By Heather John Photography by Mark Gibson Large Victorian homes grace the waterfront, while clusters of miniature cottages in the historic downtown. Deer and raccoon ramble the streets and parks, monarch butterflies float lazily through the trees, and California sea otters swim right up to the shore. It remains one of the best examples of small-town America and stands as a town that thrives on a sense of community and volunteerism. The Pacific Grove Art Center boasts one of the finest galleries on the central California coast, and it is funded entirely by grants and local membership donations. The Museum of Natural History and environmental education societies such as Baywatch are kept afloat by volunteers getting involved in the area's natural and human history.
Housing is scarce, and exorbitant real estate costs can make buying a home prohibitive.
Houses in the downtown area are mostly small to medium in size with Gothic Revival, Victorian, Queen Anne, and Colonial Revival influences. Farther into the community, modern prefabs and upscale houses predominate. Novelist John Steinbeck once drew inspiration from the coastline near Point Pinos lighthouse. Silicon Valley executives are snapping up weekend homes and driving prices sky-high. Inc. No reproduction or republication without written permission.