We’ve surfed the net from the smallest blogs to the biggest media sites to bring in our weekly catch of the best links on Monterey County.

The Scenic Route Part 2: Big Sur
After  several visits to the Bay Area “Water Turtle” decided to mix things up and travel south on Highway One through Carmel and Big Sur. Lucky for us he has compiled beautiful photos and video imagery from his recent trip. Sit back, relax and take a 3-minute escape to the breathtaking coastline of Big Sur. More photos from his trip can be found here.

My Recent Trip to Carmel-by-the-Sea
Take a gander at some of the quaint cottages and beautiful beaches that adorn Carmel-by-the-Sea. Looks like Cordelia and her husband had a fantastic and romantic getaway celebrating their anniversary!

Coastal California’s Hidden Hikes
Even the folks all the way in Houston think our hikes in Big Sur are worth a mention. Check out at a few of their favorites including the McWay Waterfall Trail and hikes through Andrew Molera State Park. Be sure to take their suggestion and chow down at Nepenthe!

StyleOnTheCouch Travels: Big Sur
A Brit living in Manhattan recently embarked on an adventure road trip throughout the United States. We are honored to have one of her highlights right in our backyard!

Hawaiiana on the Central Coast: Island-style fun and surf culture
Monterey County and Hawaii have several things in common including beaches, surf and…. food! Several Monterey County eateries serve up delectable dishes with a dash of aloha. Kula Island Ranch Steakhouse in Marina, Roy’s in Pebble Beach and Hula’s Island Grill in Monterey offer everything from luau pork to macadamia nut crusted Mahi Mahi.

Pic of the Week

Seagull in Pacific Grove, CA (photo by: Phil Perez)

Shutterbugs and wordsmiths, enter to win a trip to Carmel-by-the-Sea or dinner in Monterey! Travel website Trazzler, in a contest sponsored by the Monterey County Convention and Visitors Bureau and Tradewinds Carmel, invites writers and photographers to highlight Northern California vineyards and wineries (including over 20 in Monterey County).

The top writer will win a stay at Tradewinds Carmel, two passports to the Carmel Wine Walk and $100 writing contract. The Tradewinds Carmel is a chic boutique hotel with Asian and Balinese-influences that are sure to provide writerly inspiration. After you have relaxed in your luxurious guest room sip your way around Carmel-by-the-Sea’s many tasting rooms with the Carmel Wine Walk by-the-Sea Passport.

The best photographer will win a $150 dining certificate to Monterey’s Restaurant 1833. This premier eatery in downtown Monterey serves up some of the best dishes perfectly paired with an extensive wine, cocktail and absinthe menu.

Enter by Wednesday, February 1!

All Weekend

Swing by the Monterey County Fairgrounds and scope out the rare findings at the Indian Art Show. Vendors from all over the west coast will be selling the finest in baskets, pottery, beadwork, jewelry, books, recordings and more. Saturday 10am-6pm, Sunday 10am-5pm, Monterey Room, 2004 Fairground Road, Monterey. $7.

Friday

It’s going to be a starry night at Garland Ranch tonight. Join staff at the Monterey Peninsula Regional Park District for a night of star gazing as amateur astronomers share their insights on the galaxy over the 2-hour event. Be sure to wear warm clothing and bring a flashlight. 5:30pm, Garland Ranch Parking Lot, Carmel Valley. Free admission.

Jake Nielsen’s Triple Threat provides awesome entertainment tonight at the Mucky Duck. This bluesy band is the perfect way to wind down after a tough work week. Be sure to pay particular attention to Jake’s skills on the guitar! 6pm-10pm, 479 Alvarado Street, Monterey. Free cover.

Hang out at the London Bridge Pub tonight with local acoustic rock guitarist Rex Wheeler. Bring your friends, grab a drink and enjoy a relaxing night out. 9pm, 256 Figueroa St., Wharf #2, Monterey. No cover.

Saturday

Kids itching for something to do? Take them over the Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History.  Today they will be talking about some of Monterey County’s annual visitors and their migration patterns. Tiny tots will have the chance to create a bird feeder, match certain scents like salmon do when they return home and follow a mental map of landmarks, similar to gray whales.11am-3pm, 165 Forest Avenue, Pacific Grove. Free admission.

Like classic rock music? Then head to the Mucky Duck in downtown Monterey tonight and check out local favorite band Phat Chants. 6pm-10pm, 479 Alvarado Street, Monterey. Free cover.

Enjoy live music from Nico Georis and Sky Country tonight at the Fernwood Tavern. Nico wrote the earthy and folksy songs found on his newest album “Songs from Nowhere” which will be performed tonight. 9pm, Fernwood Tavern, Highway One, Big Sur. Free cover.

A Band of Ninjas plans to kick things up a notch at London Bridge Pub tonight. This acoustic rock duo will make it hard for you to contain yourself from singing right along to their popular rock, pop and blues covers.  9:30pm, 256 Figueroa St., Wharf #2, Monterey. No cover.

Sunday

Rise and shine! It’s time for a morning hike with the guides at the Monterey Peninsula Regional Parks District through the Oakview and Mesa Loop. This loop will lead hikers through great views of Garzas Canyon. The 5 mile hike is expected to last 3-4 hours so be sure to bring plenty of water, snacks, lunch and to wear good  hiking shoes. 9am, Garland Visitor Center, Carmel Valley. Free.

Are your kids so good at sneaking cookies out of the jar that you can never catch them at it? Do they always know what their holiday presents are before they’re unwrapped, no matter how well you’ve hidden them? Put their skills to work today at MY Museum’s Spy for a Day. Miniature secret agents will have the chance to create secret spy gadgets and have the chance to dress up to prepare for their own Mission Impossible. 10am-11:30am, 425 Washington Street, Monterey. $15 or $10 for members.

The Carmel Music Society presents the Israeli Chamber Project this afternoon at the Sunset Center. This young and vibrant ensemble is comprised of talented Israeli musicians on the clarinet, violin, cello, harp and piano. 3pm, Sunset Center, San Carlos & 9th Ave., Carmel-by-the-Sea. $30-$43.

Hit up Happy Hour while enjoying some jams from Tony Miles out on the patio at the Mucky Duck. Tony will be mixing it up reggae style all afternoon. 4pm-8pm, 479 Alvarado Street, Monterey. Free cover.

I am a little embarrassed to admit that I have lived in Pacific Grove for over two years and have not yet visited one of the town’s most treasured landmarks. On a particularly gorgeous day last week I made it my priority to visit the Point Pinos Lighthouse that stands high and mighty along the shores of Asilomar Beach.

Driveway into Point Pinos Lighthouse on Lighthouse and Asilomar

Getting to the lighthouse is easy; just follow Lighthouse Avenue! Once you come to the split in the road turn right onto Asilomar and voilà, a beautiful Cape Cod-esque lighthouse appears, perched right on the edge of Pacific Grove Golf Links. Pull in the driveway and take pleasure in the free parking available to lighthouse guests – just keep an eye out for golfers searching for that ball in the deepest rough!

Point Pinos Lighthouse in Pacific Grove

Walking up to the lighthouse is a treat in itself. Every step closer gives you a better appreciation for the oldest continuously operating lighthouse on the West Coast and its amazing views! I wasn’t sure what to expect once inside but I was pleasantly surprised by its cozy and homey vibe. I was immediately greeted by a friendly docent and given a brief history lesson on the structure and the tenants that once occupied it.

Kitchen in the Point Pinos Lighthouse

I guess I never really put the “house” part together with the word “lighthouse.” This lower and upper level of this place is fully furnished with two bedrooms, a bathroom, a parlor and a kitchen! When this lighthouse was built, Pacific Grove was barely settled and its location was positively remote, almost an hour’s horseback ride from Monterey. All lighthouse keepers were expected to live in the building.

The Parlor in the Point Pinos Lighthouse

One lighthouse keeper, Emily Fish, was quite the party thrower. She brought in luxurious furnishings and French poodles and thoroughly landscaped the area, turning the lighthouse into something that could have landed on the pages of that era’s version of House Beautiful. Then she invited artists, authors and Naval officers to visit her, earning her the nickname “The Socialite Keeper.”

Docent Harry Powell talks about the fog horn once used on Pacific Grove's coast

After heading through the lower living room I stopped off at the basement where some of the lighthouse’s memorabilia is held. Here you will find a fog horn, a Fresnel lens, a flash panel from a revolving lens and other interesting relics and historical tidbits. Docent Harry Powell spoke about the fog signals once heard on Pacific Grove’s coastline which were in operation from 1925 to 1993. He even demonstrated what the fog horn once sounded like. The original fog horn could be heard up to 15 miles away; thankfully the one Mr. Powell sounded was at a much lower decibel level.

Docent Nancy McDowell educating guests about the Fresnel lens

Docent Nancy McDowell was kind enough to explain the different types of Fresnel lenses and how they worked. Point Pinos utilizes a fixed Fresnel lens (rather than a revolving lens) which uses an on-off signal pattern produced by an electric light and timer. The present light source is still used for ship navigation and produces a 50,000 candlepower beam which can be seen up to 17 miles away!

A sitting room with an extraordinary view

Did I mention that this piece of real estate comes equipped with stunning views of the Monterey Peninsula? I stood in amazement and visualized myself as the next “Socialite Lightkeeper” but then I remembered that the lighthouse has been automated since 1975. Oh, well. If I can’t live there, I can visit for a few hours, admire the views, and pretend.

Point Pinos Lighthouse view from Ocean View Blvd.

Point Pinos Lighthouse is open Thursday-Monday from 1pm-4pm each day. Admission fees are $2 for adults and $1 for children. Proceeds are used to support the lighthouse’s preservation efforts.

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We thoroughly searched the web all week to bring you the most incredible mentions of Monterey County. Here are the hottest hits we came across.

From Monarchs to Redwoods: Monterey to Big Sur
Two enthusiastic individuals quit their day jobs to embark on a bicycling adventure around the world. Kai and Sheila hit Monterey County’s scenic pavement last week and documented their fabulous experiences from Marina to Big Sur with stunning photos and commentary. The duo then continued their journey through Big Sur to Ragged Point; that post can be read here.

Lovers Point Park in Pacific Grove
A great informational and visual piece on Pacific Grove’s beloved Lovers Point Park. This jewel-by-the sea is a treasure to both locals and visitors. Ric Garrido notes that “May is an ideal month to visit the area when iceplant flowers bloom and the seaside view brightens with dazzling displays of color.”

Steinbeck’s ‘Cannery Row’ Turns 66
Happy Birthday to Steinbeck’s novel ‘Cannery Row’! In honor of the 66th anniversary of the book’s publication, Doc Ricketts’ lab is open for exclusive tours. The tours of what is currently Pacific Biological Laboratories were so popular that all four days, 1/14-15 and 1/21-22, sold out almost immediately.

Big Sur, California!
Read about a gal who bribed her hubby into a road trip to our neck of the woods all the way from Los Angeles. Turns out they both had a blast checking out elephant seals, McWay Falls and even spotted Tiger Woods at Pebble Beach!

Pic of the Week

"Celebration Sunset in Big Sur" photo by @ZChernus

This January during California Restaurant Month, say goodbye to the day-to-day eating experience and opt for a Monterey County dining experience! This land of food and wine is home to renowned restaurants, many that make ordering perfectly paired courses a breeze with prix fixe (pronounced “pree feeks,” – French for fixed price) menus that include multiple dishes at a set price. We’ve rounded up a few of our favorite prix fixe menus that serve grand prix taste with all the “fixe”-ings.

Tarpy’s Roadhouse
A romantic atmosphere and emphasis on all things local make Tarpy’s Roadhouse an institution for locals and visitors alike. Don’t miss this restaurant’s Wine-Down Wednesdays, featuring a revolving, three-course prix fixe menu paired with local wine for $21.95. Discerning diners get to call the shots here with a variety of options: salad or an appetizer, fish or meat and a choice of desserts. Every dish has a Monterey County wine pairing suggestion that is offered at 50% off the regular price.

Sierra Mar
Hollywood celebrities and those seeking luxurious refuge in Big Sur flock to the Post Ranch Inn. If you can’t stay the night but still want a fabulous meal, Post Ranch’s restaurant, Sierra Mar, is the place to go. Dinner options are solely on a prix fixe basis for $110 per person, and the constantly revolving menus feature four courses that are just as phenomenal the restaurant’s ocean view. Course one features an appetizer with selections such as seared foie gras, steamboat oysters on the half shell or grilled squab breast.  Course two lightens things up with dishes like lobster bisque or radicchio salad. The third course, not to be outdone by its predecessors, consists of heartier fare such as braised short ribs, line-caught local rock cod, rack of lamb and foraged Big Sur chanterelle mushroom fettuccine.  Last but not least, the fourth course sweetens the deal with freshly-prepared desserts like blood orange parfait, chocolate truffle cake or a selection of artisan cheeses.

Sardine Factory
This iconic Monterey restaurant is beloved by locals and visitors alike for all things fine dining. The Sardine Factory’s Early Three-Course prix fixe menu is available 5pm – 6pm nightly at the tasty price of $29.95 a person.  The menu starts with your choice of a classic Caesar salad or abalone bisque, made from locally raised abalone.  Next, let your appetite guide you through entrée choices including pacific coast sand dabs, petit fillet mignon and seared wild-caught salmon.  Make sure you leave room for dessert – your choice of Tahitian vanilla crème brûlée or hand-made ice cream sundae.  After such a fulfilling meal at this legendary venue, a stroll along nearby Cannery Row may be in order!

C restaurant + bar
The C restaurant + bar offers spectacular dining with a phenomenal view of the Monterey Bay. The cuisine, under the direction of Executive Chef Jerry Regester, puts the emphasis on sustainable seafood and a variety of local and seasonal accompaniments. Here, the restaurant offers two prix fixe menus: a three-course dinner complete with an appetizer, entrée, and dessert for $45; or add a sommelier’s wine pairing to each of these courses for a surprisingly wallet-friendly $60. The menu changes daily, but expect to see a variety of gourmet, locally procured dishes. Bon appetit!

All Weekend

It’s your last chance to catch Avenue Q at the Paper Wing Theatre. The fuzzy puppet characters of this very adult award-winning play will have you rolling in your seat. Friday 8pm, Saturday 4pm and 8pm, 320 Hoffman Avenue, Monterey. $25.

Friday

The Mucky Duck hosts local band Jake Nielsen’s Triple Threat. You do not want to miss Jake’s mad skills on the guitar; he and his crew can whip up some great blues music! 6pm-10pm, 479 Alvarado Street, Monterey. Free cover.

Prepare to ooh and aah at the Sunset Center tonight. The Peking Acrobats will amuse and quite frankly amaze you with daring and death-defying stunts on a stack of chairs, wires and gymnast rings. Don’t be surprised if some of the Chinese acrobats look familiar; the pack has been featured on the Ellen Show, The Wayne Brady Show and ABC’s Wide World of Sports. 8pm, San Carlos at Ninth Avenue, Carmel-by-the-Sea. Tickets are $39-$59.

Spend your Friday night at the London Bridge Pub with Rex Wheeler. He will be playing acoustic guitar music all night long. 9pm, 256 Figueroa St., Wharf #2, Monterey. No cover.

Saturday

Monterey celebrates one of its largest visitors today, the gray whale! Whalefest Monterey kicks off this morning with fun for all ages. Old Fisherman’s Wharf and Custom House Plaza host all sorts of fun events including a scavenger hunt, bocce tournament, remote control sailing regatta, historic walking tours, beach cleanup and more. 9am-8pm, Old Fisherman’s Wharf, Monterey. Free admission, additional fees for the scavenger hunt and bocce tournament.

Care to listen to a little Schumann, Lalo and Dvorak? The Monterey Symphony will be performing works from the mentioned renowned artists tonight at the Steinbeck Institute of Arts and Culture. Guest conductor Peter Bay will lead violinist Michael Ludwig and the symphony with a concert full of great music. 2pm and 7pm, 940 N. Main Street, Salinas. $20.

The Monterey Museum of Art presents a special “In Conversation” with Paul Roehl. This Santa Cruz painter and printmaker will discuss his works and his inspiration from early 20th century California landscapes paintings. The audience will also have the chance to ask questions and view some of his art. 3pm, 559 Pacific Street, Monterey. Free admission.

Enjoy a winemaker dinner at Allegro Gourmet Pizza at The Barnyard in Carmel. Rustic Italian and Californian cuisines will be perfectly paired with six different wines from local favorite Joyce Vineyards. Winemaker Russell Joyce will also be on hand to answer questions about Monterey County vintages and varietals. Call 831-625-9970for reservations. 6pm, 3770 The Barynard, Carmel.

Josh Tatum mixes it up tonight at the Mucky Duck.  This pop, rock and soul singer/songwriter has traveled all the way from Texas to put on a fantastic show.  The true star stealer of this performance are his awesome lyrics! 7pm-10pm, 479 Alvarado Street, Monterey. Free cover.

Local musician Michael Annotti will perform at the London Bridge Pub tonight. His acoustic rock creates the perfect atmosphere for grabbing a drink and chillin’ with friends. 9:30pm, 256 Figueroa St., Wharf #2, Monterey. No cover.

Sunday

Discover Kahn Ranch in Carmel Valley this morning with guides from the Monterey Peninsula Regional Parks District. Hikers will enjoy gorgeous vistas and will even stroll past a seasonal waterfall! This 3.7 mile hike is expected to last 2-3 hours. Don’t forget to wear good hiking shoes and bring water, lunch and snacks. 10am, Kahn Ranch Parking Lot, Carmel Valley. Free.

Be transported to Portugal, Spain and Germany all in one night with sounds from the Monterey Symphony.  Concert 3 will consist of works from Dvorak, Schumann and Lalo this afternoon at the Sunset Center. Can’t make it today? They have scheduled another performance just for you tomorrow at 8pm! 3pm, San Carlos at Ninth Avenue, Carmel-by-the-Sea. Tickets are $39-$59.

Tony Miles is back tonight for Reggae Sunday at the Mucky Duck. Enjoy his jams out on this patio until later this afternoon. 4pm-8pm, 479 Alvarado Street, Monterey. Free cover.

Not one, not two, but four magnificent hotels ranked on Condé Nast Traveler’s Gold List for 2012! Congratulations to Post Ranch Inn, Ventana Inn & Spa, The Lodge at Pebble Beach and The Inn at Spanish Bay for appearing on this elite list. The Gold List awards the best hotels in the world as rated by Condé Nast’s travel experts.

These four show-stopping properties also all made the cut for Condé Nast’s Platinum Circle meaning they have appeared on this list for five or more consecutive years. Way to go!

Lower Pacific Suite at Post Ranch Inn, photo by Post Ranch Inn

The Inn at Spanish Bay, photo by Vicki and Chuck Rogers

January is California Restaurant Month, and what better place to celebrate than Monterey County? With claims to fame like “Salad Bowl of the World” and being on the shores of the nation’s largest, calamari-rich marine sanctuary, you can see how no fork is left forlorn here.

To help you work up an appetite, we’re serving up a $50 gift certificate this week for one lucky winner to experience a favorite new restaurant of ours, Vesuvio. Click here to enter. In fact, we’ll be giving away a $50 gift certificate each week for the rest of January, so stay tuned for more mouth-watering details.

Vesuvio heats things up in Carmel-by-the-Sea with a sizzling menu, lively atmosphere and a hot new rooftop lounge. The 100-seat restaurant is an elegant and fun take on all things Italian, from the wild boar Bolognese paparadelle to the “1944” meat lasagna, lobster ravioli “Sophia Loren” or sinful limoncello mousse cake.  Chef Rich Pepe is known for delivering the goods and this restaurant shines as his latest addition to Monterey County’s dining scene.

With the sunshine and warm weather we’ve been enjoying in Monterey County, now’s a great time to hightail it to the coast for a foodie frolic. Click here for a list of epicurean adventures to sink your teeth into. You can also snag a deal on a local hotel by clicking here.

Make sure to enter the sweepstakes today for your chance to win, and keep checking back here for more!

All Weekend

Get your swing on at the Monterey Swingfest taking place all weekend long at the Hyatt Regency Monterey. Take swing classes, attend workshops or show off your polished dance skills in one of the dance contests. West Coast Swing legend Skippy Blair will also be back to whip your skills into shape. Don’t know how to swing dance?  No problem! Newbies can attend free basic swing classes Friday-Sunday from 11am-1pm.  Thursday-Monday, 1 Old Golf Course Road, Monterey. $145 or $75 for junior attendees.

Ed Ricketts’ Pacific Biological Laboratories, photo by Fielding Mellish

Sold out! Don’t miss one of the few chances to visit Ed Ricketts’ Lab, which was fictionalized in the Steinbeck novel “Cannery Row.” Doc’s lab will be open for tours throughout the weekend and best of all, it’s free! Learn about the life of Ed Ricketts and how he formed a friendship with local writer John Steinbeck as well as the history of the building and how it was used for marine biology supplies. Saturday and Sunday 11am and 1pm, 800 Cannery Row, Monterey. Free admission.

For an adult spin on Sesame Street head over to the Paper Wing Theatre in Monterey. The hilarious puppet comedy Avenue Q took home the Tony “Triple Crown” Award for Best Musical, Best Score and Best Book. Friday 8pm, Saturday 4pm and 8pm, 320 Hoffman Avenue, Monterey. $25.

Friday

Pierce Ranch Vineyards invites you to sip wine by glass and enjoy live music. The talented musicians that comprise the Kombucheros will perform music with low-key Latin and South American beats. 8pm, 499 Wave Street, Monterey. Free cover.

Grab a drink at the London Bridge Pub and listen to Rex Wheeler tonight. His acoustic rock music is the perfect way to end the work week. 9pm, 256 Figueroa St., Wharf #2, Monterey. No cover.

Big Sur local band Songs Hotbox Harry Taught Us graces the stage at Fernwood Tavern tonight. This six person retro country band mixes things up with the keyboard, guitar, fiddle, bass, drums and mad vocals. 9:30pm, 47200 Highway One, Big Sur. No Cover.

Saturday

The Sunset Center in Carmel-by-the-Sea presents the Kingston Trio tonight. These three spunky American folk legends have been entertaining crowds since the ‘50s and have since received several Grammys to prove their talents. Visitors are also welcome to meet the trio over a wine and cheese reception before the show.  8pm, San Carlos at Ninth Avenue, Carmel-by-the-Sea. Tickets are $49-$69 and the VIP Meet & Greet is $75.

Louie Ortega, Dean Giles and Gary Roda team up for a special concert at the Fernwood Tavern. “To Sur, With Love” will be a night full of free fun and great music! 9pm, 47200 Highway One, Big Sur. No cover.

Acoustic rock guitarist Martin Shears performs tonight at the London Bridge Pub. If you haven’t had the chance to check him out then now is the time! 9:30pm, 256 Figueroa St., Wharf #2, Monterey. No cover.

Sunday

Take to the trails with the Monterey Peninsula Regional Parks District. Today an adventurous group will explore the tremendous trees of Mill Creek via the Mill Creek Trailhead on Palo Colorado Road. This 5.5 mile hike is expected to last 3-4 hours. Don’t forget to wear good hiking shoes, and take water, lunch and snacks. 10am, Mill Creek, Carmel. Free.

Enjoy your last hours of the weekend at the Mucky Duck. This evening reggae musician Tony Miles will be jamming out on the patio. 4pm-8pm, 479 Alvarado Street, Monterey. Free cover.