Dreaming of coastal views, marine life, and charming streets? Head to Monterey! This iconic seaside town on California’s Central Coast blends rich history, incredible ocean scenery, and world-class marine attractions. Whether you’re exploring Cannery Row, kayaking in the bay, or relaxing with fresh seafood, Monterey is a captivating coastal escape.
Monterey, CA Highlights:
- For Ocean Lovers: Visit the Monterey Bay Aquarium – Explore world-famous exhibits featuring sea otters, kelp forests, jellyfish, and more.
- For Nature Enthusiasts: Walk or bike the Monterey Bay Coastal Trail – Enjoy miles of waterfront trail past Cannery Row, beaches, and sea lions.
- For History Buffs: Tour historic sites in Old Monterey – See California’s first theater, customs house, and charming adobe buildings.
- For Couples: Drive the scenic 17-Mile Drive – Wind past dramatic coastal cliffs, golf courses, and the iconic Lone Cypress.
- For Families: Go kayaking or whale watching in Monterey Bay – Paddle near otters or spot humpback whales on a guided marine tour.
Best Time to Visit Monterey, CA
The best time to visit Monterey is in spring and fall (April–May and September–October). These months offer fewer crowds, pleasant weather, and ideal conditions for outdoor exploration. Summer is popular but can bring coastal fog, while winter offers quieter charm and seasonal whale watching.
How to Get to Monterey, CA
- By Car: Located along California’s scenic Highway 1, Monterey is about 2 hours south of San Francisco and 5 hours north of Los Angeles.
- By Plane: Monterey Regional Airport (MRY) offers flights from cities like San Diego, Seattle, and Phoenix.
- By Bus: Monterey-Salinas Transit (MST) offers regional connections, including service from nearby Salinas Amtrak station.
Where to Stay in Monterey, CA
- Recommended for Families: Spindrift Inn – Oceanfront boutique hotel on Cannery Row with fireplaces and complimentary breakfast-in-bed.
- For Couples: InterContinental The Clement Monterey – Stylish and romantic with spa services, ocean views, and luxury accommodations.
- For Budget Travelers: Monterey Bay Lodge – Comfortable, affordable lodging with a pool, just a short walk from Del Monte Beach.
Best Things to Do in Monterey, CA
1. Monterey Bay Aquarium
Rating: ★★★★★
Founded in 1984, the Monterey Bay Aquarium is a public aquarium located on the site of a former sardine cannery on Cannery Row. The aquarium has many large tanks and pools that display the marine life of the California coast and features more than 600 species of plants and animals.
The Ocean's Edge Wing boasts giant kelp forests which can be viewed at several levels throughout the building, while the Open Sea galleries teem with an array of sea creatures including jellyfish, stingrays and sea otters (the only sea mammal that the aquarium holds).
The Monterey Bay Aquarium remains one a few aquariums worldwide to exhibit certain species like the sunfish, as well as the huge Bluefin and yellowfin tuna. A special tank called the Kreisel tank was built to hold the jellyfish, creating a circular flow of water to suspend them.
886 Cannery Row, Monterey, CA 93940, Phone: 831-648-4800, Monterey Bay Aquarium Video
2. Monterey Museum of Art (MMA)
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Founded in 1959, the Monterey Museum of Art , (MMA) houses a collection of artworks from the nineteenth century to the present day, specializing in California Art.
The Museum showcases a permanent collection of over 14,000 objects across a variety of genres, contemporary art, photography, and early California painting. Highlights of the collection include works by famous artists like photographer Ansel Adams.
The museum provides a broad base of educational and community programs, workshops, art classes and summer camps for learners and educators, as well as docent programs.
559 Pacific Street, Monterey, CA 93940, Phone: 831-372-5477
3. Cannery Row, Monterey
The historic district of Cannery Row in Monterey was introduced to the world through renowned writer John Steinbeck’s colorful stories, and has since become one of the Californian Central Coast’s most popular vacation destinations. If you are wondering what to do in Monterey today, this is a great place to start exploring.
Once the site for a busy sardine canning industry, today former cannery buildings are packed with restaurants, hotels, shops, and historic attractions. Cannery Row also hosts several privately owned fishing companies based on the piers near the historic district frequented by tourists.
The Monterey Bay Aquarium is located at the north end of Cannery Row, while MacAbee and San Carlos Beach, which bookend the Row, are favorite spots for kayaking and scuba diving.
4. Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary
The Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary is one of the nation's most spectacular marine protected areas and boasts some of the best wildlife viewings in the world.
The marine sanctuary stretches along the central coast from San Francisco to Cambria in a display of beaches, shimmering tide pools, thick kelp forests, steep canyons and offshore seamounts teeming with marine life.
Experience the beauty of the sanctuary with a range of outdoor activities and adventures, such as exploring the tidal pools, fishing for salmon, diving among the kelp forests or kayaking along the shoreline as you watch for whales.
If you are looking for fun things to do in Monterey with kids, this place is a must-see.
Visit the interpretive visitor’s center at San Simeon or Santa Cruz, where you can enjoy an array of interactive exhibits and informative programs about the sanctuary, with trained volunteers on hand to enrich and enhance your experience.
35 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz, CA 95060, Phone: 831-421-9993
What to do if you are traveling with kids:
5. Monterey Bay Coastal Recreational Trail
The Monterey Bay Coastal Recreational Trail is a popular paved path that hugs the coastline, following the same route as the grand old Southern Pacific Railway. Beginning in Castroville in the north and stretching for 18 miles to Pacific Grove in the south, the recreational trail is for those looking to enjoy the great outdoors and get some exercise at the same time.
The path runs along the waterfront trail, which includes Fisherman's Wharf, Cannery Row and the Monterey Bay Aquarium, as well as many beautiful beaches, landscaped parks and historic sites. Hike the trail or grab some wheels in the form of a bicycle, in-line skates, or the six person canopied quadricycles. If you prefer to follow the trail in other ways, rent a kayak, paddleboard or surfboard and hit the water.
6. Fisherman's Wharf Monterey
A historic wharf in Monterey that was once used as an active wholesale fish market up until the 1960s, Fisherman's Wharf Monterey is now one of the city’s most popular tourist attractions. Locals refer to it as The Old Fisherman's Wharf to distinguish it from the current commercial wharf.
Fisherman's Wharf is a vibrant hive of activity with a plethora of seafood restaurants, ranging from casual, open-air clam bars to fine dining eateries with spectacular views of the bay. Nestled between the restaurants are some small souvenir and gift shops, art galleries, jewelry stores, and candy shops.
Numerous tour companies offer whale watching and deep sea fishing trips where the wharf’s pilings, buoys, and moored boats remain favorite sleeping spots for the large sea lions that frequent the bay.
1 Old Fishermans Wharf, Monterey, CA 93940, Phone: 831-238-0777
If you are a photographer, don't miss:
7. Monterey State Historic Park
Explore the history of Monterey with a visit to the Monterey State Historic Park, home to a collection of significant historic houses and buildings that played important roles in the heritage of the region.
Known as the “Monterey Walking Path of History”, this fascinating area has no less than 12 buildings, including the Custom House, one of oldest government buildings in California, and several homes which now serve as public museums that offer guided tours.
Yellow-tiled markers mark the path through the Monterey State Historic Park where you will discover the history of California.
Walk the same streets taken by Robert Louis Stevenson in 1879, explore where Spanish explorers first landed, and admire one of the nation’s last remaining whalebone sidewalks. Finish your stay with a visit to the Monterey Customs House, where the American flag was first raised over California in 1846.
20 Custom House Plaza, Monterey, California 93940, Phone: 831-649-7118
Activities and Attractions for Couples and Singles:
8. Monterey County Youth Museum (MY Museum)
The Monterey County Youth Museum (MY Museum) was established in 1997 to provide an environment for young children to explore, discover and learn through curiosity and creativity.
Located on Washington Street, the museum is ideally surrounded by the Monterey Sports Center and Dennis the Menace Park and boasts a variety of interactive, hands-on exhibits and exploratory displays aimed at children under the age of 10.
Fun exhibits include “MY Day at the Beach”, “MY Hospital”, “MY Build a Home”, and “MY Creation Station”, all of which allow children to learn through discovery. The museum also holds special events throughout the year and can be rented for birthday parties and other functions.
425 Washington Street, Monterey, California 93940, Phone: 831-649-6444, (website link)
9. El Estero Park
El Estero Park is a recreational park that wraps around Lake El Estero and hosts a variety of outdoor activities for locals to enjoy, as well as a themed play park for young children.
Winding around the edge of the lake is the El Estero Exercise Course, a wide pathway where visitors can hike or bicycle around the lake and enjoy the beautiful natural scenery. The 1.2-mile ‘parcourse’ has three exercise station clusters around the lake, where users can get a well-balanced and full-body workout.
Designed by local skateboarders, Monterey Skate Park is a family-friendly facility open to all ages where skateboarders and in-line skaters can test their skills. Meanwhile, fishermen can delight in the bounty of trout, perch and blackfish filling the lake. Anglers can fish off Lake El Estero's fishing piers which are located on the Pearl Street bridges.
The park's popular Dennis the Menace Playground is a firm favorite with small children, with several play structures, slides, a climbing wall, a hedge maze and a giant adventure ship that will keep them occupied for hours.
798 Del Monte Ave, Monterey, CA 93940, Phone: 831-646-3866
10. Monterey Jazz Festival
The Monterey Jazz Festival is the world's longest running jazz festival and takes place on 20 acres of magnificent oak-studded grounds in the heart of the city. Fans can enjoy seven stages of live jazz entertainment, exhibitions, an international shopping bazaar, food and beverages stalls, films and interactions with the Festival's stars.
Taking place in September each year for three days and two nights, this year the festival will feature world-renowned artists such as Chick Corea, Wynton Marsalis, and Ambrose Akinmusire. The festival also presents a Jazz Legends Gala, where the venerable Monterey Jazz Festival Jazz Legends Award is presented to a leading contributor to the world of Jazz on the eve of the Festival each year.
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