Old-Fashioned Lodge Close to Beach and Historical Lighthouse

Point Pinos Lighthouse, the West Coast’s oldest continuously operating lighthouse, sits on the tip of the Monterey Peninsula. Built in 1855 to warn ships about this hazardous point, the lighthouse now invites visitors to see the original lens—still in place and functional. Located just a short walk away is the Olympia Lodge, which occupies a pine-studded lot that’s convenient to many of Monterey Bay’s attractions. The lodge is only five minutes from the beach and coastal walking trails and just a half mile from downtown Pacific Grove’s galleries, shops, and fine-dining restaurants.

Much like the neighboring Point Pinos, Olympia Lodge has a vintage feel to it. The property’s not nearly as old, but the in-lobby fireplace, wooden decks, and handmade wooden furniture lend it some old-fashioned charm. All of the guest rooms are simply decorated—some with slanted ceilings and exposed wood beams—and feature partial ocean views.

Mornings at the lodge begin with a complimentary continental breakfast. In the evening, head down to the reading area beside the fireplace for coffee and tea.

Pacific Grove, California: Sleepy Coastal Town Close to Lively Cannery Row

The oceanfront town of Pacific Grove shares its central California peninsula with the city of Monterey, but is far more serene than its cosmopolitan neighbor. Rows of Victorian houses line the streets, deer wander through residential areas, and thousands of butterflies congregate here during their southerly migration. Travel + Leisure named Pacific Grove one of America’s Best Little Beach Towns, noting that the beach is better suited for surfing and kayaking than swimming. Stroll the pathway that winds along the rocky shore, taking in the many native plants and bird colonies that make their homes on the 3-mile stretch.

The town’s interior is fairly small and easily walkable. Mom-and-pop-style shops and art galleries line the streets of downtown Pacific Grove. The area’s also home to the Museum of Natural History, where you can learn more about the monarch butterflies found throughout the town.

Head to nearby Monterey if you want to pick up the pace. The city’s Cannery Row, once the laid-back dock famously portrayed by John Steinbeck, has since been enlivened by themed restaurants, souvenir stalls, and a wax museum. The popular Monterey Bay Aquarium is located on one end of the strip, and has been featured by Fodor’s, Frommer’s, and the Discovery Channel for its immersive displays of local sea life. Here, you can watch sardines swim around you in a circular tank and see an open-ocean tank filled with sharks and sea turtles. Kids will love the interactive exhibits at the Splash Zone, which has a living, breathing kelp forest, as well as pools filled with starfish and sea urchins.

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