This guide focuses on the town of Pacific Grove only and you can plan your weekend getaway in a jiffy using the resources below.
Will You Like It?
- Take a look at our Pacific Grove Pictures.
- Pacific Grove is not as well known as its neighboring communities, and you might especially enjoy it if you've already visited the other Monterey Peninsula towns and are looking for something different.
- You may also like Pacific Grove if you prefer a quieter ambiance.
If you want to visit the other towns on the Monterey Peninsula, read our guides to a weekend getaway in Monterey or Carmel-by-the-Sea.
Best Time to Go
Pacific Grove weather is best in spring and fall, when the skies are clearer and crowds thinner. In summer (especially June), you're more likely to encounter fog and cloudy days when the ocean marine layer never clears.Getting There
Driving? Pacific Grove is on the western tip of the Monterey Peninsula. It's west of Salinas and 75 miles from San Jose, 115 miles from San Francisco, 190 miles from Sacramento and 325 miles from Los Angeles.From San Francisco and the north, you can take Highway 1 all the way down to Monterey, or take US 101 and turn west at Highway 156 and south on Highway 1. Coming from the south, you can take Highway 1 up from Morro Bay and Hearst Castle or from US 101, exit at Salinas, following the signs toward Monterey. From Highway 1, take Highway 68.
Flying? Nearby Monterey has a small airport that receives some commercial flights (MRY), but the nearest big airport is in San Jose (SJC).
Where to Stay
Check our recommended lodging. You'll find some nice small hotels and excellent bed and breakfast inns.If you're on a tight budget, learn how to find a good place to stay, cheap.
4 Great Things to Do
- 17-Mile Drive: This scenic drive through a private community offers pretty views and a chance to see the fabled golf links.
- Point Pinos Lighthouse: The the oldest continuously operating lighthouse on the West Coast (since 1855).
- Asilomar State Beach: One of the area's prettiest beaches, with gently sloping sand, breaking waves and nice tidepools.
- Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary: Wintering in the trees in Pacific Grove, Monarch butterflies wake up in the morning and take flight like bunches of orange leaves fluttering around you.
Best Brunch
A weekend getaway is a great time to enjoy a leisurely brunch. Locals head for the Victorian Corner (541 Lighthouse Ave) for hearty breakfasts served in a lovely dining room, especially nice on a warm day when they can open the windows.Don't Miss
We think the drive along Ocean View Blvd. from the Monterey Bay Aquarium to Asilomar State Beach is just as pretty as the 17-Mile Drive, and it doesn't cost a penny to take it. Bring a picnic, bring your camera or just bring a good book and read it while sitting and listening to the surf.Annual Events You Should Know About
- Feast of Lanterns, July
- Butterfly season runs from October through early March, when the colorful orange-and-black monarch butterflies stop for the winter. The town holds numerous events to celebrate their tiny visitors
