Blog Posts for Monterey Naval Postgraduate School

When we lived in Monterey, we ate a lot, often. I think this is where I found the majority of the 15 pounds I brought to Northern Virginia (NOVA). Even with all of the extra gym time the weight loss required, sampling as much of California’s central coast’s culinary scene was an integral part of our stay there. Although there were plenty of high end, trend setting and expensive places in our area, we had a kid and needed better than average food served with a side of crayons on the menu. Happily these two local institutions fit the bill and we were repeat customers. The Best Family Friendly R... read more

Many families choose to celebrate their children’s birthdays right in their own backyards or at one of the many local picturesque parks because the weather in Monterey and surrounding area is predictable and pleasant most days. But sometimes, life is busy and it is easier to let professionals take over the birthday party planning. Our daughter’s last birthday coincided with a pending PCS trip back to the East Coast. As much as she wanted a party at our house, preparations to move had begun and I couldn’t bring myself to delve into what needed to be done to have a house full of kids and parent... read more

I walked for hours most days while living in Pacific Grove, which meant I was able to see many more miles of scenic interests than perhaps a tourist cruising in a car would. A good friend and local turned me onto a loop of about 6 miles that included beach front trails tying Asilomar State Beach and the Monterey Bay Coastal Recreation Trail together. Both are well known and well loved by residents and tourists alike. Although my walking path through Asilomar was the same, the view varied daily ranging from sunlit skies to blankets of clouds and fog rolling onto the shore. A unique and sweet t... read more

Who doesn’t love Mexican food? Well, at least margaritas, right? The food options throughout the Monterey Bay area were some of the best things we encountered during our stay in California and Mexican cuisine is represented heartily. In fact, there were so many options; I had to force our family to stray from our regular favorites just in case we were missing something great at another restaurant. An exhaustive and voter driven summation of the food scene for 2014 can be found at The Monterey County Weekly (MCW), which is a great resource for all things Monterey County. Be warned, I consider ... read more

Carmel-by-the-sea, or commonly known as Carmel, was recently voted by Travel +Leisure magazine as one of the most romantic cities in the world and in 2013 was voted by Condé Nast Traveler as the United States’ 6 th favorite city . To top both of those honors is the distinction of being rated one of the most dog friendly cities in the country. Of course the first two are subjective, but from firsthand knowledge, the validity of the dog friendly award is obvious before you park your car! Food, Wine, and Shopping Carmel is an enchanting, scenic and quaint village that neighbors Pebble Beach, mos... read more