Monterey resident, author Robert Louis Stevenson, described the Monterey peninsula as:  "the greatest meeting of land and water in the world."  The beautiful seaside community of Monterrey combines all the charm of small town America with an endless variety of recreational and cultural activities.

Monterey lies on the Monterey Peninsula which ranges in altitude from sea level to 360 feet.  State highway 1 winds through redwood forests, along  sheer cliffs, and past fishing piers, the blue Pacific, and white sandy beaches as it moves along the spectacular Big Sur Coast.  It is one of the most scenic and dramatic stretches of road in the world.  This continuous, scenic road that follows the coastal curves of the bay is the world famous 17-Mile Drive. Exclusive Pebble Beach with its well-known golf courses is located along it.

Monterey, the largest bay town, lies in the center of the peninsula and has three major areas to explore: Old Monterey, with its historic adobe buildings; Cannery Row; and Fishermen's Wharf.

The Monterey Bay Aquarium is the centerpiece of Cannery Row.  It has one of the largest displays of underwater life in the world. Highlights include a 335,000 gallon Kelp Forest tank, a touch pool where you can pet bat rays, a two-story exhibit devoted to sea otters, and a "Drifters Gallery," with swirling, multicolored jellyfish..

A Path of History connects the 37 sites of the Monterey State Historic Park. The sites can be entered as part of a ninety-minute guided historic walking tour that leaves hourly from the park's Stanton Center.  Included on the old Monterey portion of the tour is Larkin House whose original owner, Thomas Larkin, pioneered the Monterey style of architecture.  This consisted of two story adobe houses with Greek revival-style balconies and other ornamentation.  

The Monterey Bay Peninsula has fairly constant 65 degree temperatures and more than 200 annual special events, making the area a popular destination. Dining is a delight in  Monterey.   There are a multitude of fine local California wines available, as well as fresh seafood and regional produce.   Most restaurants plan their menus around what is in season.

Nearby Pacific Grove is known as "Butterfly Town USA.”    Millions of orange and black monarch butterflies winter there each year. A bicycle path runs the two miles to Pacific Grove, along Cannery Row. 

Monterey's rich history, the saga of California's Mission Trail, historic Fisherman's Wharf and Cannery Row, 17 world-class golf courses, the world's best aquarium, a unique variety of shops and galleries and a spectacular assortment of parks and natural areas combine to provide a fantastic vacation destination.

  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

Historic motor races, revved-up Porches and classic Indy cars take to the track at Monterey's Laguna Seca Raceway. The season officially begins in May.

Population: 29,674

Time Zone: Pacific Time Zone. When it is 12:00 noon in New York City, it is 9:00AM in Monterey. Daylight Saving Time is observed from the end of April- the end of October.

Elevation: 60 feet

Land area: 29,674 sq. feet

Location: The Monterey Bay Peninsula is considered part of central California and is located 74 miles south of San Francisco on U.S. Highway 1. The bay itself is about 19 miles across at its entrance. The Pacific Grove and Monterey coastline is protected as a marine garden fish refuge. Point Lobos and Carmel Bay are ecological reserves, with strict regulations on fishing or the taking of any marine life. Farmland, vineyards and ranches dominate the eastern part of the peninsula, with the Santa Lucia mountains serving as a backdrop.

Average Temperatures:

Weather-related tips: When touring or hiking, dress in “layers”, as the temperature can be warm one minute, and then drop rapidly as clouds or fog move in from the ocean.

Holidays Observed:

New Year's Day Jan. 1

Martin Luther King, Jr., Day 3rd Mon. in Jan.

Lincoln’s Birthday February 12

Washington’s Birthday 3rd Monday in February

Memorial Day last Mon. in May

Independence Day July 4

Labor Day 1st Mon. in September

Admission Day September 9

Columbus Day 2nd Monday in October

Veteran’s Day November 11

Thanksgiving Day 4th Thurs. in Nov.

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Dec. 24 and 25

New Year's Eve Dec. 31

Major Area Airports

Los Angeles International Airport - Airport Code: LAX

Los Angeles, CA

Ontario International Airport - Airport Code: ONT

Ontario, CA

Local Airport

Monterey Peninsula Airport

This airport serves the central California coast. Regular flights are available to Los Angeles, San Francisco and Phoenix.

Airport Transportation

Monterey-Salinas Transit provides bus service to the greater Monterey and Salinas areas, King City, Big Sur and on to Watsonville and Gilroy. Service originates from the Monterey Transit Plaza, in central Monterey, and the Salinas Transit Center, in downtown Salinas. Bus stops are marked with an MST sign.

By Car

The best way to tour the Monterey Peninsula is to rent a car. Car rentals are available at the Monterey International Airport located close to the bay. However, almost all of the area's beach towns can be explored by foot.

Events

December 31-Jan. 1First Night Monterey Downtown Monterey Tel: 831-373-4778 Celebration of New Year's Eve through the arts. Music, dances, poetry, special installations and exhibits from 2pm to midnight indoors and out throughout historic downtown Monterey. Alcohol-free event for the entire family

Mid-January Monterey SwingFest Monterey Tel: 805-937-1574 Dance workshops feature past and present world and national champions, plus open dancing until 5am. Presented by Central Coast Swing Dance.

Early March Dixieland Monterey Monterey Tel: 831-633-5053 Hotline: 888-349-6879 Three days of top-notch Dixieland and Swing in various venues in downtown Monterey. Featuring top national jazz bands, local youth bands, the Diva Show, gospel Sunday morning, and more.

March National Marine Sanctuary Annual Symposium Monterey Tel: 831-647-4255 Special annual symposium features speakers from MBARI, Moss Landing Research Station, and more. This year’s event focuses on health of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.

April Annual Sea Otter Classic Laguna Seca, Monterey Tel: 650-364-7612 The unabashed celebration of all things cycling, the Sea Otter Classic is a four-day bicycle circus. This massive event features fun rides, road racing, mountain bike racing, BMX, kids events, and a large expo that showcases the latest in cycling hardware, clothing and goods. Racers range from first timers to Olympic champions. All kids events are free of charge.

April Monterey Wine Festival Monterey Tel: 800-656-4282 or 831-656-WINE Enjoy some of California's finest wines at the 29th annual festival. Variety of tastings, educational seminars, and cooking demonstrations at various sites in Monterey.

May-September Historic Garden Tours Monterey Tel: 831-647-6204 Take a fascinating tour of Monterey's best-kept secret. Learn about plant lore, identification, and uses. Tours begin in the Cooper-Molera Adobe courtyard and then proceed to the Stevenson House and (if time) Larkin House gardens. Tuesdays at 1pm.

May Month of Sundays at La MiradaTel: 831-649-7118 A month-long series of lighthearted social events at the Monterey Museum of Art’s La Mirada Gallery.

May Red, White and a Little Blues - Some Rock and Latin, Too! Monterey Tel: 831-655-8070 A Memorial Day red-white-and-blue festival, with live blues, rock and Latin music from 11am-4pm, arts, crafts, and more, all filling Monterey's Alvarado Street. 

May 15 Ed "Doc" Ricketts Birthday Party Monterey Tel: 831-372-8512 An evening celebration of the life and times of Ed Ricketts, held on his birthday at Kalisa's La Ida Cafe on Cannery Row.

May 15 Ed "Doc" Ricketts Lab Tours Monterey Tel: 831-372-8512 Once a year opportunity to tour the lab of Ed "Doc" Ricketts, revolutionary marine biologist and friend of John Steinbeck, on Cannery Row. Reservations strongly recommended for hourly tours (10am-4pm), donation.

May 19-21 Cooking for Solutions Monterey Bay Aquarium, Monterey Tel: 831-644-7561 Notable chefs gather in a three-day extravaganza dedicated to sustainable seafood. Events include a reception, tasting gala, cooking demonstrations, and farm and vineyard tours.

June-July Aquarium Adventures Monterey Bay Aquarium, Monterey Aquarium Adventures introduce kids and their families to the fascinating world below the sea surface, including a chance to surface SCUBA dive in the Great Tide Pool of the Aquarium. Reservations are essential; check the website for details.

Late June Monterey Bay Blues Festival Monterey Fairgrounds Tel: 831-394-2652 Three stages of matchless blues and R-and-B, presented by a festival dedicated to preserving this unique American art form. The Festival includes 56 acts during three days of music

Saturdays in July Historical Walking Tours Monterey Tel: 831-372-2608, ext 11 Learn about Monterey's fishing heritage during a free one hour guided walk, starting at the Monterey Maritime Museum at 1:00pm.

Sundays in July Summer Sunday Lecture Series Monterey Tel: 831-372-2608, ext 11 Drop by Monterey's Maritime Museum at 1:00pm for a free one-hour talk on an aspect of Historic Monterey, from architecture to the economy to the city's myriad cultures.

July 3 The Great Race Monterey Cheer at the finish line as the country's oldest and longest vintage car race runs from Jacksonville, Florida, to Monterey over 15 days. The classic cars will travel along Cannery Row and Alvarado Street before the race ends at Custom House Plaza.

July Saturdays Summer Nights Celebration Monterey Bay Aquarium, Monterey The Monterey Bay Aquarium takes on a different mood after dark, and Saturday visitors in July are invited to experience it

July 4 Community Fourth of July Parade Monterey Tel: 831-646-3866 The day starts at 10am with a gala parade down Alvarado Street, followed by a BBQ picnic and live music on the lawn before historic Colton Hall, and fireworks over Monterey Bay at 9:15pm.

July 4 Living History Day in Old Monterey Monterey Tel: 831-647-6204 Travel back in time and find out what life was like in the 1840s. At the historic Cooper-Molera Adobe you will meet a gardener, cook, rancher, soldier and more.  Activities and fun for all ages.

July Race Night on the Row Cannery Row, Monterey Cannery Row hosts live entertainment and the street becomes a cruise for hundreds of top-line motorcycles. Street closure, except for cruising and parking motorcycles, from 6-10 pm. Free.

July Sloat Landing Ceremony Monterey Tel: 831-372-2608, ext 13 Annual commemoration of Commodore John Drake Sloat's landing in Monterey in 1846. He claimed California for the United States, joining the nation "from sea to shining sea." Ceremony in Custom House Plaza at 1:00pm.

July Rock and Art Festival Monterey Fairgrounds Tel: 831-899-1007 A day around the Garden Stage in the Monterey County Fairgrounds, celebrating rock-n-roll through music and artworks.

Late July Turkish Festival Custom House Plaza, Monterey Tel: 831-655-7509 A celebration of Turkish culture and arts, featuring live music and folk dances, dance workshops, belly dancing, crafts, and delicious food.

July - August (Wednesdays only) Musical Marketplace Monterey: 831-373-2705 Wednesday evenings through high summer, enjoy live music and benefit food-and-wine tastings at Monterey's Del Monte Center, 5:30-8pm.

Early August Annual Steinbeck Festival National Steinbeck Center Salinas Tel: 831-775-4737 Four days of films, speakers, panels, theater, and bus or walking tours, all celebrating John Steinbeck.

August  Annual Scottish Games and Celtic Festival Toro Park Monterey-Salinas Hwy Tel: 831-647-6311 A festival celebrating Scottish and Irish traditions and culture. Featuring a Celtic concert, clans, food, entertainment and competitions in dancing, bagpipe bands and athletics.

Mid-August Annual Monterey Sports Car Auction Monterey Tel: 800-211-4371 One of the world's largest sports car auctions, featuring 180 classic sports and race cars. Viewing available over three days.

Mid-August Annual Rolex Monterey Historic Automobile Races Presented by Chrysler

August Monterey County Fair Monterey County Fairgrounds Tel: 831-372-5863 The County Fair is always fun for all, with livestock exhibitions, a wine-tasting booth, amusement midway and delicious foods, plus great live entertainment.

August Annual Winemaker's Celebration Monterey Tel: 831-375-9400 Nearly 40 Monterey County wineries pour new releases and special wines in Monterey's Custom House Plaza. Also featuring educational exhibits (grapevine pruning, barrel building, cork display), live music and silent auction.

Early September Annual Greek Festival Monterey Tel: 831-424-4434 An ethnic festival featuring authentic Greek food, live music, traditional dancing, a taverna and crafts.

Mid-September Festa Italia-Santa Rosalia Festival Monterey Tel: 831-649-6544 Italian music, bocce competitions, arts and crafts, delicious Italian food.

Mid-September Monterey Jazz Festival Monterey County Fairgrounds Monterey Tel: 925-275-9255 Nonstop jazz at the oldest continuous jazz festival in the world. Top names in jazz, plus colorful gifts, food, jazz photo/art exhibits, jazz clinics/seminars and more.

October 13 California Constitution Day Monterey Tel: 831-646-5640 Re-enactment of California's first Constitutional Convention on the original site where it was drafted in 1849.

Mid-October Big Sur Half Marathon & 5K Run Monterey Tel: 831-625-6226 Two fun-filled events for runners at all levels. The Big Sur Half Marathon begins and ends in downtown Monterey, taking in Cannery Row and Pacific Grove along the way. The "Run Forrest Run 5K" is sponsored by Bubba Gump's restaurant, complete with entertainment along the course.

Mid-November 8th Great Wine Escape Weekend Monterey Tel: 831-375-9400 Celebrate the vendange at Monterey County wineries and restaurants as they roll out the red carpet for a weekend of self-guided and narrated bus tours, open houses, winemaker dinners Friday and Saturday nights, and live entertainment.

Late November 10th Annual Cannery Row Christmas Tree Lighting Monterey Tel: 831-649-6690 "Snow on the Row." Annual tree lighting, caroling and arrival of Santa Claus.

December   

Monterey Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony Monterey Tel: 831-646-5640 Gather on the lawn outside Town Hall to watch the lighting of the town's tree: caroling and good cheer abound!

December Annual Monterey Cowboy Poetry and Music Festival Monterey Tel: 1-800-722-9652 The best cowboy poets and balladeers are featured in a 3-day weekend event also showcasing western artists and gear makers.

December Annual Christmas in the Adobes Monterey Tel: 831-649-7118 Experience Monterey's beautiful historic buildings illuminated by candlelight and enhanced with period decorations, musical entertainment, costumed volunteers and refreshments.

December   Brighten The Harbor Monterey Tel: 831-657-0855 Boats decorated with Christmas lights parade from the Coast Guard Pier to Lover's Point and back. A judging of boats will follow at the Yacht Club.

December La Posada Monterey Tel: 831-646-3866 A traditional Christmas candlelight parade led by Joseph and Mary with participants singing Spanish and English Christmas carols. A pinata party with refreshments follows.

December 31-Jan. 1First Night Monterey Downtown Monterey Tel: 831-373-4778 Celebration of New Year's Eve through the arts. Music, dances, poetry, special installations and exhibits from 2pm to midnight indoors and out throughout historic downtown Monterey. Alcohol-free event for the entire family.

Monterey Bay Aquarium

886 Cannery Row, Monterey CA 93940

Tel. 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 breach twice as deep as the Grand Canyon. Furry-faced sea otters, nimble jellyfish and a million-gallon indoor ocean showcase the mysteries of Monterey Bay with a three-story kelp forest, tide pools, penguins and a panorama of open sea creatures.

Dennis the Menace Playground

Lake El Estero Park

Monterey, CA

831-646-3866

Daily 10AM-dusk.  Free.

Hank Ketchum, creator of Dennis the Menace, aided in the park’s development.  It contains climbing structures, slides, a balancing bridge, a maze, a railroad switch engine, and a lion-shaped drinking fountain.           

My Museum

601 Wave Street

Monterey, CA

831-649-6444

Tues.-Thurs. 10-5; Sun. noon-5. 

Admission charged.

This hands-on children’s museum offers interactive exhibits in which a child can pretend to be fisherman on cannery row; a puppeteer; a weaver (the finished product can be taken home); or a house builder.   

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.