Pacific Grove, CA

Travel Guide
Pacific Grove which includes rocky coastline
Soak up the old-style charm of this small seaside city, which is famed for the monarch butterflies that stop here on their great migrations.

Visiting Pacific Grove is like taking a delightful step back in time. Once a summer retreat for church groups, today it still emanates a sense of tranquility. Victorian houses dot the 2.5-square-mile (6.5-square-kilometer) city, deer wander through the streets and, in fall, the skies fill with thousands of monarch butterflies. Amble along the pretty streets, walk along the seafront boulevard and search for wildlife in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.

Pacific Grove is best enjoyed on foot, so put on your most comfortable footwear and stroll in the sunshine. Walk along the 3-mile-long (5-kilometer) Ocean View Boulevard, a cliff-top promenade where you can spot plants and dozens of species of birds. Sit on one of the benches and enjoy the views of Monterey Bay. Spend some time in the pretty little Marine Gardens Park.

Walk to the end of the boulevard, marked by the Point Pinos Lighthouse. Famed as one of the oldest continually operating lighthouses in the country, it has guided ships to safety with its 50,000-candlepower beacon since the mid-1800s. Visit the interesting little museum inside the lighthouse.

Pacific Grove is perched on the edge of Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, a haven for wildlife and nature. Venture to Lovers Point to glimpse sea otters diving for abalone. Go rock-pooling to spot crabs, starfish and limpets.

In autumn, the skies above Pacific Grove fill with tens of thousands of orange-and-black monarch butterflies as they pass through on one of the world’s most astounding migrations. See them hanging in great bunches from eucalyptus trees in Monarch Grove Sanctuary and George Washington Park. To learn more about the region’s nature, visit the Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History.

Pacific Grove is 42 miles (67 kilometers) south of Santa Cruz and 113 miles (181 kilometers) south of San Francisco. Navigate this tiny city easily on foot or by bicycle.

Lighthouse Lodge And Cottages
Lighthouse Lodge And Cottages
3 out of 5
1150 Lighthouse Ave, Pacific Grove, CA
Fully refundableReserve now, pay when you stay
The price is ¥16,791 per night from Mar 31 to Apr 1
¥16,791
per night
Mar 31 - Apr 1
Stay at this hotel in Pacific Grove. Enjoy free breakfast, free parking, and a 24-hour front desk. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms in ...
7.8/10 Good! (1,141 reviews)
"I love the privacy of the location and that it’s still right down the street from downtown"

Reviewed on Mar 25, 2024

Lighthouse Lodge And Cottages
Asilomar Conference Grounds
Asilomar Conference Grounds
2 out of 5
800 Asilomar Blvd, Pacific Grove, CA
Fully refundableReserve now, pay when you stay
The price is ¥17,501 per night from Mar 31 to Apr 1
¥17,501
per night
Mar 31 - Apr 1
Stay at this beach hotel in Pacific Grove. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and a beach locale. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms in our ...
7.6/10 Good! (1,009 reviews)
"Staying at Asilomar is like staying in a park. The grounds are beautiful. It is very relaxing."

Reviewed on Mar 25, 2024

Asilomar Conference Grounds
Lovers Point Inn
Lovers Point Inn
2 out of 5
625 Ocean View Blvd, Pacific Grove, CA
The price is ¥19,523 per night from Apr 1 to Apr 2
¥19,523
per night
Apr 1 - Apr 2
Stay at this motel in Pacific Grove. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and a 24-hour front desk. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms in our ...
7.2/10 Good! (1,009 reviews)
"Nice mellow place to stay."

Reviewed on Mar 25, 2024

Lovers Point Inn
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Oceanview Designer Beach House 2 Free Movie Passes license #0366
Oceanview Designer Beach House 2 Free Movie Passes license #0366
Pacific Grove
Stay at this beach condo in Pacific Grove. Enjoy free WiFi, a beach locale, and onsite parking. Popular attractions Monterey Bay Aquarium and St Mary's by the ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (183 reviews)
Location location location
"We chose this home on short notice due to a change in plans. You can't beat the location...directly across from the water and trail system with outstanding views and within walking distance of most things you might need. The check in and check out process was super easy and the property manager responded ..."

Reviewed on Mar 17, 2024

Oceanview Designer Beach House 2 Free Movie Passes license #0366
Oceanfront: Step to the Beach from Your Porch!
Oceanfront: Step to the Beach from Your Porch!
Pacific Grove
Stay at this family-friendly vacation home in Pacific Grove. Enjoy a beach locale, WiFi, and onsite parking. Popular attractions Monterey Bay Aquarium and Asilomar ...
9.4/10 Exceptional! (132 reviews)
Location location
"As advertised….cozy and comfy! Lots of deer came to visit. The surf was at his highest and was beautiful. Had a glitch with the TV and a new one was delivered. Be aware there aren’t any spices or coffee to start you out! Smallish kitchen but certainly doable! And doing dishes old school was reminiscent ..."

Reviewed on Mar 9, 2024

Oceanfront: Step to the Beach from Your Porch!
Blue Horizons - Pacific Grove Beach House - On a Clear Day... You Can See Forever!
Blue Horizons - Pacific Grove Beach House - On a Clear Day... You Can See Forever!
Pacific Grove
Stay at this vacation home in Pacific Grove. Enjoy onsite parking, barbecue grills, and a balcony. Our guests praise the comfy beds in our reviews. Popular attractions ...
9.8/10 Exceptional! (69 reviews)
Ocean View Paradise
"The view is stunning. We saw otters playing from the living room, and there was even a telescope to view up close! I walked along the coastal trail into the charming town of Pacific Grove. Our group thoroughly enjoyed this spectactular property."

Reviewed on Feb 20, 2024

Blue Horizons - Pacific Grove Beach House - On a Clear Day... You Can See Forever!
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Popular places to visit

Things to do

Reviews of Pacific Grove

4.7
Top Destination
5 - Excellent
585
" "5 - Excellent 73.21652065081352%
4 - Good
185
" "4 - Good 23.153942428035045%
3 - Okay
21
" "3 - Okay 2.6282853566958697%
2 - Disappointing
6
" "2 - Disappointing 0.7509386733416771%
1 - Terrible
2
" "1 - Terrible 0.2503128911138924%

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveler
May 26, 2020

We love Pacific Grove. Beautiful beach town that we love coming to often.

4/5 - Good

Verified traveler
May 26, 2020

The area itself and the things to do were awesome just Beware of the locals and realize that they don't like you and just be careful of them are nice some are really mean

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveler
May 22, 2020

Would be coming back again for future trips

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveler
Mar 26, 2020

Nice little town we have visited often over the years

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveler
Mar 18, 2020

My favorite location on peninsula.

4/5 - Good

Verified traveler
Mar 17, 2020

Pacific Grove has some very nice spots, but in a limited visit more time was spent in Monterey and Carmel.

Cities near Pacific Grove