Pacific Grove town

Pacific Grove lies right beside Monterey, and just steps from Monterey Bay Aquarium. It is abundantly full of Victorian homes and storefronts, making it a picturesque place to walk around. There is a bike path that runs along the oceanfront leading from the aquarium to idyllic Lovers Point Park, which has a tranquil beach that is sheltered from the wind. Ocean View Blvd runs along the water, while Lighthouse Ave (the main strip) runs parallel to it, up high above the ocean, with stores and cafes. Steep side streets lead from Lighthouse Ave down to Ocean View Blvd, with views of the blue sea as you walk down. They are full of adorable Victorian homes from the late 19th century. The date they were built and their original owner's names are above the doorposts.

The main street is Lighthouse Ave, a cozy street with pretty trees and plenty of wonderful spots to hang out in cafes. The  sweet Victorian storefronts delight you. You can sit at big windows looking out on the passersby. Popular with students studying is The Bookworks, which has a large seating area and coffee shop in the front, and a great bookstore in the back, with kids books and stuffies too. Red House Cafe is an adorable cafe on a street corner, with patio and indoor seating, and waiter service. A counter-service bakery and cafe, The Perfect Crumb Bakery (closed Tues, no restroom) has a really cute indoor seating by big windows. We enjoyed their egg biscuits for lunch. Down a side street, Forest Ave, is Grove Market, a small market which sometimes sells fresh bread baked across the street at Pavel's Backerei. To visit Pavel's Backerei, you must come on Saturday only, bring cash, and wait in a long line. 
Out of the main area, six minutes drive from Lighthouse Ave, is Patisserie Bechler (closed Mon), a French bakery with old-Europe style decor. 
On the far western edge of Pacific Grove is the stormy, rugged beach of fine white sand Asilomar Beach, also a retreat center.
Pacific Grove was settled in the late 1870s by Methodists who set up a retreat camp and modeled the town after Ocean Grove, New Jersey. In the 1890s and on, it became an artists' haven, attracting top artists seeking a plein air venue of natural beauty.

Directions

The main street of Pacific Grove is Lighthouse Ave. Use the address 553 Lighthouse Ave, Pacific Grove CA 93950 to find the main area.
The Bookworks coffee shop and bookstore, 667 Lighthouse Ave, open daily 7-5:30. 
The Perfect Crumb Bakery, 650 Lighthouse Ave. Closed Tues. 
Pavel's Backerei, 219 Forest Ave, Pacific Grove CA 93950. Open Saturdays only. Bring cash.

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