She notes the Peanut app is very specialized, and moms can join specific groups with targeted questions and advice, such as two-under-2, stayat-home moms, etc. “It’s not just to meet up. You can also socialize with anyone, ask for advice or rant about anything,” Perez adds. She also takes her children to WIC Seaside events and twice a week she joins Stroller Warriors, a free running club for military families. “We go on a run or a walk, and then the kids play with each other afterwards,” Perez says. The wide variety of local mom groups includes the Mom Walk Collective, a community for active moms, and Maternal Well-Being Play Groups, bilingual meetups for moms and kids ages 0-5 in Salinas. Sargent is part of Wild + Free Monterey, a home-school group that also organizes meetups, where about 15 to 20 moms and more than 30 kids gather regularly. “We’re somewhere out in nature, just letting the kids just be kids. And I’ve loved that,” she says. Going to the beach, taking a hike or going to the nearest playground are some activities they like to do with their kids. “There’s so many possibilities here,” Sargent says. “We love Carmel River State Beach. It’s an easy place for kids to go to. It’s pretty safe on that side for kids.” Depaz says she follows different organizations on social media that offer events regularly such as the Monterey Fire Department—“They have a really great obstacle course for the kids,” she says—or the Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History, which offers bilingual activities. “It is nice for any family that is bilingual,” she adds. THE MONTEREY PENINSULA’S MOST RECOMMENDED PIZZERIA ’98-’24 BEST PIZZA 3 BLOCKSUPFROMCANNERYROW/AQUARIUM AFFORDABLE FAMILY DINING Pizza • Pasta • Ravioli • Calzones • Salads Great Italian Sandwiches Gelato • Delicious Desserts BANQUET ROOM • FULL COCKTAIL BAR OPEN MON-THUR 4PM • FRI 3PM • SAT & SUN 12PM Call ahead for take-out service 649-1500 725 Lighthouse Avenue Monterey Gianni’s Pizza Family Owned & Operated Since 1974 ’15 BEST FAMILY RESTAURANT ’17 BEST PLACE FOR A BIRTHDAY PARTY 14 THE BEST OF MONTEREY BAY® FAMILY 2025-2026 425 Washington Street Located in Downtown Monterey, CA the Best Children’s Museum on the Central Coast Come and enjoy the fun! DISCOVER... EXPLORE... PLAY... 831.649.6444 www.mymuseum.org MyMuseum_1-3s_FG23_EC.indd 1 4/13/23 9:48 AM
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