Monterey, CA

Home of the Monterey Bay Aquarium, Cannery Row and Laguna Seca Raceway

At the southern edge of Monterey Bay on the pristine Central California Coast is the town of Monterey. Often, and rightly so, the first thing to come to mind when considering the area is the Monterey Bay Aquarium, but there is so much more. Nature, sea life, shopping and dining make up the true essence of Monterey and the surround area. The area has so much to do, see and experience that more than a few days are needed to see it all. Downtown is a good place to start, given its many attractions, eateries and shops. Cannery Row, made famous by the American author, John Steinbeck, is a former working sardine cannery that has since been converted into a collection of shops, boutiques fine dining eateries and luxury hotels. It’s no wonder that Cannery Row is one of the most popular tourist destinations on the Central Coast. Beyond Cannery Row, the downtown area is a perfect place to take a stroll and stop by the Museum of Monterey with its Dali17 collection. Along the way, stop by one of the many hidden courtyards that are flanked by historical Spanish buildings, blooming roses and fountains.

Monterey is also home to world-class sporting events with the PGA Golf Pebble Beach National Pro-Am Tournament, taking place between Poppy Hills, Pebble Beach Golf Links and Spyglass Hill Golf Courses. Golfers can try their hands on any of the courses in the area. For fans of auto sports, Mazda Raceway at Laguna Seca is just outside of Monterey and has professional auto and motorcycle racing and has hosted major events including Superbike World Championships, the American Le Mans Series and the annual Sea Otter Classic biking and sports festival. For those wanting some time on the fairways, the nearby Laguna Seca Golf Ranch is an 18-hole course with an excellent restaurant and bar.

A quick, 15-minute drive south of Monterey and next to Pebble Beach is Carmel-by-the-Sea, or simply Carmel, as it is commonly known. A small, creative community with a vibrant past, Carmel has a rich history of literature, theatre, music and visual arts. This is evident by the many galleries, shops and festivals in Carmel. There is a distinct focus on local business where there are no chain restaurants allowed, and nearly every hotel and eatery is unique and part of the community.

And not to forget the natural centerpiece of area, the Monterey Bay, teeming with sea-life and marine mammals. Marine mammals such as sea otters, seals, dolphins all live in the bay, and Grey, Killer and Humpback Whales all pass through on their annual migrations. The best way to experience and learn more about the habitat is to visit the Monterey Bay Aquarium. At the aquarium, you can have an up-close view of the bay’s plants and animals, including sea otters, stingrays, hundreds of fish, a kelp forest, interactive exhibits and theatres. Because visiting the aquarium can be an all-day event, there is an on-site restaurant where you can enjoy lunch while watching sea-otters below. What’s best about Monterey is not any one thing but rather, the diverse and combination of sea, land, action and relaxation.