Readers Poll 2024

Around Town around, the Santa Lucia Mountains, looking the same as they did back when notorious outlaw Tiburicio Vasquez sometimes hid out in them in the mid-1800s. Acquired by Monterey Peninsula Regional Park District in 1975, Garland was the district’s first park—the “granddaddy” of them all— and nearly 50 years later, it remains the most popular. BEST LIBRARY Monterey Public Library 625 Pacific St., Monterey (831) 646-3933, monterey.gov/library Libraries weren’t big in the Old West, but Monterey was an exception. Founded by the Monterey Library Association in 1849, Monterey Public Library was the first public library in California, and its purpose, according to an association document from 1853, was to “afford amusement, entertainment, and profit to a large class of people who, without its aid, would waste their time in the frivolities and questionable pastimes so prevalent in our state.” One can read between the lines as to what those “questionable pastimes” were, but suffice to say they probably didn’t include reading. Now, 175 years later, the library remains a vital part of the city’s and region’s fabric: It’s a place to check out books, sure, but it’s also a popular spot for students to do homework after school, or for anyone to use the internet. And for those who want to really learn about the Old West, the library’s California History Room is a gold mine of archival materials. BEST HANGOUT FOR TEENS Del Monte Shopping Center 1410 Del Monte Center, Monterey (831) 373-2705, delmontecenter.com Kids these days have it nice. Space to roam, entertainment, good food, a 13-screen movie theater to watch features like Cowboys vs Aliens—there’s even ice cream. Del Monte Center is like a shopping playground for teenagers, with the latest fashion and electronics on offer. A teenager in Tombstone or Deadwood was lucky if ma could stitch a petticoat. Actually, a teen in the Old West was probably tending a hoe or out on a cattle drive. Life is certainly easier today and more fun, with amenities like these. BEST HANGOUT FOR SENIORS Carmel Foundation Corner of 8th and Lincoln, Carmel (831) 624-1588, carmelfoundation.org You may have read the studies about isolation and loneliness among seniors. How to combat that? Try creating a community some 2,500 members strong that brings people age 55 and older together for a range of activities—meals, classes, film screenings, a lending library, a technology center, support groups and more. The Carmel Foundation delivers all of this, with a range of services based on mobility and need. Can’t make it to the dine-in meals? Homebound members can sign up for meal delivery. This is a place to learn and grow and keep expanding, but it’s also a place simply to gather and connect. Perhaps more than any specific offering, it’s that basic premise that makes The Carmel Foundation the best—at least nowadays. The average lifespan of pioneers crossing the plains was between 40 and 50, no no Carmel Foundation privileges for them. BEST SENIOR LIVING COMMUNITY Carmel Valley Manor 8545 Carmel Valley Road, Carmel (831) 624-1281, cvmanor.com It’s important to find a home on the range to celebrate the latter years of one’s life. Luckily for seniors seeking that location in Monterey County, there’s the retirement community Carmel Valley Manor. In business for more than six decades, the Manor oversees 28 acres of land in Carmel Valley, offering their residents a wide swath of amenities and community activities. Although deer and antelope may not routinely play here, seldom is heard a discouraging word. Weekly voters are not alone in their endorsement—the community was named “Best Independent Living” by U.S. News and World Report earlier this year. 24 BEST OF MONTEREY COUNTY® 2024 montereycountynow.com/bestof BEST Drink with a View 400 Cannery Row Monterey schoonersmonterey.com WINNER Monterey County Weekly Thank you to the voters of Monterey County Weekly for making Schooners Monterey a three-time winner www.pomdr.org Carie Broecker - for - Best Local Do-Gooder! Thank You for Voting

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