Monterey (California)

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Monterey is a town in the Monterey Bay area of California.

	monterey (california) Travel Guide : 1 Understand 2 Get in 3 Get around 4 See 5 Do 6 Buy 7 Eat 8 Drink 9 Sleep 10 Get out

Understand

Monterey was established in 1770 by Father Junipero Sera. During its long history (by American standards) it has been notable for numerous things, including having been the state capital of California for a brief period. Today it is most commonly known for having been the setting for many of John Steinbeck's novels including Cannery Row and Tortilla Flat. Monterey is one of the more beautiful coastal cities of California and can make for a great two day trip for those visiting San Francisco or a weekend getaway for California natives. An old Mission, historic literature, a beautiful coast line and lots of wildlife await you (and not too many tourists)

Get in

Monterey is located on State Highway 1, which meanders slowly along the coast. It's not far from US 101.

• From the North, take US 101 south to Prunedale. At Prunedale go west 5 miles west on State Highway 156 until it merges onto southbound Highway 1. Then 15 miles along Highway 1 to Monterey. If you are heading to Cannery Row or the Aquarium, look for a brown sign which which will advise you about which exit to take. If Highway 1 ceases to be a freeway, you've gone past Monterey.

• From San Francisco, if you have a lot of time to spend, you could consider travelling south along the coast on State Route 1. It's a slow road until you get to Santa Cruz, but the views are fantastic.

• From the South, take US 101 north to Salinas, then State Route 68 west to Monterey.

• Warning: from the Bay Area internet map sites, mapping software, and GPS systems will advise you to take State Route 17 to Santa Cruz and then take State Route 1 south. Under no circumstances should you follow this advice. State Route 17 through the Santa Cruz mountains is highly congested with insane drivers, filled with blind curves and corners you are expected to take at high speed, and is often blocked with accidents. Try to convince your mapping system to route you through Gilroy in order to get the right route.

Get around

• Lighthouse Ave, Ocean View Blvd and Sunset Dr. - These roads will take you from Fisherman's Wharf to Cannery Row out past Lover's Point around the peninsula towards Pebble Beach and Carmel. You'll be able to see some of the nicest architecture, a view of the beaches and possibly some sea otters. Stay on the road that follows the coast and you won't get lost. A walking path runs the distance of these paths and can make for a pleasant afternoon walk.

See

• The Monterey Bay Aquarium, 886 Cannery Row. ph 831 648 4888 (24 hour information), 831 648 4800 (switchboard) or 800 555 3656 (Spanish). This large aquarium specializes in exhibiting local sea life. The best exhibits include a large tank of silver anchovies that swim around and around your head and three sea otters raised in the aquarium and now too tame to live in the wild. Best of all, perhaps, are the tanks of large jellyfish lit up so that they fluoresce. Admission is $20 adults, $18 seniors, $16 students, $9 children and disabled. Open 9:30am - 6pm May 29-Sept 6 and all holidays, 10am - 6pm at other times. http://www.mbayaq.org/

• The Carmel mission (One of the 21 Missions located along the California coast)

• Carmel by the Sea

• Dennis the Menace Park - A giant kids park that includes a full sized train, numerous bridges, ducks and geese you can feed and paddle boat rentals. One of the better free municipal parks in Northern California. It is located within a 10 minute walk south of Fisherman's wharf.

• Watch the Sea Lions at Fisherman's Wharf - Contrary to popular opinion the best place to watch the sea lions is not at the famous fisherman's wharf (with all the tourists) but instead on the more industrial wharf that is a short walk to the east of Fisherman's wharf. This wharf has a small fishing warehouse that is still in operation and as such there are numerous sea lions that have made this wharf their home. Walk out all the way to the end of the wharf past all of the fishermen, look down below the wharf and you will see them.

Do

• Play on the dunes and the shore at one of the city's five public beaches.
• Walk or bike along part of the 29 mile-long Monterey Bay Coastal Trail.
• Explore the unique estuary environment of Elkhorn Slough, either on foot or by kayak. http://www.elkhornslough.org/
• Scuba Diving, see some of the west coasts most spectacular kelp forests
• Get a panoramic view of the Monterey Bay (and Carmel to the south) from Jack's Peak, the highest point in Monterey County.
• Watch the hang gliders at Marine beach (in the town of Marina just south of Monterey)
• Laguna Seca Raceway - Famous indy car and motorcycle race track 1 (http://www.laguna-seca.com/)

Buy

Carmel is famous for its small wealthy shopping village.

Eat

Clam Chowder in sourdough bread. You can get it at Fisherman´s Wharf.

The Italian restaurant at the very end of the wharf is priced reasonably and affords a great view of the Sea lions playing in the harbor.

Drink

Monterey has many superb vineyards located within a short distance from the town. www.montereywines.org

Sleep

• Best Western Beach Resort Monterey, 2600 Sand Dunes Drive, (831) 394-3321, Toll-free: (800) 242-8627, Fax: (831) 393-1912, 2 (http://book.bestwestern.com/bestwestern/productInfo.do?propertyCode=05468).
• Best Western De Anza Inn, 2141 Fremont Street, (831) 646-8300, Fax: (831) 646-8130, 3 (http://book.bestwestern.com/bestwestern/productInfo.do?propertyCode=05345).
• Best Western Monterey Inn, 825 Abrego Street, (831) 373-5345, Toll-free: (877) 373-5345, Fax: (831) 373-3246, 4 (http://book.bestwestern.com/bestwestern/productInfo.do?propertyCode=05398).
• Best Western Park Crest Motel, 1100 Munras Avenue, (831) 372-4576, Fax: (831) 372-2317, 5 (http://book.bestwestern.com/bestwestern/productInfo.do?propertyCode=05067).
• Best Western Ramona Inn, 2332 Fremont Street, (831) 373-2445, Fax: (831) 373-6358, 6 (http://book.bestwestern.com/bestwestern/productInfo.do?propertyCode=05284).
• Best Western Victorian Inn, 487 Foam Street, (831) 373-8000, Toll-free: (800) 232-4141, Fax: (831) 373-4815, 7 (http://book.bestwestern.com/bestwestern/productInfo.do?propertyCode=05370).
• Holiday Inn Express, 443 Wave Street, (831) 372-1800, 8 (http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/6c/1/en/hd/mryex).
• Monterey Marriott, 350 Calle Principal, (831) 649-4234, Fax: (831) 372-2968, 9 (http://marriott.com/property/propertypage/MRYCA).
• Motel 6, 2124 North Fremont Street, (831) 646-8585, Fax: (831) 372-7429, 10 (http://www.motel6.com/reservations/motel_detail.asp?MotelId=0005&state=CA&full=California&city=Monterey).
• Sand Dollar Inn, 755 Abrego Street.
• Bed and Breakfasts, Many of the victorian style houses along the coast line have been transformed into bed and breakfasts. If your budget is up to it they make for excellent accommodation.

Get out

Drive along the coast to Santa Cruz on the Northern end of Monterey Bay, or continue South down to Big Sur and Carmel.

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