Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with Monterey

venturing into Big Sur

yeoja — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 14:24:23 -0800

Tomorrow afternoon, I'm driving south on Hwy 1/Big Sur Coast Highway from Monterey to Lucia. I've never driven this road before, and I'll be alone. Thing is, it's supposed to rain hard tomorrow and apparently Big Sur Highway + lotsa rain = rock & mud slides. Unfortunately, dodging mudslides while driving along rainy cliffs aren't exactly skills I've developed living in pancake-flat Houston. Does it really get that treacherous? Should I postpone this trip for a less rainy season? If not, what are you supposed to do if you see a bunch of mud and rocks tumbling towards you and your rental car? I've been needing to take a personal break, so I booked a room at the New Camaldoli Hermitage for a few days of reflection and solitude and scenic views. I'm flying into Monterey Airport, renting a car then driving 55 miles south to Lucia. In normal conditions, I'd look forward to the drive, but the idea of sliding rocks and mud has me pretty worried. It also seems the California fires have increased the risk of these mudslides.

(It's supposed to be sunny on my drive north back to Monterey, so I'm only worried about the drive south).

My questions:
1. How likely is it that I'd actually encounter serious problems with a rock or mud slide?

2. Plenty of websites and some blogs warn about the rock/mudslides, but none explain exactly what to do if you run into one (or it runs into you...). Any advice?

3. Is there an alternate route I could take? According to this map on the Camaldoli website, it looks like I could take 101 to King City, then cut across to Lucia on Jolon Road....but I can't find that route on Google or Yahoo Maps.

4. I'm considering cancelling or postponing this trip - but is that overreacting? I'd lose some money, but not too much.

Thanks!!

Life in Monterey

Fenriss — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 09:58:52 -0800

My friend has an awesome job offer in Monterey, but she's only been up there for vacation. She is socially liberal, and wants to live in an area with lots of sustainable farming, the ability to bike to work without getting run over, and hopefully a strong sense of community. She and her boyfriend are in their mid-30s, and they're a little worried from what they've read that the social life may slant toward retirees. Has anyone lived around there, and can anyone give insight into what it's like to live there?

Where to find an apartment in Monterey, California?

kimota — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 06:50:26 -0800

A friend of mine is soon to start his dream job working for the metro system in Monterey, but is having trouble finding an apartment. He's tried craigslist and the various national apartment finder sites, to no avail. What other resources can you recommend for leads? He'll need a place that allows cats and that is close to the metro lines, but other than that, he's open to pretty much anything.

Stay out of my beach community, deadbeat

Anonymous — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 18:13:16 -0800

How can I find out if there is a warrant for my arrest, in Monterey, California? Roughly a year ago I was pulled over for slow-rolling a stop sign. The citation included penalties for that and a fixit for my address, as my license read San Diego. I've since moved and gotten a correct ID with updated address, but never informed the Monterey PD about it, and never did anything regarding the other infraction. I received a few collection notices from 3rd party agencies about the ticket, but nothing from the city itself, and would like to figure out if the matter was dropped or I'm a fugitive from the law. (I realize it's unlikely it was dropped, but the violation occurred literally outside my front door and I felt the cop might have taken sympathy when after the stop they noticed me get out of the car and walk inside rather than continue driving).

A sure MIIS.

dead_ — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 11:53:48 -0800

What can you tell me about the Monterey Institute of International Studies? I've got cold feet.

After applying to a few different graduate schools, I was accepted by my first choice, the Monterey Institute of International Studies. I prefer them due mostly to their language program and emphasis on career placement.

But I'm nervous.

It's a professional school and a bit different from more research-oriented institutions, which scares me. The student body is also a paltry 700 and I'm having anxiety attacks feeling like I won't fit into the school's environment.

If I choose to attend, I will be getting a master's in international policy studies.

I'm visiting the school this weekend, but in the meantime, can anyone tell me a bit about it, related to my above anxieties? How useful will this degree really be? What is Monterey really like when compared to a larger, top-tier public university with a similar program? Is the debt (maybe 40k) really worth an IPS degree?

These are probably questions I should answer on my own, but AskMe has helped before, and so if anyone here has any experience with MIIS, I'd love to hear it.

CA central coast road trip

scody — Thu, 10 Nov 2005 16:03:41 -0800

Help me plan a post-Thanksgiving road trip up California's central coast! the basics: my boyfriend, his brother (who will be visiting from out-of-town), and I are going to take a 3-day road trip up the central coast the weekend immediately following Thanksgiving. (We may also have the company of another female -- a frisky fox terrier! -- but that's not definite.) Our basic itinerary is:

Day 1: Drive from LA (possibly stopping in Solvang). Overnight in San Simeon or Cambria.
Day 2: Hearst Castle in the morning. Drive up to Big Sur. Overnight in either Big Sur or Carmel.
Day 3: Drive back to LA. (Possible stop in Solvang if not on Day 1.)

I've been to Hearst Castle once before (stayed at the Cambria Pines Lodge) and have also stayed a night in Big Sur (at Ripplewood cabins). I've spent a few hours in Solvang having coffee and wandering around. My main questions are:

- Are there any pet-friendly accomodations in Big Sur? I've found places in both Cambria and Carmel (the Cambria Pine Lodge and the Carmel River Inn, both run by the same company) that will take pets, but nowhere in Big Sur. (I'm also fine with non-pet-friendly recommendations too, since we're only about 50/50 on bringing the dog anyway.)

- Recommended sights/restaurants/bars in Carmel/Monterey? (Preferably not too touristy, with the possible exception of Steinbeck-related stuff.)

- I've never driven up PCH this late in the year -- how early does the fog tend to roll in?

- Good Danish restaurants in Solvang? We're probably not going to do the wine tasting thing (saves on the merlot jokes), but if anyone has a really strong recommendation on that front that they're dying to share, go ahead!

Camping the Santa Lucia?

saknussem — Mon, 18 Jul 2005 11:00:54 -0800

Big Sur and the Ventana Wilderness offer limitless camping potential. I'm new in the area and would appreciate the recommendation of experienced troopers. Specifically: drive-to primitive no rules backcountry with vista - surface running water a big plus. Whither goest man?

Weekend trip in Monterey or Santa Cruz

billysumday — Tue, 26 Apr 2005 12:12:58 -0800

The parental units want to organize a long-weekend in the Monterey/Santa Cruz area (but preferably Monterey/Carmel) in the middle of June. Anybody have any ideas of a cool place to stay that would be relatively inexpensive and still available? The rents were thinking about something like a small house or a villa somewhere. There will be seven adults and a two-year old. We could also do something like two 2-bedroom units. Any ideas would be really appreciated, I have no idea where to start looking. Thanks!

Monterey or Carmel?

billsaysthis — Sun, 25 Apr 2004 11:31:32 -0800

Monterey or Carmel? Inexpensive weekend hotel/B&B recommendation? Preference is close to the water, less than half a mile, night life not important, yet without blowing my credit card to bits. [NMI]