From Wikitravel

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

[edit] Understand

Monterey was established in 1770 by Father Junipero Serra. During its long history 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.

Rugged terrain and vicious Pacific currents made much of the California coast virtually unexplorable to European ships. After a disastrous attempt to explore this new territory by sea, Spanish missionaries in Mexico launched a series of overland expeditions from San Diego. Monterey soon became a Spanish military base with a small fort or "presidio" located near a calm harbor that could provide shelter to supply ships. The military presence eventually gave way to a thriving commercial trade that brought in many enterprising foreign merchants.

Once Mexico gained its independence from Spain, Monterey became the capital of Alta California under Mexican rule. From this era come many classic stories of flirtation, fashion, and politics in the Mexican colonial era. Lands once owned by the government began to come into private hands, and local families began to consolidate their property and power into business enterprises based on the ranches or "ranchos," where they raised cattle or invented the famous Monterey Jack cheese.

Monterey soon fell under American power in the Mexican-American War and remained the capital of the territory. A delegation of writers drafted the constitution which marked the entrance of the State of California into the United States of America. This era saw the mass northward migration of ambitious people in search of gold, which led to a near desertion of the town. Monterey soon recovered, however, and today is known for its magnificent natural beauty, world famous Aquarium, and temperate year-round climate.

The Monterey Peninsula has the largest population of sea otters on the California coast. The abundance of marine wildlife visible from the shoreline is one of the primary attractions of the region. Seals, sea lions, sea otters are visible year-round, and migrating whales are commonly seen in the fall and spring months.

For a wonderful account of Monterey's history, check out "Monterey County: The Dramatic Story of Its Past," written by a local author.

[edit] Get in

[edit] By Car

Monterey is located on State Highway 1, which meanders slowly along the coast. It's about 25 miles 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.

• 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. State Route 17 through the Santa Cruz mountains is often highly congested, filled with sharp curves and corners drivers take at high speed, and is occasionally blocked by accidents. Even though highway 101 takes you out of the way, it is often faster than State Route 17.

Note... taken at the right time of day and in good weather, Hwy 17 can actually be enjoyable, but realize it is in fact very curvy and hilly and won't provide the option for much sightseeing as a result. Although it is oft traveled by road-warrior locals, even an everyday, confident driver could take it on. But as forewarned - don't expect it to be a timesaver at busy driving times (unless of course Santa Cruz is your final destination and you are heading South). Do otherwise opt for routes 101 and 156W if you're rushed or it's a busy time.

[edit] By Train

Amtrak's Coast Starlight passes through nearby Salinas. Amtrak runs a bus service from the station to the major hotels of Monterey.

[edit] By Air

The recently reorganized Monterey Peninsula Airport offers regular flights to San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Denver, Salt Lake City, and Las Vegas. From the airport a short drive will take you west along Highway 68 and onto southbound Highway 1, where the two right lanes lead straight downtown.

[edit] 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.

Alvarado Street serves as downtown Monterey's "main drag." It is along this road that you will find superb restaurants, a selection of bars, and many unique shops. Monterey's compact downtown is very walkable. WARNING: Monterey shopping area (Cannery, Aquarium, Shops) has an aggressive, expensive parking ticket policy. A few minutes over at a meter and you will be welcomed to town with a $25 parking ticket.

A car is advisable if you plan on taking any side trips to surrounding towns. Garage parking is available, and street parking is often free for periods of two hours, on weekends, and after 6pm. Many local hotels offer parking for an additional charge.

Monterey-Salinas Transit [1] provides relatively convenient public bus service to the nearby towns of Carmel and Pacific Grove, as well as to historical Salinas and breathtaking Big Sur. MST also provides a "wine route" which stops at several of the area's most notable wineries [2]. MST also runs a trolley like bus [3] through Monterey's downtown during the summer months and especially busy weekends.

[edit][add listing] See

• Monterey Bay Aquarium, 886 Cannery Row, ph: 831-648-4888 (24 hour information), 831 648-4800 (switchboard) or 800-555-3656 (Spanish), [4]. 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.

• Monterey County Fairgrounds, located at Fairgrounds Road, the fairgrounds hosts the annual Monterey Jazz Festival and hosted a one-time Monterey Pop Festival (in 1967). Other music festivals occur throughout the year, and the locally famous Monterey County Fair occurs every year in late August.

• The Carmel Mission, 3080 Rio Road, Carmel. +1 831 624-1271 (Fax: +1 831 624-8050). [5]. One of the 21 Missions located along the California coast. Father Serra, the leader behind the greater Spanish mission to California, is buried along with his most faithful lieutenant at the front of the church. Self-guided tours take you through the remaining original buildings which now hold exhibits, a small museum, and a gift shop. Catholic Masses occur regularly. M-Sa:9:30AM-5PM; Su: 10:30AM-5PM. Adults: $5; Seniors: $4; Children under 17: $1.

• Presidio of Monterey Museum, Corporal Ewing Road (from Lighthouse Blvd. heading east, follow the signs to the Museum), ☎ +1 831 646-3456 (fax: +1 831 646-3917), [6]. M: 10 am-1pm; Th-Sa: 10am-4pm; Su: 1pm-4pm; Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years Day. Gives the history of the Presidio of Monterey from pre-history through the War on Terror. Free.  edit

• 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. The park is closed on Tuesdays.

• Watch the Sea Lions at the Wharfs Contrary to popular opinion one of the best places 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. Another great place to spot sea lions up close is at the end of the Coast Guard wharf. Harbor Seals can be seen through a fence, west of the Stanford research station(west of the aquarium), or in the calm waters next to Fishermans Wharf.

[edit][add listing] Do

• Play on the dunes and the shore at one of the city's five public beaches. Enjoy a romantic or family style Monterey bonfire on the beach.
• Walk or bike along part of the 29 mile-long (47 kilometer-long) Monterey Bay Coastal Trail. Bikes available for rent at several places along the path. Multi-passenger surrey bikes are particularly popular and available for rent [7].
• Explore the unique estuary environment of Elkhorn Slough [8], either on foot or by kayak. (Very nice trip, but not in Monterey, 23 miles north on hwy 1 by car)
• Monterey Bay Kayaks, 693 Del Monte Avenue, [9] offers kayaking equipment rentals as well as guided kayaking tours, classes, and fishing trips.
• Catch a performance at the historic Wharf Theater [10]. Shows often include local interpretations of hit musicals.
• The recently refurbished Golden State Theatre [11] offers diverse, family-friendly shows centering around the themes of classic cinema and musical theater. It's worth a trip just to see the ornate interior of the theater.
• Several companies [12] offer year-round whale watching boat tours, departing daily from Fisherman's Wharf. The area is particularly famous for sightings of gray whales as they travel to warmer waters during the winter and early spring.
• Guide yourself through Monterey's historical heritage by following the Path of History. Follow the yellow plaques in the sidewalk to take in some of the town's most intriguing buildings. Informational signs are posted at each stop. Maps can be found at the California State Parks office near Customs House Plaza. Guided tours are also available.
• Visit local museums. The Pacific House Museum offers detailed displays on local history and Native American life. The Maritime Museum showcases exhibits that revolve around Monterey's seaside location. The Monterey Museum of Art [13] houses a permanenet collection as well as rotating exhibits.
• 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 County Park, the highest point on the Monterey Peninsula and amazingly free of crowds.
• Watch the hang gliders and paragliders at Marina beach (in the town of Marina about 10 miles north of Monterey)
• Laguna Seca Raceway, 1021 Monterey-Salinas Highway [14], in Salinas. Famous indy car and motorcycle race track.
• Golf

[edit][add listing] Buy

• Monterey Imports (Galarie Monterey), 482 Alvarado Street, Downtown Monterey, ☎ (831) 674-1773. assembles the finest examples of Indian, Nepalese and Tibetan jewlry, statues, sculptures, incense, meditation tools, music cds, textiles (including yoga clothing, pashmina shawls and casual wear) and accessories to be found on the Central Coast.  edit
• The Del Monte Shopping Center, off Highway 1 at Munras Avenue, [15] offers a selection of typical mall chain stores, as well as a large cinema complex.

• Fisherman's Wharf [16] provides plenty of opportunities to find that perfect Monterey postcard or souvenir (who do you know who doesn't want a plush sea otter??). You can also buy the day's latest catch fresh off the boat.

• Cannery Row [17] sports a Pebble Beach Golf shop, where virtually every item on display somehow incorporates the famous Lone Cypress (C) logo. Also nearby is the American Tin Cannery [18] with outlets for several well-known brands.

• Bay Books (316 Alvarado Street) is the area's most notable independent bookstore, boasting an impressive collection of local interest books. A small cafe rounds out the atmosphere. Bay Books closed in December 2007.

[edit][add listing] Eat

• Ambrosia India Bistro, 565 Abrego Street, Monterey, CA, ☎ 831-641-0610, [19]. offers decadent and authentic Indian cuisine from appetizer to dessert. The ambiance and the food were exequisiste. The service was a bit lacking, but redeemed by the exraodinary flavors and presentation of meal.  edit

Clam Chowder in sourdough bread. You can get it at Fisherman´s Wharf. Abalone is available, too, but expensive.

The area is notable for other seafood delicacies, including calamari and Dungeness crab.

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.

• The Fishwife's Turtle Bay Taqueria, 431 Tyler Street, [20]. Creative Mexican dishes with Caribbean flair and a wide selection of salsas, served in a relaxed and colorful (literally) atmosphere. Claim your table with a number flag - stuck into the back of a rubber turtle.

• Epsilon, 422 Tyler Street, [21]. A truly charming restaurant - cozy, well-lit, hand-decorated, with superb Greek food and a passionate staff. The spanakopita with a Greek salad can make a meal on its own.

• Rosine's, 434 Alvarado Street, [22]. A downtown, family-friendly classic serving up wonderful portions of comfort food. Famous for its spectacular cakes - make sure you have someone to share with!

• India's Clay Oven, 150 Del Monte Avenue. The second best Indian food in the area, after Ambrosia's. Try the "naan burrito" - a perfect blend of Indian tradition and Monterey historical heritage!

• East Village Cafe, 498 Washington Street.

• Stokes Adobe, 500 Hartnell Street, (831) 373-1110, [23] offers the finest in California cuisine in, appropriately, a gorgeously restored adobe landmark.

• Tarpy's Roadhouse, 2999 Monterey-Salinas Highway, [24]. For a taste of Monterey history head to this historic former homestead, housed in a beautiful stone building nestled into a hillside. Classy atmosphere with classic California cuisine - accompany your meal with one of the many local wines on offer.

• Tabouli's Deli & Mid-Eastern, 309 Lighthouse Avenue. If you are looking for a relatively cheap (particularly for Monterey prices), but great meal, Tabouli's is a great place. Tabouli's has great food and great company. The owner and cook is friendly but not overbearing. Because he's the only one running the place usually, it's not place to go if you are in a hurry.

[edit][add listing] Drink

Monterey has many superb vineyards located within a short distance from the town. [25]

Alvarado Street has the densest collection of bars and pubs in the area. The Mucky Duck [26] is famous for its weekly trivia nights, while Lalapalooza has the widest selection of martinis.

Just across the Customs House Plaza (behind the Portola Plaza Hotel) you can find Indian Summer [27], a hookah bar with an exotic atmosphere and local brews. Try to plan a visit during a live bellydancing show.

On Cannery Row, Blue Fin offers drinks , a bar menu, billiards, and music (and it has been closed since 2006). Just across the street, Sly McFly's [28] provides live musical entertainment most nights of the week.

Carbones Old School New Rules is located on the 200 Block of Lighthouse Ave. This is a fantastic bar featuring a large back patio area with fire pit. On Fridays and Saturdays Carbones OSNR features both live music and belly dancers and on Sunday features free pool.

Relatively limited offerings on the club front include Club Octane [29] downtown, Doc Rickett's Lab, and Planet Gemini [30] (which often hosts live comedy nights) on Cannery Row.

[edit][add listing] Sleep

• Best Western Victorian Inn, 487 Foam Street, Monterey, CA 93940, ☎ 831-373-8000, [31]. Monterey California cannery row hotels Monterey bay + motel and hotels motel hotel near Monterey aquarium hotels in Monterey bay hotels Monterey bay hotel. The family & pet friendly Victorian Inn is a Monterey, CA hotel offering spacious fireplace rooms & suites, complimentary deluxe continental breakfast, superior hotel amenities, and a location near top Monterey attractions.  edit
• Best Western Beach Resort Monterey, 2600 Sand Dunes Drive, (831) 394-3321, Toll-free: (800) 242-8627, Fax: (831) 393-1912, [32]. A pet friendly motel. Note: This hotel is reconstructing its seawall. Consrtuction crews and equipment will be working along the oceanfront from the hours of 10 AM to 6 PM through November 2008.
• Best Western De Anza Inn, 2141 Fremont Street, (831) 646-8300, Fax: (831) 646-8130, [33].
• Best Western Monterey Inn, 825 Abrego Street, (831) 373-5345, Toll-free: (877) 373-5345, Fax: (831) 373-3246, [34].
• Best Western Park Crest Motel, 1100 Munras Avenue, (831) 372-4576, Fax: (831) 372-2317, [35].
• Best Western Ramona Inn, 2332 Fremont Street, (831) 373-2445, Fax: (831) 373-6358, [36].
• Best Western Victorian Inn, 487 Foam Street, (831) 373-8000, Toll-free: (800) 232-4141, Fax: (831) 373-4815, [37].
• Comfort Inn Munras, 1262 Munras Ave, (831) 372-8088.
• Comfort Inn Carmel Hill, 1252 Munras Ave. Monterey, CA 93940, (831) 372-2908.
• Comfort Inn Monterey Bay, 2050 North Fremont Street, 888-990-7666.
• Days Inn, 850 Abrigo Street, ☎ 831-375-2168, [38].  edit
• Days Inn, 1288 Munras Ave., ☎ 530-544-3445, [39].  edit
• Holiday Inn Express, 443 Wave Street, (831) 372-1800, [40].
• Hotel Pacific, 300 Pacific Street, (831) 373-5700, [41] rests on a hilltop just above downtown and Cannery Row. The hotel provides beautifully decorated rooms and suites.
• Hyatt Regency Monterey, 1 Old Golf Course Road, [42]. Large luxury conference resort. Features luxury guestrooms with patios, flat-screen TVs, walk-in rain showers and more.  edit
• Monterey Bay Inn, 242 Cannery Row, (831) 373-6242 [43] offers luxurious accommodations including a morning bakery breakfast. Wander into the lobby to take in the relaxing Aquarium-provided scenes and music on the wall video monitors.
• Monterey Bay Lodge, 55 Camino Aguajito, (831) 655-1900, Fax: (831) 655-2933, [44]. Located next to Lake El Estero and within walking distance of the beach and downtown Monterey. Featuring on-site restaurant, heated pool, and other amenities.
• Monterey Marriott, 350 Calle Principal, (831) 649-4234, Fax: (831) 372-2968, [45] boasts arguably the best location in town, one quiet block up from the main street. Upscale rooms combined with meeting space and a skybridge connection to the Monterey Conference Center make this property a wonderful choice for business as well as leisure travel.
• Monterey Plaza Hotel and Spa, 400 Cannery Row, [46]. Next to the bay on Cannery Row.
• Motel 6, 2124 North Fremont Street, (831) 646-8585, Fax: (831) 372-7429, [47].
• Portola Plaza Hotel, 2 Portola Plaza, (866) 711-1534, [48]. Stands at the crossroads between downtown Monterey and Fisherman's Wharf. A swimming pool and nearby parking garage make this hotel a convenient option.
• 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.
• Ramada Monterey, 2058 N. Fremont Street, [49]. Located near Monterey bay Aquarium, Fisherman's Wharf, and Downtown Monterey.
• La Quinta Inn Monterey, 2401 Del Monte Avenue, [50]. Comfortable, reasonably priced hotel accommodations, newly remodeled rooms, complimentary deluxe hot breakfast.
• Rosedale Inn, 775 Asilomar Boulevard, [51]. ideal choice for hotels around the Presidio in Monterey. See the superior services and amenities of our lodging in Monterey and Carmel by the Sea, including free deluxe breakfast.
• Spindrift Inn, 652 Cannery Row, 831-646-8900, [52]. Spindrift Inn is a Monterey, CA hotel offering luxurious, boutique accommodations, deluxe fireplace guestrooms, spectacular ocean views, complimentary continental breakfast, superior hotel amenities, and a location near top Monterey attractions.

[edit] Get out

The world-famous 17-Mile-Drive [53] begins just a short distance away. The road winds through miles of breathtaking coastal views, with turnouts along the way at the most historical and picturesque sites. Be sure to take a picture of the Lone Cypress tree! The $9.50 entrance fee includes a map, and the rights to gawk at the lavish homes within the Pebble Beach community's gates.

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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