Visit Pacific Grove – Home of the Monarch Butterfly. Pacific Grove, California has a classic Main Street, USA feel, with one of the oldest continually operating lighthouses in the country and a classic 1932 golf course partially designed by Jack Neville and many old-fashioned charms. Pacific Grove also has a thoroughly modern focus on green elements like nature and sustainability. Its beaches, located right on the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, Asilomar State Beach and Lovers Point Beach are perfect spots for kayaking or surfing — and some of the fish you see on the Bay may turn up in your sustainable seafood dinner that night. If you’re fortunate enough to be in Pacific Grove during the fall or winter, you can catch the annual migration of tens of thousands of Monarch butterflies who take up residence in the pines and eucalyptus trees of the Monarch Grove Butterfly Sanctuary, so start planning a Pacific Grove – Home of the Monarch Butterfly vacation today!
Pacific Grove Weather – When to Visit
The best time to visit Pacific Grove CA is between April and May. Spring offers warmer temperatures, fewer crowds and food festivals dishing out delectable eats, including Pebble Beach Food & Wine and the Artichoke Festival in Castroville. Summer is the most popular time to visit the Monterey Peninsula, but it can still be chilly, so bring a sweater regardless of the season. Fall is another good time to visit, but the likelihood of rain increases starting in October. Pacific Grove’s central California location subjects it to mild temperatures during the winter, with the average low reaching 48 degrees. Winter also brings lower hotel prices and the celebrity-heavy AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am event held in February, making Pacific Grove an attractive destination year-round.
Best Pacific Grove Area Beaches
Asilomar State Beach
Asilomar State Beach is a popular spot for nature walks, surfing, kayaking, kite flying, and romantic sunset strolls along the shore. Asilomar State Beach may only be a mile long, but it packs more beautiful views and natural diversity into that mile than most beaches have in ten or more. Asilomar State Beach is an accessible beach, and features beach wheelchairs to allow those with limited mobility to enjoy the coastal experience. It is also dog-friendly; dogs must remain leashed at all times.
Lovers Point Beach
For over 100 years, Lovers Point Beach has been Pacific Grove’s most popular spot for shoreline recreation. Surfers love its reliable waves, while kayakers find it a perfect launching spot from which to get out on Monterey Bay and view the coastline and native wildlife. Scuba divers frequent the kelp forests here to get a close-up view of its marine denizens. Landlubbers can compete on the beach volleyball court. Lovers Point Beach is also the starting point for the infamous “Kelp Crawl” portion of the Triathlon at Pacific Grove.
Pebble Beach
The coastal beauty in and around Pebble Beach is legendary. From the legendary Lone Cypress, one of the most photographed trees in North America, to the famed eighteenth green of Pebble Beach Golf Links, a trip along 17-Mile Drive will leave you spellbound. And once the storybook tour is complete, an unforgettable dining experience awaits at one of the many area restaurants.
Perkins Park Beachfront
Perkins Park in Pacific Grove, California is the beachfront park along Ocean View Boulevard between Lover’s Point Park and Esplanade Park. Head here at low tide and explore the wealth of tide pools available along the beachfront here. The park is nearly a mile long and most of the bluff is covered in ice plant which blooms bright pink and purple during certain parts of the year. Locals call this the “magic carpet.”
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Point Pinos Beaches
Known for the Point Pinos Lighthouse that overlooks the beachfront, Point Pinos offers several small sandy coves right at the point and nearby in both directions. At lower tides and during calm seas, there are a ton of tide pools to explore. The rocks all along the point invite exploration, but be careful and watch out for rising tides and large waves. This beach is known for much higher than average waves.
Best Pacific Grove Restaurants
Passionfish Restaurant $31 – 60
They believe there is an art to food, and an art to life, and that behind both is passion. They use vivid flavors of fresh, local ingredients. They select daily from small farms and farmers market’s, and from sustainable farms and fisheries. Their wine list draws from interesting and sustainably produced wines from around the world. Their seafood, meats and produce are sustainably harvested, and we are the first local restaurant to be designated a green business. Telephone: 831-655-3311 Web: Passionfish Restaurant.
La Mia Cucina $11 – 30
This little jewel, with its fresh ambiance and tantalizing menu, is popular with everyone. Owner Michael’s specialty, his ravioli dishes, are a renowned local favorite, and for good reason. They are hand made, with all the care that only a lifetime of creative food combining can bring. In addition to pasta, La Mia Cucina is known for it’s fresh fish and meat specials. Telephone: 831-373-2416 Web: La Mia Cucina.
Jeninni Kitchen & Wine Bar $11 – 30
A coastal and southern Mediterranean cuisine. Their menu consist of many small plates and changes almost daily with focus on local and organic ingredients. Their diverse wine list designed by owner sommelier offers high quality wines from their local Monterey County appellation and from around the world. The shims + session cocktail program is very well recognized as solid very innovative. Telephone: 831-920-2662 Web: Jeninni Kitchen & Wine Bar
Fandango Restaurant $31 – 60
Fandango, serving Monterey and Carmel, has become a favorite restaurant for locals and visitors alike. They specialize in creating a unique and enjoyable fine dining experience, presenting a lunch, dinner and Sunday Brunch menu that features Mediterranean and European style cuisine. They offer inventive dishes inspired from ingredients around the globe including fresh seafood and hearty pastas, mouth-watering steaks and our signature rack of lamb. Telephone: 831-372-3456 Web: Fandango Restaurant.
Beach House Restaurant & Bar $11 – 30
The Beach House welcomes you to one of the world’s most romantic dining destinations. Stunning panoramic views, casual California cuisine in a relaxed setting featuring a full bar, heated outdoor patio and plenty of window tables. Their casual California cuisine is fresh and flavorful, innovative yet, affordable. Telephone: 831-375-2345 Web: Beach House Restaurant & Bar.
Best Pacific Grove Bars
Jeninni Wine Bar
Redefining the modern wine bar experience, jeninni kitchen + wine bar offers a contemporary take on the sultry cuisines of the Mediterranean coast – alongside unique, quality wines and innovative cocktails. Telephone: 831-920-2662 Web: Jeninni Kitchen & Wine Bar.
Beach House at Lover’s Point
The Beach House welcomes you to one of the world’s most romantic dining destinations. Stunning panoramic views, casual California cuisine in a relaxed setting featuring a full bar, heated outdoor patio and plenty of window tables. Their casual California cuisine is fresh and flavorful, innovative yet, affordable. Telephone: 831-375-2345 Web: Beach House Restaurant & Bar.
Bulldog British Pub
The very best food, drink and fun from across the pond. With 7 big screen televisions and beer specials, The Bulldog is the place to watch the fights or the big game while taking in a pint. There are plenty of places to sit and relax, so grab some friends and head on over! Telephone: 831-658-0686 Web: Bulldog Pub.
Bull & Bear Whiskey Bar & Taphouse
The Bull and Bear boasts indoor and outdoor bars, a back patio for live music and a fire pit, this is a fun place to grab a drink and unwind, or to come out and dance. Located on Alvarado Street, as many of these bars are, the Bull and Bear is a real gem in the heart of Downtown Monterey. Telephone: (831) 655-3031 Web: Bull & Bear Whiskey Bar & Taphouse.
Crown & Anchor Pub
A downtown British pub, Crown & Anchor neighbors the Bull and Bear and Britannia Arms on nearby Franklin Street. With walls covered in nautical themed memorabilia, the Crown offers an underground central bar, surrounded by barstools and booths, with additional outdoor seating. Grab a bite to eat, or a delicious drink. Telephone: (831) 649-6496 Web: Crown & Anchor Pub.
Best Pacific Grove Ca Hotels
I didn’t realize Pacific Grove had so many different beach spots packed into one area. Lovers Point and Asilomar both sound like they’d be great for kayaking and just hanging out by the water. I’m always trying to avoid heavy crowds when visiting coastal towns, so timing matters a lot. The mention of cooler summer temps surprised me since California beaches usually sound warm. Would spring really be the quieter season there?
Spring is often considered one of the best times to visit Pacific Grove because the weather is mild, hotel rates can be more reasonable, and the Monterey Peninsula tends to see fewer peak-season tourists compared to summer. Coastal fog can keep temperatures cooler year-round, so layering clothing helps even during warmer months. Visitors also enjoy seasonal festivals, scenic beach walks at Asilomar State Beach, and kayaking around Lovers Point without the busiest summer crowds. That balance of comfortable weather, wildlife viewing, and coastal activities makes spring a popular planning window for Pacific Grove travel.
Pacific Grove sounds like an interesting mix of coastal scenery and wildlife, especially with the Monarch butterfly migration. I’ve been curious about the Monterey Bay area but never made it down there yet. The tide pools and lighthouse caught my attention since those are usually great for photos and relaxing walks. I also like places that focus on sustainability and local seafood. Do the butterflies usually stick around all winter or is there a specific month that’s best to see them?
Pacific Grove is actually known for its Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary, and the peak viewing season usually runs from late fall through winter when the butterflies cluster in the eucalyptus and pine trees. Many travelers plan visits between October and February because that’s when migration activity is strongest along California’s central coast. The Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary also adds incredible marine life viewing, scenic beaches, and eco-friendly dining options, which makes Pacific Grove a solid year-round coastal travel destination. The combination of wildlife, historic lighthouse views, and sustainable seafood experiences keeps it popular with visitors looking for authentic California coastal charm.