We are heading out to the Monterey Peninsula next month for 4 days to visit my wife's sister (she lives in Pacific Grove). She works at Pebble Beach, so I'm hoping to play golf at least once. Other than the golf, we don't have any set plans. We'd like to visit Carmel and maybe a local vineyard or two. Does anyone have any other specific recommendations of what to see or do while we're there? What vineyards should we visit?

You could do a day trip up to Capitola and Santa Cruz.

My husband and I had an opportunity to spend a few days in Monterey a few years back. We really liked the town, the small shops and restaurants. The Aquarium is great. We did the 17 mile drive amd really enjoyed stopping along the way to take pictures of the scenery and the wildlife is abundant. I consider Monterey one of the best places I have visited in my life. ENJOY!

Wineries to visit in Carmel Valley are Chateau Julien (the closest and very good), Talbott, Bernardus. Out in the valley near the Barnyard shopping center is the Cepage Wine Bar which has many wines by the glass. In Monterey on Cannery Row is the Monterey County Wine Assn's tasting room, "A Taste of Monterey." Other suggestions: the Aquarium, Carmel mission, browsing through galleries in Carmel, Pt. Lobos State Park in Carmel, drive a bit of Big Sur if it's good weather, kayaking in Monterey Bay, Sunday brunch at Mission Ranch in Carmel (do they still have jazz?--check when reserving) Enjoy and good luck if you get to play Pebble! It's a monster course.

Good restaurant in Pacific Grove is Fandango's. Not cheap, but very good. It is in downtown PG. The locals enjoy the Mexican food at Pepper's in PG. Roy's at Spanish Bay is another good place to eat.

A fun thing to do in the PG area is to simply walk the beach. Your relative can show you the great trail that follows the ocean around PG. Fun to watch the seals and otters. You can easily walk from downtown PG to the Aquarium. The Aquarium is a must see in this area. Across the street is an outlet shopping center if you need to do that.

Can also do boat rides from the Wharf area in Monterey as well as tour the adobes in old Monterey.

San Simeon castle is 90 miles down the coast and worth a drive to see this fantastic home on the ocean built by William Randolph Hearst.

Great area...have fun and good luck on getting on to play golf at Pebble. The PG Municipal course is about $35 per 18 and also goes along the ocean. Locals know it, but the tourists go for the $350 per 18 at Pebble.