Cannery Row

765 Wave St.

Monterey CA

831-649-6690 When Monterey's sardine industry was at its peak, John Steinbeck made this mile-long street famous with his novel Cannery Row. Today, it is a tourist attraction, with souvenir shops, theme restaurants and coffee shops. The building at 800 Cannery Row belonged to Ed "Doc" Ricketts, a close friend of the author and a central character in the novel. It is open now only on special occasions. Directly across the street, next to Mackerel Jacks, is Steinbeck's actual neighborhood, now commemorated by plaques explaining the highlights and significance of the buildings.

Fisherman's Wharf Once a dock for sardine fishermen and their nets, Fisherman's Wharf is now the center of activity for whale watching and other cruises.  It is a popular spot for walking the waterfront, shopping, and dining.  Sea kayaks, bicycles, surfboards and even authentic reproductions of Ford's Model A Roadster are for rent.

Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary

299 Foam St.

Monterey, Monterey Peninsula.

831-647-4201.

The largest marine sanctuary in the U.S., it extends along the coast from the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco south to San Simeon. The coastal area abounds with a variety of invertebrates, fish and seabirds (including several on the endangered species list, such as the American peregrine falcon and the short-tailed albatross.) Monterey Bay Aquarium guides offer an underwater introduction. 

Monterey Bay Aquarium

886 Cannery Row

Monterey CA 93940

831-648-4888

From rocky tide pools to the open sea, the permanent exhibits at the renowned Monterey Bay Aquarium, Monterey's top attraction, showcase the staggering abundance of marine life in Monterey Bay, the largest national marine sanctuary in the country and home to the submerged Monterey Canyon, an underwater canyon twice as deep as the Grand Canyon. Sea otters, jellyfish and a million-gallon indoor ocean showcase the mysteries of Monterey Bay with a three-story kelp forest, tide pools, penguins and many fascinating open sea creatures.

Monterey Museum of Art (Civic Center)

559 Pacific St., Monterey CA 93940

831-372-5477

A small town museum with a cosmopolitan and educational edge, the Monterey Museum of Art has two locations. The Civic Center Museum includes a variety of local and Californian artists in a variety of mediums. Most notable are the Monterey Museum of Art's significant collections of works by Ansel Adams, Armin Hansen, William Ritschel and Edward Weston.

Monterey Museum of Art (La Mirada)

720 Via Morada , Monterey CA 93940

831-372-3689

A smaller, more intimate Monterey museum, the Monterey Museum of Art La Mirada is located in the Monterey's oldest neighborhood, in once was once an adobe house and was later an elaborate home for entertaining celebrities. Gardens, unique furnishings and a historical feel, as well as the Monterey Museum of Art's Asian Collection.

The Presidio of Monterey Museum

Lower Presidio Historic Park

Corporal Ewing Road

Monterey, CA

831-636-3456

The museum traces the history of this site from the time of the Native American settlements through its military history beginning with the mission and presidio established by Spanish missionary Junipero Serra and Captain Gaspar de Portola.  Exhibits include the Spanish and Mexican periods and the facility’s development as a cavalry post. 

Monterey State Historical Park

20 Custom House Plaza

Monterey CA 93940

831-649-7118

A cluster of historic Monterey buildings and manicured gardens near Old Monterey.   The Monterey State Historical Park brings the varied history of the area to life with guided walking tours of some of California's oldest buildings, including the adobe Custom House, built in the 1840s, an old whaling station and the Pacific House, a Monterey museum exploring Monterey's history as a Native American village, and the capital of Mexico's Alta California.

Stevenson House and Garden

530 Houston Street

Monterey, CA

Author Robert Louis Stevenson spent time in residency here (it was then known as “The French Hotel”), writing Vendetta of the West and outlining Prince Otto and Amateur Emigrant.  An early Mexican garden is on the grounds.

Touring the area surrounding Monterey

National Steinbeck Center

Main St., Salinas, Monterey Peninsula.

831-796-3833

Daily 10 am-5 pm, closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Day and Easter.  Salinas, John Steinbeck’s birthplace, is the home of the National Steinbeck Center. This museum and cultural center contain interactive exhibits and theaters dedicated to the author's literary work. Despite winning both the Pulitzer and Nobel prizes for literature, Steinbeck wasn't much appreciated by his hometown during his lifetime. That has changed. In August, the town hosts the three-day Steinbeck Festival (films, lectures, tours).

17-Mile Drive A scenic route along the length of the Monterey Peninsula.  This magnificent stretch of road winds along the Pacific coastline, an area dotted with mansions in addition to dramatic vistas and areas of protected forest. It begins in Carmel and passes through Pacific Grove to Pebble Beach. Stop and see the most photographed tree in the world, the Lone Cypress; witness the powerful, crashing waves at the Restless Sea; or take a hike on one of the area's many nature trails to catch a glimpse of some protected wildlife.

  Point Lobos State Reserve

U.S. Highway 1, just south of Carmel-by-the-Sea, Monterey Peninsula.

831-624-4909.

Winter hours are 9 am-5 pm, with extended hours in summer. A small fee is charged for auto entry. Hikers and bikers get in free. 

The Reserve is just a short drive south of Carmel-by-the-Sea on U.S. Highway 1. The beauty of the 1,250 acres of rugged rocky coastline, dotted  with irregular coves and rolling meadows, is outstanding. Sea otters and harbor seals can be seen. A spout of mist out in the ocean may be a gray whale migrating up or down the coast. Guided or self-guided nature walks are possible, as well as easy to moderate hiking trails. Scuba divers, embarking from Bluefish and Whaler's Cove, prize the waters off Point Lobos State Reserve for their biological diversity and chance whale and dolphin sightings.

Monterey Bay Coastal Trail This paved biking, in-line-skating and walking trail is ideal for those who want a leisurely trip along the waterfront while taking in beautiful coastal vistas. It follows most of the bay's coastline from Marina in the north to Carmel-by-the-Sea in the south. Part of the trail formerly belonged to the Southern Pacific Railroad. Bikers and hikers can enter Pebble Beach's 17-Mile Drive free.

Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park

Big Sur CA

Big Sur's Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park is home to ancient redwoods, cascading waterfalls, secluded ocean coves and rocky islands. Over 2000 acres of preserved wilderness, the Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park is a highly recommended Big Sur attraction. The Big Sur Lodge is an idyllic refuge located within the wooded confines of the Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park.

Carmel Mission

Rio Road, Carmel CA

831-624-3600

A working Catholic church since 1770, the Carmel Mission is a Monterey attraction of significant religious importance, housing some of the most important artifacts of California's mission period. An on-site museum showcases California's first library and recreates the day-to-day life of the Mission's priests and Native American subjects.

Mazda Laguna Seca Raceway

Monterey CA

800-327-SECA