november_moon

Pacific Grove is great. Gorgeous coastline, neat small-town atmosphere, next to Monterey and Carmel, convinient to Big Sur.

As for what to do - well, swimming is pretty much out unless your hotel has a pool The ocean is cold and the weather may or may not be warm. You might wade around in the surf, but that is about it.

The aquarium is great, you can take a boat tour out on the bay, you can kayak on the bay, there are wineries to tour in Carmel Valley, wander along the coastline in Pacific Grove, go to Carmel and check out the beach and the shops there, go to Carmel Mission, go to Point Lobos which is one of the most beautiful places on earth, drive down into Big Sur...

mae6022

San Francisco, Monterey/Carmel and Yosemite are 3 of my favorite places anywhere. You can't go wrong with any of these choices. It just depends on what you want. City action (SF), charming coastal town (Carmel) or hiking (Yosemite).

Otis_B_Driftwood

If you want to camp and swim in a lake in August, your best bet is Lake Tahoe. The coast can be cold and foggy.

If you want to see what the weather can be like in Pacific Grove this summer, watch the US Open on NBC this weekend.