A place whose history has long been a source of fable and fascination, Carmel-by-the-Sea is a community whose ancestors summered by the sea and ultimately stayed through the seasons. After founders Frank Powers and Frank Devendorf populated the once-barren potato patches with artists and academicians, it became a place defined as much by legends and landscape as by the characters who came to Carmel. Whether it is the clear light that attracted photographers Edward Weston, Ansel Adams, Doug Steakley, and Bob Kolbrener; the whisper in the trees, the rhythm of the waves, and the stillness at dawn that seduced writers Mary Austin, Robinson Jeffers, Jack London, Bob Campbell, Rick Masten, and Jane Smiley; or the unbridled beauty in a majestic mountain, surging sea, or verdant valley that drew in artists Mary DeNeale Morgan, William F. Ritschel, E. Charlton Fortune, Mari Kloeppel, Carol Chapman, and Loet Vanderveen, the truth is that Carmel-by-the-Sea gets in one's soul and makes its home there.

A local poet once described Carmel-by-the-Sea, with its haunting pines, fog, and white sand, as "our inevitable place." The area had been inhabited for more than 3,000 years when Fr. Junipero Serra chose the site for his mission headquarters in 1771. The romantic name, Carmel-by-the-Sea, was the gift of a group of women real estate developers, later used in advertising lots for "brain workers at in-door employment." Many Stanford and UC Berkeley professors, artists, writers, and musicians left a lasting legacy here in their art and in their rejection of largescale commercial development. Although impoverished artists may no longer afford to live here, many residents and millions of sojourners still consider the lovely village packed with galleries and eateries their "inevitable place."

The city of Santa Clara lies in the very heart of the Santa Clara Valley, directly south of San Francisco Bay. It is the home base of the internationally famous Santa Clara Swim Club, the equally famous synchronized swim team the Santa Clara Aquamaids, the International Swim Center, and the San Francisco 49ers professional football team. It boasts world-class parks, theaters, museums, acting groups, a featured chorale, a nationally ranked drum and bugle corps, a major theme park, a convention center, and a first-class hotel system for those who wish to visit. Legendary Locals of Santa Clara celebrates the people who guided all of this to its realization.

The only official, authorized book of Denny LeVett's life story. Who is Denny LeVett? As at home in the plains of Iowa, as in the fairytale cottages of the idyllic Carmel-by-the-Sea, Denny LeVett is a true Renaissance man in every sense of the word. A groundbreaking real estate maven, comedian, pilot, antiquarian, philanthropist, trusted political advisor, and so much more, Denny LeVett is a man who has spent a lifetime following his passions. Early signs of the burgeoning businessman first surfaced as a youth in Iowa Falls when he earned his own money mowing lawns, washing cars, and buying and selling his collection of guns. "My grandfather taught me never to act like I had more than $25 in my pocket," he says. A trip to Europe as a college student awakened him to the rich architectural beauty of the centuries old buildings. One might say that the seeds had been planted when at 21 years of age, he began purchasing properties of old-world charm in the up-and-coming Palo Alto, California, the birthplace of Silicon Valley. "Being in an area like this, when it was first taking off, was the luckiest thing that ever happened to me," says Denny. His real estate holdings would soon expand to residential units and boutique inns in the storybook village of Carmel-by-the-Sea; and to a partnership with the legendary actress, Doris Day, in the elegant and dog-friendly Cypress Inn. A lifelong love of history prompted a lifelong collection of antiquities; including classic cars, toy soldiers, and Colt Paterson firearms (he owns the largest collection in the world). And an ardent passion for aviation has afforded him more flying adventures than the Wright Brothers and Jimmy Doolittle combined! Now here, in this no-holds barred, first-person narrative, Denny LeVett recounts his journey from a modest childhood in Iowa Falls, all the while speaking with startling candor about the friends, mentors, and adversaries he has met along the way. A fascinating memoir of an extraordinary life told in his own words, and in his own inimitable style. Denny LeVett is the co-creator of "The Paterson Colt Book: Featuring the Dennis A. LeVett Collection" by R.L. Wilson and Dennis A. LeVett, published in 2001.

Quirky galleries, deliciously fresh seafood, and dramatic hikes and drives: discover what the locals love about these seaside towns with Moon Monterey & Carmel. Inside you'll find: Flexible, strategic itineraries including long weekends in Monterey, Carmel, and Santa Cruz, and a three-day road trip from Big Sur to Cambria Top sights and unique experiences: Visit the famous Monterey Bay Aquarium or take a whale-watching tour to catch a glimpse of sea otters, harbor seals, and migrating whales in the wild. Stroll along soft sand beaches or browse artisan galleries and boutiques in Carmel's idyllic downtown. Cruise along the Pacific Coast Highway to Big Sur and pull over to soak up the breathtaking ocean view, or wander the halls of the opulent Hearst Castle. Catch happy hour at a historic brewery, or dine on fresh seafood as the sun sets over the bay Outdoor adventures: Explore the stunning coastline on a kayak or stand-up paddleboard, dive into a kelp forest, or rent a surfboard and catch a wave. Honest advice from Monterey local Stuart Thornton on when to go, how to get around, where to eat, and where to stay, from budget motels to historic inns Full-color photos and detailed maps throughout Handy tools including tips for seniors, visitors with disabilities, and traveling with kids Helpful resources on COVID-19 and traveling to Monterey and Carmel Background on the culture, history, weather, and wildlife Full coverage of Monterey, Carmel, Santa Cruz, Big Sur, Cambria, San Simeon, Morro Bay, and Salinas Experience the best of Monterey & Carmel with Moon's practical tips and local insight. Hitting the road? Check out Moon Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip. Looking for more outdoor adventures? Try Moon Northern California Hiking. About Moon Travel Guides: Moon was founded in 1973 to empower independent, active, and conscious travel. We prioritize local businesses, outdoor recreation, and traveling strategically and sustainably. Moon Travel Guides are written by local, expert authors with great stories to tell—and they can't wait to share their favorite places with you. For more inspiration, follow @moonguides on social media.

It's 1942. The novelist John Steinbeck needs character witnesses to sign his application to carry a gun in New York. He's received a threatening phone call and feels the need for self-protection. He's a relative newcomer to the Empire State - most of his close friends live back in California, so finding people to sign could be difficult for the controversial author. Feeling time is of the essence, he begins his search for character witnesses in the idyllic village of Palisades, where he makes his home. The Application is one of sixteen tales in Steinbeck: The Untold Stories examining the emotional and psychological toll extracted for writing the truth as Steinbeck saw it, in works such as Of Mice and Men and The Grapes of Wrath. From his days in Salinas and Los Gatos and Pacific Grove on California's Monterey Peninsula to his later years in New York, we meet the people who were important in his life as well as the dark specters of those who opposed him and what he was writing. The stories look at his friends and contemporaries and those who outlived him. Henry, for instance, a boyhood pal who decades later sees John again in a visit to Henry's Salinas service station under cover of darkness. Or Lily, an old high school classmate who invites him to an impromptu reunion that turns dangerous for John and the other participants gathered in a park. Artists, too, were important in his world. The young couple he gave money to so they could explore Mexico and "learn to paint out loud." The painter, a giant of a man, who on a summer night carried Steinbeck out of his home after an argument on labor issues. The famous film actress who accompanies him on a nervous drive, from Los Angeles up the Salinas Valley in the light of day. There were those who had little or no contact with him but were influenced and moved by his work. Beau, a charismatic chainsmoking cowboy who proudly felt he inspired the creation of a Steinbeck character. The terminally ill book collector Paul, who finds temporary escape from his worries and responsibilities by searching for Steinbeck first editions. The wanderer Bill who arrives in Monterey and is befriended by those who knew Steinbeck and instruct him in the legacy. Or the gentle woman who looks back seventy years recalling her famous marine biologist father's relationship with the writer - as well as with his own children. These and other stories are further brought to life by the gritty, character-driven illustrations of artist C. Kline. Images such as John's mother Olive gathering flowers while remembering a sad day in her youth. A young sailor off an aircraft carrier drinking with two American strangers in a Greek bar while a political coup is underway. A Big Sur trapper tearfully parting with a mountain lion named Flora. Or the writer explaining to a ghost he has no home and never did. These stories and characters provide pathos and humor to the portrait of a great writer dealing with his memories and fears. And - as Steinbeck once described it in a letter to a friend - the powerful desire to begin again and return to the ocean tide pools and star-gazing of his youth.

“The Gilded Edge is a compelling read from start to finish. Gripping, suspenseful, cinematic. This is narrative nonfiction at its best.”—Lindsey Fitzharris, bestselling author of The Butchering Art Astonishingly well written, painstakingly researched, and set in the evocative locations of earthquake-ravaged San Francisco and the Monterey Peninsula, the true story of two women—a wife and a poet—who learn the high price of sexual and artistic freedom in a vivid depiction of the debauchery of the late Gilded Age Nora May French and Carrie Sterling arrive at Carmel-by-the-Sea at the turn of the twentieth century with dramatically different ambitions. Nora, a stunning, brilliant, impulsive writer in her early twenties, seeks artistic recognition and Bohemian refuge among the most celebrated counterculturalists of the era. Carrie, long-suffering wife of real estate developer George Sterling, wants the opposite: a semblance of the stability she thought her advantageous marriage would offer, threatened now that her philandering husband has taken to writing poetry. After her second abortion, Nora finds herself in a desperate situation but is rescued by an invitation to stay with the Sterlings. To Carrie's dismay, George and the arrestingly beautiful poetess fall instantly into an affair. The ensuing love triangle, which ultimately ends with the deaths of all three, is more than just a wild love story and a fascinating forgotten chapter. It questions why Nora May—in her day a revered poet whose nationally reported suicide gruesomely inspired youths across the country to take their own lives, with her verses in their pockets no less—has been rendered obscure by literary history. It depicts America at a turning point, as the Gilded Age groans in its death throes and young people, particularly women, look toward a brighter, more egalitarian future. In an unfortunately familiar development, this vision proves to be a mirage. But women's rage at the scam redefines American progressivism forever. For readers of Nathalia Holt, Denise Kiernan, and Sonia Purnell, this shocking history with a feminist bite is not to be missed.