20240720_123627Along the coast (July 2024)

Pacific Grove is a tiny town tucked into the corner of Monterey Peninsula, located just 2 miles (3.2 kilometers) from Monterey city proper. It’s a small, sleepy place, home to just a little over 15,000 residents and plenty of rugged, natural coastline to stroll along. I, as well as with my partner and her mother, would spend half a day exploring this small town, a little trip from Monterey to see more of this part of California.

Just like Monterey, the city of Pacific Grove was originally inhabited by the Ohlone tribe as far back as 6 BCE. Starting in the 1850s, Chinese immigrants flocked to the area to set up fisheries before being driven out following the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 and the Pacific Improvement Company destroying their homes to make room for their businesses. Sadly, very little of the Chinese American community exists in Pacific Grove today, but the town now memorializes this loss with a Walk of Remembrance held every May.

Besides Chinese immigration, Pacific Grove has also been a historically Methodist community, having drawn those who practice the faith since 1874. The town developed into a retreat for Methodists to camp and enjoy the nature around them, and many of the homes, built between the 1870s and 1910s, are still around today.

I, along with my partner and her mom, took an Uber over to Pacific Grove in the early morning, where we first spent some time strolling along Lighthouse Avenue, the main drag of the town center. Lighthouse Avenue had about two blocks of colorful buildings built in Victorian, Craftsman, and Colonial styles, which were eye-catching and home to souvenir shops and cafés. We had lunch at one of the restaurants along the main row, which made for lovely ambiance.

20240720_104052Downtown Pacific Grove on Lighthouse Avenue

We took a stroll through the residential part of town, where we saw the many beautiful homes built during the influx of Methodists in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Similar to the historic buildings on Lighthouse Avenue, these homes were built in eclectic styles– some stately, some cozy. It was a real treat just going up and down the hilly streets and coming across a unique-looking home to admire.

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One home, especially, was the Pacific Grove Butterfly House. As the name implies, it’s a house that’s completely decked out in butterfly decorations, and it’s certainly eye-catching. The Butterfly House was the brainchild of “J,” an Army veteran who began decorating his home for his wife Sonja in the 1990s. Due to a degenerative eye disease, Sonja was losing her eyesight, so “J” embellished their home with as much color as possible, so that she could see bits of his creation. The house is symbolic of “J’s” love for Sonja and although the couple sadly passed away in 2020 and 2022, respectively, their legacy lives on!

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Just before lunch, the three of us headed down to the coast for a short walk along the promenade. It was very peaceful, the waves gentle and emerald green, and we took a rest on one of the rocks to take in the views. I could see why the Methodists were attracted to this place, to settle and enjoy for generations to come!

It was a matter of grabbing lunch back on Lighthouse Avenue before leaving Pacific Grove for the next adventure. Overall, the town is tiny, but full of charm and worth a gander while in the area. Despite being small, its history is rich with settlements from the Ohlone, Chinese immigrants, and Methodists, and today retains its sleepy and tranquil status away from the hustle and bustle of city life.

More of my time in Monterey and its surroundings to come soon! 🙂

— Rebecca

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Published by Rebecca

Blogger, world traveler, poet, foodie, part-time penguin. Welcome!

36 thoughts on “Destination: Pacific Grove, California”

  1. Love the houses. You picked three good ones to photograph. The place is beautiful, yet the history is sad. I was curious to know more about it and found that Geraldine (Gerry) Anne Low-Sabado, a fifth generation Chinese American resident created the memorial walk in 2011. The city made an official apology to the Chinese American community in 2022, unfortunately too late for Gerry to hear it, since she passed in 2021. The apology doesn’t correct the grievance, but it is a step toward not repeating the same dehumanizing mistakes.

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    1. A sad history, indeed. Although Gerry wasn’t able to experience the city’s apology, at least Pacific Grove acknowledged the not-so-great past. Better now than never. It’s interesting that Pacific Grove is such a tranquil place with a long and rich history, and it’s definitely worth a visit while in the area! Thanks for reading and sharing your find on PG, Rebecca!

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  3. Wow, that is a lot of butterflies. I love the backstory for them, very sweet. And nice that they’re still there after the couple’s passing. Thanks for this tour of Pacific Grove!

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    1. The Butterfly House was a lovely little find. I found the story behind the house very poignant and endearing. Pacific Grove was pleasant and beautiful, and I’m glad we got a taste of it. Thanks for reading, Diana!

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  4. I love the look of those old houses, especially the one with green windows. Thank you for sharing the story of the Butterfly House as well. It’s a great example of how far one would go for love.

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    1. Thanks, Bama! The houses in PG are lovely, and you could spend a full day just wandering the streets to see them all. The Butterfly House was a great find, and besides its colorful exterior, its story was also poignant to read 🙂

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  7. This does look a lovely town for just strolling and seeing what you find! The butterfly house is amazing, if rather over the top to say the least, but I really like the little house you feature in the photo immediately above it. 🙂

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    1. I love the Butterfly House, over the top and everything! But I agree that PG also has so many other beautiful houses to check out. I appreciate you reading, Sarah 🙂

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    1. Indeed! The houses are each unique and stunning; you could spend a whole day just wandering the streets and seeing all of the different styles. PG was a fun day trip for us; thanks for reading!

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  12. Pacific Grove is a nice little town, but its racist history is difficult to think about. I’m glad you got to see some pleasant spots, like the colorful butterfly house! My favorite places to visit there are the lighthouse and the indie bookstore and coffee shop called Bookworks. Thanks for sharing, Rebecca!

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    1. Nice! PG may have a sad history filled with prejudice, but I do appreciate the city apologizing for the past. Better late than never. I think I may have passed by Bookworks, but I didn’t go in. Perhaps next time!

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  15. A very pretty and seemingly chilled place. The history is engaging albeit quite sad, but glad to hear that the memorial walk keeps some of that heritage alive. Lighthouse Avenue looks thoroughly charming, I can picture Sladja and I stopping for a coffee at an outside table. The houses are fabulous too and while the Butterfly House feels a tad over the top for my taste, the story behind it is touching and more than justifies the design. Nice piece, Rebecca.

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    1. Thanks, Leighton! PG is a lovely little town, and although it has a not-so-great past with its Chinese-American community, at least PG has formally apologized for it. It has a very small, but very charming downtown, and you could spend a whole day just enjoying the various architecture throughout town. Thanks for reading and sharing, as always!

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