Blog Posts for Monterey Naval Postgraduate School

Carmel is an enchanting, scenic and quaint village that neighbors Pebble Beach most closely but also is less than 10 miles from Carmel Valley, Pacific Grove and most of Monterey. The streets are narrow and lined with unique boutiques, cafés, award winning restaurants and other small businesses. There are also a few high end shops you will recognize such as Kate Spade New York and Tiffany & Co. Ocean Avenue is one of the main streets through town and ends directly onto the beach. In my opinion, Carmel’s beach is the loveliest in the area as well as the warmest. Views of the golf courses on Peb... read more

Monterey, Pacific Grove, Carmel, and Pebble Beach Area Things I Wish I Knew Before Moving to Monterey and Surrounding Areas Expenses We truly thought because we PCS’d from the Washington DC area we would be prepared for the cost of living increases that occurred when moving to CA. We were wrong. People told us it would be expensive and also told us the weather was crazy, and we took heed, but were still shocked by our new financial obligations and weather patterns; especially for East Coasters like us who had no experience living out west. Read living in Pacific Grove vs Monterey , while stat... read more

As with most decisions, your personal definition of what is “ best” is key to understanding which airport will be most convenient for your PCS travel plans and while exploring California and surrounding states. Monterey Airport (MRY) is by far the closest and most accessible to the peninsular cities. It’s a small regional airport that is served by five airlines: Alaska Airlines,American, Allegiant, United Airlines and US Airways. We used it several times and the convenience cannot be beat. There are easy drop offs and pick-ups, little traffic, simple long term parking, and minimal security li... read more

There are several cities near the Naval Post Graduate School, The Presidio of Monterey, and the US Coast Guard Station in which families can choose from when orders arrive (finally!) to move to Central California. Two of the most popular options are the communities of Monterey and Pacific Grove. Both are ideally located for an easy commute, have stunning scenery, and in general, have a “boy I am lucky to live here vibe.” There a few factors that should be mentioned, however, when house hunting becomes part of the process. Suggestions to Consider When PCSing to Monterey, California A. Monterey... read more

As East Coast natives, one of the most difficult things to get used to while stationed in Monterey, California, was the warm winter months. It was not unusual for the temperatures to reach near 70 degrees in November, December and January while we were there. So looking for Christmas activities was a little challenging when trying to recreate the winter chill and cheery atmosphere. Luckily, a quick trip up to Gilroy Gardens provided just the Christmas feeling we were looking for. Almost an hour away in Gilroy, California, a former botanical gardens turned amusement park, is transformed into a... read more