New Monterey, Monterey, CA

New Monterey is built around Lighthouse Avenue, the working street between Old Town and Pacific Grove, in the northwest part of Monterey. The street has the feel of a place people actually shop and eat along, right beside the visitor crowds on Cannery Row. New Monterey's residential streets sit behind the avenue, broken up by small neighborhood parks. Hilltop Park covers 2.8 acres with a large grass field, a fenced toddler playground, basketball and tennis courts and a group barbecue. Oak Newton Park and Archer Park add play equipment and basketball, Archer Park also has restrooms and a ballfield for baseball and softball, and Cypress Park fills in the gaps. Lower Presidio Historic Park sits near the Presidio of Monterey, which gives the area an older layer under the shops. Lighthouse Avenue is where the food is. The Perfect Crumb, at 301 Lighthouse, has been baking key lime pie and almond croissants since 2016, and right beside it Paprika Cafe seats about six tables and is known for spanakopita, baba ghanoush and a vegan baklava. Gianni's Pizza, at 725 Lighthouse, has been making hand-tossed pies since 1974. El Cantaro, on Foam Street, is a vegan Mexican kitchen known for crispy potato tacos and house-made salsas and moles. Errands run along the same avenue, which also holds International Cafe at 296 Lighthouse for gyros, shawarma and falafel, and Hula's Island Grill at 622 Lighthouse for poke and tropical cocktails. Highway 1 is close for trips toward Carmel or Santa Cruz, and Monterey-Salinas Transit covers the local bus service. Being this close to Cannery Row and the aquarium means visitors share the streets, and the avenue gets busier because of it. Still, a bakery that has operated since 2016 and a pizzeria going since 1974 show the avenue serves the people nearby as much as the tourists.