Secret Monterey: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure - by David Laws (Paperback)

About the Book

Did Sir Francis Drake really claim Monterey for Queen Elizabeth? What does it take to win the world's worst car show? Why did the new nation of Argentina attack the port of Monterey? Monterey County is known nationwide for its agricultural bounty, a bay bursting with marine life, world famous golf courses, annual displays of automobile extravagance, and Big Sur, one of the top ten scenic road trips in the nation, but what about the stories and places that don't appear in traditional travel guides? Secret Monterey: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure reveals the unexpected and little-known stories behind major attractions as well as numerous other spots replete with mystery and intrigue. Did General Sherman really jilt the beautiful Senorita Bonifacio? Why did activists decapitate the only Catholic saint beatified in the US? When will the next "big one" strike along one of the world's most closely observed earthquake faults? Local author, travel writer, and historian David Laws answers these questions and introduces you to the other side of Monterey County, a trove of unexpected and unique places just waiting to be explored.

About the Author

David Laws retired to Pacific Grove on the Monterey Peninsula after living and working in Silicon Valley for nearly 50 years. He photographs, writes, and presents on the history of technology, California gardens, Silicon Valley, and Steinbeck Country. His work has appeared in numerous electronic and print media outlets, from the BBC and NPR to mobile apps, guidebooks, newspapers, magazines, and academic journals.