Around Town work of the Big Sur Food and Wine Festival, All-In Monterey County and the Big Sur Fashion Show. She’s also willing to take the stage herself, as an emcee and a dancer and performer— and she volunteers doing surf therapy, too. That smile? Yes, it’s everywhere, whether audience-facing or doing the administrative work that makes these many community organizations go. BEST ANIMAL NONPROFIT SPCA Monterey County 1002 Highway 68, Salinas (831) 373-2631, spcamc.org A seal with a runny nose is not going to keep a ball balanced for long. At SPCA Monterey County, rescued animals have been treated well since 1905—not just cats and dogs, but any animal brought to them for help. So, yes, an acrobatic monkey would receive treatment. From making sure their health is great to looking spotless, every animal in SPCA’s care is ready to give a beautiful performance for their potential owner and all who are in their presence. BEST ARTS NONPROFIT Monterey Museum of Art 599 Pacific St., Monterey (831) 372-5477, montereyart.org One of the biggest museums in Monterey County, Monterey Museum of Art is all about entertainment. Keeping up with the spirit of the times, it stopped relying on the old museum formula. While one still can experience MMA as a contemplative museum and spend hours touring its attractive permanent collection, MMA is also about reaching out to the community. With the annual Block Party and a holiday installation, called Iluminado, Monterey’s main art museum is a beautifully illustrated adventure. BEST YOUTH NONPROFIT Rancho Cielo 710 Old Stage Road, Salinas (831) 444-3560, ranchocieloyc.org. A lot of talented people make the circus their career. But how do they learn the necessary skills? Who mentors them along the way and helps them find employment? Rancho Cielo is a nonprofit that invests in teens and young adults looking for opportunities and needing the skills. It is purposeful direction. Students can enroll in a variety of programs, including classic car restoration, welding and culinary arts. At Rancho Cielo, the future begins now. BEST ENVIRONMENT NONPROFIT BEST PLACE TO TAKE VISITORS Monterey Bay Aquarium 886 Cannery Row, Monterey (831) 648-4800, montereybayaquarium.org Ringling Bros., an American circus institution, retired its live animal acts in 2018. But luckily for locals and visitors to Monterey County, there are ample opportunities to enjoy the grace and acrobatics of the globe’s most majestic creatures—without them being trained or forced. The Monterey Bay Aquarium’s enduring commitment to not only the animals in its care, but also as a do-gooding ringleader for our shared ocean ecosystem, shows why it ranks as the perennial choice for Best Place to Take Visitors but also the Best Environment Nonprofit in Monterey County. 16 BEST OF MONTEREY COUNTY® 2026 montereycountynow.com/bestof 1-4s 4.6” x 4.94” FREE ACTIVITIES INSIDE Monterey Peninsula Regional Park District LET’S GO OUTDOORS! Your adventure activities guide for all ages FALL 2026/WINTER 2027 mprpd.org Preserving and Protecting Parks and Open Space since 1972 ’26 Thank You For Voting Garland Ranch... BEST Hiking Trail Preserving and Protecting Parks and Open Space since 1972 www.mprpd.org Cover photo by Bradley Dunbaugh Watch your mailbox!
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