Monterey Public Library
625 Pacific St., Monterey
(831) 646-3933, monterey.gov/library
Like any truly great library, the Monterey Public Library is like a quiet town square, a place where there are always people quietly reading, whether on a screen or a page, lost in their own thoughts. Or maybe they’re sitting outside on the upstairs patio, taking in some afternoon sunshine and not reading anything at all. It’s always busy but never too busy, it always seems to have the book you’re looking for, and for local history nerds, the California History Room is a gift that keeps on giving. The library is a place to expand and sharpen one’s mind, and there’s no better way than that to up your game.
