Yearly Events You’ll Want to Plan to Attend
What Our “Military Mom” Will Miss
We’re sad to say goodbye to Allison and Kyle Chance and their beautiful family. Allison and Kyle have made themselves an important part of the Monterey community in their time here and will be missed.
Best of luck, Allison and Kyle!
Spring is upon us, and the saying, “April Showers turn to May Flowers” is undoubtedly true here on the Peninsula. We had our fair share of rain earlier in the year, so I know we are all rejoicing over the beautiful weather so we can get our kids back outside!
It has been such a pleasure to write the Military Mom column during our time in Monterey, but like anything, all good things must come to an end. The military is moving my family to Florida this summer as my husband completes his Master’s Program at the Naval Postgraduate School. I have loved meeting so many wonderful moms and families through the magazine, and a big thank you to Andrea Breznay for creating this publication and allowing me to share with all of you.
As we graduate, many new military families will be arriving and starting their tour in Monterey. If you are a new military family reading this, I encourage you to get connected with other moms by joining the Monterey Bay Parent Magazine Facebook Group. The magazine provides a calendar of local activities and events that are so wonderful when you are learning the new ropes of a new area.
For my last Military Mom article, I am going to highlight some of my Monterey favorites!
- My Museum. We have loved our membership, and at $100 for the year, it is a fantastic deal. We love going after I pick my daughter up from school from 4-closing. If you want to check it out at a reduced rate, the 1st Tuesday of the month is only $2 per person.
- Lover’s Point. We’ve lived in Hawaii and Florida, so we are used to warm weather, sun and the beach. Lover’s Point is a fantastic place to hang out on a sunny and warm day. The best part? It’s free! Bring your sand toys and a picnic and enjoy the beauty of our area!
- Doe Park Super Park. Located in Fort Ord-Doe Park military community, this park is my daughter’s favorite and usually less crowded than other area parks!
- Folktale Winery. If you need some sun in your life, Folktale is the place to go. Located in Carmel Valley, it is the perfect place to spend the day with your entire family (pets included). Don’t forget to ask for the military discount. I would also highly recommend joining their wine club if you plan to visit often. It will pay for itself very quickly!
- The Farm in Salinas. We loved visiting the Farm for their events, story time and their yummy produce and food. From hayrides to the petting zone to cutting our fresh flowers, The Farm has so much to offer!
- Monterey Bay Recreational Trail. Walking or running the Rec Trail never gets old. You never know what you will see in terms of wildlife, and there are plenty of excellent stops for a quick bite or beverage. If you are feeling adventurous, I highly suggest renting a surrey bike. We like to rent these when we have visitors in from out of town, and the kids love it! Adventures by the Sea rents these bikes and they offer a military discount.
- Big Sur River Inn. If you are up for a journey down the beautiful coast, I highly suggest stopping at the Big Sur River Inn to play in the river. Some of my fondest memories include putting on rain boots and stomping around in the river with my daughter. They have a restaurant and snack shop on site and plenty of Adirondack chairs to rest and relax in.
Whether you are here in Monterey for six months or 5 years, I hope you enjoy the beautiful Central Coast as much as my family did. I highly recommend making a bucket list so you can be sure to visit all of the beautiful places in the area.
Navigating a Military Move During the Holidays
The holidays and end of 2018 are upon us and many of us military families will be packing up our things and moving onto our next duty station. Moving is one of the hardest things about military life, especially when it falls during the holidays. Many families will celebrate in hotels or temporary lodging and away from friends or family members.
I polled some fellow military moms who have moved during the holiday season and here are some of their tips:
- Pack your crock pot or instant pot so that you can make home-cooked meals. Your family, waistline, and budget will appreciate it.
- Purchase a mini tree and ornaments to decorate your hotel or temporary lodging. Target and the Dollar Tree are great places to shop for these items!
- Develop family traditions. Maybe you get Chinese takeout on Christmas Eve, and that becomes your family tradition every year, or you have a Christmas picnic each year instead of a big dinner with the fancy china and linen napkins.
- If you are spending the holidays in your new home, use this time to explore! Ask a local where the best display of Christmas lights are, visit a new museum or zoo or see a movie (most movie theaters are open on Christmas Day).
- Be sure to bring your stockings along and pack some command strips to hang them in your hotel with no fuss!
This month is filled with lots of great events. One of my favorite local things here in the area is driving down Candy Cane Lane and viewing the incredible light display. This year, Morse Drive in Pacific Grove will be open from December 3-31. There is no charge to drive through Candy Cane Lane and if you haven’t visited, you must! The neighbors do an amazing job going all out for the holidays. My daughter asked to go back multiple times in December. So grab your hot chocolate and take a stroll down Candy Cane Lane!
Another fantastic event to take note of is The Nutcracker; A Monterey Peninsula Tradition with Monterey County Pops! Orchestra LIVE! Presented by Dance Kids. Performances will take place on Friday, December 7 to Sunday, December 8. Visit www.suncenter.org for tickets. I am pleased to share that they do offer a discounted ticket for the military.
If your little one needs an abbreviated Nutcracker performance, consider My Very First Nutcracker at the Hammer Theatre Center in San Jose. This one-hour performance is perfect for children and toddler of all ages and tickets start at just $12.50 per person. Tickets can be purchased online at www.hammertheatre.com/events/. Children under two are admitted to the theater through a $10 lap pass that can be purchased at the box office. The box office opens 90 minutes before each show and performances are on December 15, 16, 22, 23 and 24.
If you would like to stay active during the holidays, the Jingle Bell 5K is the perfect opportunity! The race will take place in Pacific Grove at Lover’s Point Park and will benefit the Arthritis Foundation. You can register online at www.events.arthritis.org. Registration starts at $25, and there is a kid’s run option for just $20.
Each year, my family and I try to share the holiday spirit with those who are less fortunate. Whether you volunteer at a shelter, serve a meal to those who are less fortunate or adopt a child for Christmas, giving back is so rewarding for the entire family and is a great yearly tradition to start. Here in Monterey, Al & Friends serves breakfast every Sunday morning on Del Monte Beach to anyone needing a meal. This is a great way to include your children in giving back and also to teach a lesson of gratitude. Visit www.alandfriends.org for more information and to learn how to volunteer.
Another fun way to give back is through The Giving Sack. The Giving Sack Storybook and Sack is a great holiday tradition where you will read a book with your children, and then they will fill their sack (a large red bag) with toys to donate. You can learn more and order the book and sack at www.thegivingsack.com.
I hope December is filled with lots of love and cheer for your family and best of luck to those military families who will be transitioning to their next duty station. I am looking forward to 2019!
Allison Chance is a military spouse and mom to Charlotte, 4, and Hux, 6 months. She is a Realtor and has been lucky to call Florida, Hawaii, and now California home during her family’s military adventure.