A Weekend in Monterey

Inna made one-day hotel reservations at the Portola Hotel & Spa at Monterey Bay for the April 5 - 6 weekend. She wanted us to explore Monterey, Carmel, and Point Lobos Natural Reserve.

Saturday, April 5, 2025

At around 09:30, we started our long drive to Monterey via US-101. Traffic was relatively light, and we arrived at the Alta Bakery & Cafe at 10:35. We parked our Tesla Model Y and sat at an outdoor table near a couple of beautiful dogs. At the same time, Inna stood in line to purchase breakfast and coffee. She ordered the following from the menu:

• Boris: Mocha, Avocado Toast
• Inna: Latte, Smoked-Salmon Toast
• Dessert: Cookie, pastry

I liked the Avocado Toast and the Smoked-Salmon Toast, though the sizes were rather small. My mocha was delicious (the cookie and the small pastry).

After breakfast, we drove to the Red House Cafe, where we parked our car and walked to Lovers Point Park to begin our long walk around the Pacific Grove shoreline. We walked for a few miles, reaching the Monterey Bay Aquarium, and then turned back.

At 13:45, we decided to eat lunch at the Red House Cafe (as it was one of our favorite local eateries). After sitting down indoors (near a fireplace), we looked at the Brunch Menu and ordered the following:

• Drinks: Coffee, Pellegrino
• Boris: Crab Cake Benedict
• Inna: Mushroom Soup, Smoked Salmon on a Potato Pancake

My Crab Cake Benedict was excellent, as was Inna's Mushroom Soup and Smoked Salmon. After breakfast, we decided to return to Lovers Point and see if we could rent some Ocean Kayaks.

We stopped by Pacific Grove Adventures, a local shop that rents bicycles, paddleboards, and kayaks. We decided to rent a two-seater kayak and paddle around the bay. (Kayak rental was $30 for two hours per person)

Both Inna and I put on foul-weather gear (both jacket and pants) with a life preserver. The foul-weather gear helped to keep us dry while paddling around the bay. We stored our shoes in the shop. 

We paddled out into the Monterey Bay. There was some southerly wind with small chop on the water. As we paddled around, we encountered some other kayakers, who pointed out a pod of sea otters with their pups. Inna took out her iPhone and tried to take photos and videos. We paddled around some more, encountering additional sea otters (and maybe seals, too).

After about 70 minutes, we paddled back to our starting point at Lover's Point Beach and returned our kayak. After washing our feet, we walked back to our car and drove to our Portola Hotel & Spa at Monterey Bay hotel, parking in the hotel's garage. We checked into our room #127 and rested for an hour.

At 18:20, we decided to head to dinner at Wild Fish restaurant. Inna was hoping to listen to some jazz while enjoying delicious seafood. When we checked in at around 18:38, it turned out that the jazz quarter was not playing (since the piano player was on holiday in Puerto Rico). We were a bit disappointed, but decided to dine there, anyway (indoors). We looked at the menu and ordered the following items:

• Drinks: Pellegrino
• Appetizer: Ceviche, Spring Salad
• Boris: Ahi Tuna
• Inna: Ahi Tuna
• Dessert: Apple Crumble

While the service was fast, efficient, and attentive, the food was average at best. The Ceviche was fresh, but too small. The Spring Salad was not very appetizing.  The Ahi Tuna was delicious. The Apple Crumble was freshly baked but very small and not particularly outstanding. Overall, Wild Fish serves average-quality food at high prices. When the jazz quartet is playing, live jazz makes up for average fare.

After dinner, we walked to Lover's Point Beach to burn off some calories and noticed that a nearby coffee shop, the PG Meetinghouse, has a live jazz band playing. It might have been worthwhile to go here instead.

We drove back to our Portola Hotel & Spa at Monterey Bay, and I plugged the Tesla Model Y into a charger. I was surprised it was charging $0.65/kWh instead of $0.33/kWh at home. We only needed to charge 20% (from 60% to 80%). I was expecting the Portola Hotel to provide a cheaper (or free) charging station.

Sunday, April 6, 2025

We did not enjoy the best sleep. Our hotel neighbors were having an early morning baby-making session at 02:00 that was quite loud. In addition, some low-level music was playing.

I got up at 07:00, took a shower, and shaved. I made a cup of coffee on the Keurig machine, but it tasted like toxic sludge.

I worked on my MacBook laptop while Inna took a shower and got ready. We walked downstairs for the pre-paid breakfast at our Portola Hotel lobby. After sitting down and looking at the menu, we ordered the following:

• Boris: Custom Omelet (sausage, onions, tomato, cheese) with potatoes
• Inna: Eggs Benedict

The Omelet was huge and not too bad (but not at the level of Sorobon in Bonaire). Inna's Eggs Benedict was not bad either.

After breakfast, we returned to our room, packed, and loaded our Tesla Model Y. The Tesla had charged to 80%. We checked out of our hotel and started our drive to Point Lobos Natural Reserve. 

Unfortunately, on reaching Point Lobos, we noticed that a huge number of cars were parked on the road. We also saw the sign indicating that the Point Lobos parking was closed. Unable to find nearby parking, we decided to skip Point Lobos and spend the morning in Carmel.

We quickly reached Carmel-by-the-Sea and drove down Ocean Ave, quickly finding a parking spot. We decided to walk toward the beach, following the Scenic Rd. We enjoyed our long walk, watching the surfers in the water, the many varieties of dogs playing on the beach, and the cute bicycles with sidecars roaming around Scenic Rd.

Eventually, we returned near our car, worried about parking for over two hours, and decided to stop for lunch at the Portabella restaurant. We sat down indoors and ordered the following items:

• Boris: Avocado Chicken Sandwich
• Inna: Salmon & Pistachio Salad

The Avocado Chicken Sandwich was excellent (but I skipped eating the bread). Inna's Salmon & Pistachio Salad was also quite delicious.

After lunch, we re-parked our Tesla Model Y and walked toward Mad Dog & Englishmen Cafe & Bike Shop. We stopped there to order a couple of pastries & mochas (I was feeling somewhat sleepy).

I decided to stay there while Inna explored the boutiques and galleries in Carmel. After she returned in a few hours, we drove back to San Jose.

Monterey/Carmel Weekend Review

Highlights

• Kayaking on Monterey Bay with Pacific Grove Adventures
• Spotting pods of sea otters!
• Walking around the Pacific Grove shoreline (looking for seals and sea otters)
• Walking around Carmel Beach and watching dogs and surfers
• Eating brunch at Red House Cafe and Portabella
• Eating breakfast at Alta Bakery & Cafe
• Enjoying the many bikes with dogs in the sidecars (from Mad Dogs & Englishmen) in Carmel

Lowlights

• No parking at Point Lobos Natural Reserve
• No live jazz at Wild Fish restaurant. We specifically chose it for live jazz.
• Food was expensive and mediocre.
• Early morning noise Portola Hotel & Spa at Monterey Bay prevented us from getting deep sleep.
• Overpriced Tesla charging at Portola Hotel & Spa at Monterey Bay.

Links

• Monterey
• Alta Bakery & Cafe - breakfast, coffee, pastries
• Red House Cafe - excellent breakfast & brunch eatery
• Pacific Grove Adventures - kayak & bike rentals in Monterey
• PG Meetinghouse - coffee shop
• Portola Hotel & Spa at Monterey Bay
• Wild Fish - a mediocre but expensive restaurant with occasional live music
• Carmel-by-the-Sea
• Portabella - an excellent lunch restaurant
• Mad Dog & Englishmen - excellent cafe
• Point Lobos
• Point Lobos Natural Reserve

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