In nature, as in real estate, the three most important factors determining the vitality of a given place are: location, location and location. (We never tire of that cliche.) In Monterey County, we are famously blessed with all three. This profusion of sweet spots draws a certain type of creature, and so we find ourselves living among not only beauty but talent.

In the following pages, we pay homage to the best beaches, parks, buildings and golf courses that put this place on the world''s map, and also to the politicians, organizations and celebrities (and one basketball player) who are happy to call Monterey County home.

readers'' picks

Best Golf Course

Pebble Beach Golf Links

17 Mile Dr., Pebble Beach.

This award applies not only to Monterey County but the United States, the world, and the universe. No less than Jack Nicklaus (and there is no more than Jack Nicklaus) chose it as the one course he would play if he only had one place to play. Like Muslims to Mecca, golfers across the world undertake once-in-a-lifetime pilgrimages to worship at Pebble''s altar, happy to pay whatever the tithing happens to be. From the moment you stand over your second shot at number 3 staring past the green into the Pacific sky beyond, until you have holed your putt at ten, you are transported to nirvana along the greatest stretch of oceanside golf ever created, where the senses are heightened and time stands still. Then, after a sneakily treacherous string of more mortal holes 11 through 16, comes the double-barreled showdown with your golfing lifetime''s ghosts: Watson''s sand shot, Nicklaus'' 1-iron, Irwin''s bounce off the rocks, Tiger''s 3-wood-every great drive, every choke, every routine shot played on these greatest of finishing links, this storied place, this Pebble Beach.

Best Architectural Treasure

Carmel Mission

Rio Rd. at Lasuen Dr., Carmel.

Padre Junipero Serra moved into the Carmel Mission in 1771. The first church and residential dwellings were made of wood, enclosed by a palisade of poles. If only the Padre could see his old digs now-the sandstone church with a ceiling that follows the sweep of the walls, forming a catenary arch; the bell tower of Moorish design; and, of course, the gardens. Today, Fr. Serra''s remains rest at the foot of the main altar of the Basilica. So maybe that "if-only-he-could-see-it-now" bit isn''t a problem.

Best Radio DJ

John Young, 101.7 The Beach

He''s a wacky pop DJ with a heart of gold, and co-star of CD93''s "Morning Extravaganza." Yes, ladies and gents, DJ John Young is more than just another pretty face. Last December, Young braved wind and rain, and spend 48 hours atop a scissor lift for kids. "It''s probably big-time wishful thinking, but I want every underprivileged child on the Central Coast to open a toy this Christmas," he told the Weekly. Awww. If the music, the radio stunts, and the whole part about making kids'' holidays a little bit merrier don''t melt you, you are a heartless bastard. Wake up with John every weekday morning.

Best Hangout for Little Kids

Dennis the Menace Park

Lake El Estero, Monterey.

With probably the most original assortment of playground equipment anywhere (though rumor has it California regulations will soon require safer-read: boring-equipment), Dennis the Menace Park is hands-down the most fun place to be a kid. Kick up sand running through the large lakeside complex, climb the old train, slide down the rolling butt-bruising slides, run through tunnels, and for the wee ones, play on baby-scaled structures over a padded surface. When that gets old, feed the ducks and geese, or rent a paddleboat. And definitely worthy of a second-place mention is MY Museum, Monterey''s kid-scaled hangout on Cannery Row that has computers, a play theatre, a mock kitchen, a giant magnet table, and a baby room.

Best Volunteer Organization

Meals on Wheels of the Monterey Peninsula

700 Jewell Ave., Pacific Grove, 375-4454.

Thirty years ago, Monterey resident Sally Judd Griffin was working as a volunteer helping frail, elderly people when she discovered that a major cause of their health problems was malnutrition. In 1972 she founded Meals on Wheels, which last year delivered 140,000 meals to older Peninsula residents in the comfort of their own homes. Deliveries are made five days a week. Each package contains three full meals, each one cooked fresh in the kitchen of the organization''s Sally Griffin Senior Center. Meals on Wheels depends on its volunteers, the dozens of men, women and teenagers who pack up and deliver clients'' meals, as well as helping out with the wide range of activities that go on daily in the Senior Center: art shows, exercise classes, computer courses, lectures, and social events. "Hundreds of people" use the center every day, says executive director Viveca Lohr. And never let it be said that Monterey County doesn''t care about its animals. Our readers picked the SPCA as their second choice for local volunteer organization of note.

Best Local Politician

Rep. Sam Farr

101 W. Alisal St., Salinas, 424-2229.

Unfortunately the President won''t listen to Farr and his peace-loving colleagues. (Farr was one of the 133 members of the U.S. House of Representatives who voted against the resolution authorizing the president to use force against Iraq last October.) Weekly readers still love this guy. Maybe it''s because of his anti-war vote, or his "no" vote on the PATRIOT Act, a far-reaching blow to civil rights. And then there''s Farr''s recent insistence on affordable housing at Fort Ord-kudos to that. Or maybe CW readers are just hoping Farr will bring back some extra cigars next time he visits Cuba. And while second-place winner Leon Panetta hasn''t held elected office since ''92, there''s always the Oval Office in 2004.

Best Place For a Picnic

Toro Regional Park

501 Highway 68, Salinas, 484-1108.

Ah, summer. Hot sunshine baking tanned bodies, frolicking in the park, friends spiking a volleyball, roasting veggie burgers on the barbie, and riding bikes down dusty trails. Or not. As most of us are painfully aware, there is no such thing as summer in Monterey, Carmel, and Pacific Grove. Sure, the sun comes out as a tease, but invariably as soon as you''ve put the last dab of sun lotion on, and tied that bikini top around your neck, the fog rolls in, whispering, "Go home and hibernate. Eat lots of carbohydrates and watch TV." And so we, whimpering, retreat to our apartments, glaring at the darkness descending. But go east and there is Eden: In Salinas, real summer reigns, even in March, and Toro Park is just the perfect place for that jolly pastime of old: a picnic. And while Weekly readers voted Lovers Point as the second-best picnicking destination, we say, save it for December.

Best Place For A First Date

HULLABALOO

228 Main St., Salinas, 757-3663

Best Place To Play Hooky

BIG SUR

Best Golf Course

PEBBLE BEACH GOLF LINKS

17 Mile Dr., Pebble Beach, 624-3811.

Best Architectural Treasure

CARMEL MISSION

3080 Rio Rd., Carmel, 624-1271.

Best Beach

CARMEL

Best Place To Watch The Sunset

ASILOMAR STATE BEACH

Pacific Grove.

Best Park For a Picnic

TORO

PARK

501 Highway 68, Salinas, 484-1108.

Best Place To Hike

GARLAND PARK

70 W. Carmel Valley Rd., Carmel Valley.

Best Place To Bike

REC. TRAIL

Pacific Grove to Marina.

Best Hangout For Little Kids

DENNIS THE MENACE PARK

Lake El Estero, Monterey.

Best Hangout For Teens

DEL MONTE CENTER

Munras Ave., Monterey, 373-2705.

Best Hangout For Seniors

CARMEL FOUNDATION

Ocean Ave., Carmel, 624-1588.

Best Volunteer Organization

MEALS ON WHEELS

700 Jewell Ave., Pacific Grove, 375-4454.

Best Place To Get Married

LOVERS POINT

Ocean View Ave., Pacific Grove.

Best Radio Station

KMBY, 104.3 FM

Best Radio DJ

JOHN YOUNG, 101.7 THE BEACH

Best TV News

KSBW (NBC)

Best TV Anchor

DAN GREEN, KSBW (NBC)

Best High School Athlete

REBECCA FAILS, SALINAS HIGH

Best Use of Local Tax Dollars

WINDOW ON THE BAY, MONTEREY

Best Example of Government Waste

FORT ORD

Best Local Politician

SAM FARR

Best Power Broker

LEON PANETTA

Best Person To Vote Out Of Office

GEORGE W. BUSH

Best Local Sex Symbol

CLINT EASTWOOD

Best Local Do-Gooder

MORLEY BROWN

Best Local Event

FIRST NIGHT MONTEREY