Pacific Grove (or “PG” as the locals call it) likes to refer to itself as “America’s Last Home Town” – a real sleeper as California towns go. It prides itself on the fact that it is a community of families which retains a small town atmosphere and where housing is largely comprised of older, and often smaller, homes with “character.”PG is also referred to as Butterfly Town U.S.A. because of the huge population of Monarch butterflies which make its home there during the winter months. The city is bounded on all sides by neighboring neighboring Monterey, Pebble Beach and the Pacific Ocean, and as such has no space for its population to expand.
Founded in 1875 by California Methodists, Pacific Grove boasts some of the most spectacular shoreline on the peninsula, with walking and riding paths stretching along the shore for miles. Its smaller lots were divided by its original Methodist creators as plots for tent cabins, as PG was originally a religious camp ground.
It also prides itself on the fact that it has a large number of beautiful Victorian-era homes, some turned into popular bed-and-breakfast establishments. Many of the early homes have small plaques attached which provide the viewer with the name of the original owner and the date of construction.
