some beer :)

I hope you enjoy Monterey with the kids!!





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