weather and dining

My husband and I are flying out from Illinois on Tuesday for a 5 day stay over the Fourth in Carmel. First of all, I wondered how the smoke is and if there are any problems driving down from Oakland Airport. We love Carmel having been there several times now so chose coming there for the holiday. Can you offer some suggestions for dining both lunch and dinner within the area. I was out there last year over the 4th with a friend and somehow I got the impression there was fireworks over the water off a barge in Monterey. Is this true or some fantasy of my tired and overworked brain? Thanks!

weather and dining

Hi. You%26#39;re right about the fireworks. As for the smoke, the past day an a half have been unpleasant. The air smells like an ashtray, and there has been some ash in the air. I truly hope it improves before your trip. I haven%26#39;t heard anything definitive. A lot depends on wind direction. If it%26#39;s coming from the south, it will bring smoke from the Big Sur fire.

The temps have been moderate--mid 60s, I%26#39;d say, but between the fog and the smoke (hard to tell which is which), it%26#39;s been very gray.

You shouldn%26#39;t encounter anything more unusual than rush-hour traffic driving down from Oakland. If you plan to take the major routes (880 South to 101 South to 156 WEST to 1 South), you%26#39;ll have no trouble, Even the coast route, if you want to come that way, should be fine.

I%26#39;ll tell you some of my favorite restaurants.

For lunch or dinner:

Red House Cafe in Pacific Grove (my favorite)

Taste Cafe and Bistro, also in PG

Caffe Napoli in Carmel

Grasing%26#39;s Coastal Cuisine in Carmel (Not sure about lunch, but I think so)

Cafe Rustica in Carmel Valley Village

Hula%26#39;s Hawaiian Grill in New Monterey

Roy%26#39;s at Spanish Bay in Pebble Beach

Lunch only:

Trailside Cafe in Monterey (you can access it from the rec trail or from Wave St.)

Dinner only:

Massaro %26amp; Santos on the Coast Guard Pier in Monterey

weather and dining

We had a very nice lunch at Grasing%26#39;s last month, PortaBella is good also. Go to the California Market at the Highland%26#39;s Inn for a meal with gorgeous views. :)

There is also a very nice Jazz Sunday Brunch at the Mission Ranch in Carmel. We like Wickets @ the Bernardus Lodge in Carmel Valley for lunch. :)

Thanks so much for all the input. Can%26#39;t wait to get out there. Happy Fourth!

You%26#39;re very welcome! Some places in Monterey that we love for meals are: Sardine Factory (we just celebrated my birthday there last month in the Conservatory Room) Duck Club @ the Plaza and Schooner%26#39;s Bistro, also at the Monterey Plaza Hotel which is a beautiful property with gorgeous oceanviews.

In Pebble Beach, if you go to Roy%26#39;s at sunset there is a bagpiper that plays which is cool. Happy 4th to you as well! :)