22 BEST OF MONTEREY COUNTY® 2024 montereycountynow.com/bestof Around Town day, gossip and the general frivolity of folks convened over a cocktail. Who can blame someone for loose lips when the drinks are as divine as they are at this bar? It beats climbing the telegraph pole to tap into the dots and dashes. Just be careful if you see someone reading a newspaper upside down. It’s likely they’re listening in. Best Public Golf Course Pacific Grove Golf Links 77 Asilomar Ave., Pacific Grove (831) 648-5775, playpacificgrove.com In 1932, Tim McCoy and a young John Wayne roamed the Pecos in Texas Cyclone. That same year, Pacific Grove Golf Links opened for play, its 18 holes laid out among cypress trees and sand dunes, with dramatic views of Monterey Bay. The setting is one of the reasons the course became known as the poor golfers’ Pebble Beach. The other is rounds that can be had for $75, which makes it one of the more affordable courses. And there is a solid bar and restaurant for a little 19th hole recouperation. Best Surf Spot Asilomar State Beach Sunset Drive, Pacific Grove (831) 646-6440, parks.ca.gov Ask any of the neoprene-clad surfers around, Asilomar has something for everyone along a mile-long stretch of big swells. Just beware when the winter rolls around and the waves climb higher than the trees. OK, maybe that’s just a tall tale, but the waves can get overhead or even double-overhead there. But with pristine sandy beaches stretching out, even the littlest thrill-seekers can join in the oceanic adrenline rush. Best Park Point Lobos State Natural Reserve Highway 1, four miles south of Carmel (831) 624-4909, parks.ca.gov/pointlobos Outlaws on the run would do well to make their way to Point Lobos with its winding trails, varying microclimates and secret beaches and coves in which to hide out. Whether it’s pine forests, coastal live oaks, rocky islands, or the majesty of the underwater life of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, there are plenty of places to tuck away and explore at Point Lobos. This is one of the most popular parks in the California State Parks system, so beware where you park that horse. Best Place to Watch the Sunset Best Beach Carmel Beach Along Scenic Road, Carmel (831) 620-2000, ci.carmel.ca.us/ beach-parks Every good Western features a quiet moment when cowboys watch the sun dip below the horizon and the day turn to dusk. What most Westerns are lacking is a similar view set over the Pacific Ocean. Carmel Beach has the distinct advantage of facing due west for an excellent perspective on the sky at dusk. Whether you’re here just to admire the scenery at magic hour or get in the water for a sunset surf session or let your friendly dog run free on the white sand or to imagine yourself as the director of a classic Western film set against this fabulously expansive view, this is the best place in Monterey County to do it. Bring a blanket or sweater, and enjoy. Best Place to Bike / Mountain Bike Fort Ord National Monument Various entrances in Seaside, Salinas and Marina (831) 582-2200, blm.gov The rolling hills, sandstone ridges, free-roaming wildlife, seasonal ponds and native vegetation at Fort Ord National Monument probably looked very similar during the days of the Old West. Take a horse through some of the 86 miles of trails to complete your trip back in time. Remember to bring dimes for the tollbooth on the Gov. William J. LePetomane Thruway on the way to Rock Ridge if, that is, you are bringing a villanous gang to sack the town. If not, know that mountain bikers from all over visit this recreational gem to bomb through twisty single-track trails (many of which have banked corners to maximize speed) or to take in the sights of nature reclaiming this former Army base. There’s trails for all levels of experience. Or take your road bike on pavement, minus the car traffic. Best Hiking Trail Garland Ranch Regional Park 700 W. Carmel Valley Road, Carmel Valley (831) 659-6065, mprpd.org/ garland-ranch-regional-park A perennial winner in this category, Garland has something for everyone: a lush riparian corridor, tree-lined meadows, steep climbs through oak woodlands, redwood canyons, a seasonal waterfall and at its top, Snively’s Ridge. Here hikers can see the expanse of Carmel Valley, and when turning Best Event or Festival | Monterey Jazz Festival
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