From Betsy Malloy,
Your Guide to California Travel.
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The Monterey Peninsula was one of the first areas in California to be settled by Europeans. The Presidio and the nearby Carmel Mission were founded in 1770. From about 1900 until the 1940s, the town bustled with sardine canneries. Today the sardines are gone, replaced by schools of tourists, and the industry's misfortune is the traveler's delight. Restaurants and hotels replace crumbling factories, creating a waterfront custom-made for visitors.

Monterey Vacation Preview: See It Now: Photo Tour

Why Should You Vacation in Monterey?

If you're planning a Monterey vacation, of the three towns on the peninsula, Monterey is the least pretentious, a former cannery town with a relaxed ambience.

• The casual atmosphere is great for the whole family.

• The popular aquarium is the center of many Monterey vacations.

• History-lovers will enjoy the Historic Park, center of one of the oldest European settlements in California.

• Animal-lovers will enjoy the annual whale watches and the sea otters, harbor seals and sea lions that hang out in the kelp beds.

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Things to Do in Monterey

The Monterey Bay Aquarium is the town's most popular attraction. Read about the best things to do in Monterey or browse a list of everything it has to offer.

Where to Stay on Your Monterey Vacation

You'll find plenty of hotel options for your Monterey vacation. Hotels that have rooms facing the bay include the Monterey Beach Hotel in Seaside and the Monterey Bay Inn, Monterey Plaza and Spindrift Inn.

Where to Eat on Your Monterey Vacation

You'll find plenty of places to eat on your Monterey vacation, and some nice places for oceanfront dining. Use our guide to where to eat in Monterey to help find the best places to go.

Events for Your Monterey Vacation

Two of town's biggest events are September's Jazz Festival and the Blues Festival held in June. The city also hosts a First Night (New Year's Eve) celebration and a nice Fourth of July fireworks display.

Best Time to Take a Monterey Vacation

Californians know that summer isn't our best beach season, but in case you're planning a Monterey vacation from somewhere else, the California coast is prone to "June gloom," when the offshore marine fog layer stays on shore all day long. The condition often extends into July. However, because of its geography, Monterey suffers from gloomy days much less than neighboring Pacific Grove and Carmel, making it the best choice of the three for summer visits.

The best time for a Monterey vacation, weather-wise is Spring or Fall, when skies are clearer and crowds smaller.

Side Trips and Nearby Towns

• Pacific Grove
• Carmel
• Carmel Valley
• Big Sur

Parking

Parking can be scarce on a busy day. Near Fisherman's Wharf you can find an hourly lot and metered spaces. There are also paid lots near Cannery Row, or try your luck on the street (be sure to obey the signs, parking laws are strictly enforced). If you're going to be in town for four hours or so, the cost of the parking lots and the meters is almost the same. Look for the free brochure "Smart Parking" (available in brochure racks) to get tips for finding a legal parking place.

During the busier months, a free trolley service runs from the downtown transit center, Conference Center and Fisherman's Wharf to the Monterey Bay Aquarium and back, making it easy to park in one place and use the it instead of running around looking for parking places.

Where to "Go"

Finding a restroom when you need one in a tourist area is often a challenge, but you can find plenty of places to "go." Some of them include

• Fisherman's Wharf (near the end)
• On the jetty near the Coast Guard Station
• Along the path between Fisherman's Wharf and Cannery Row (just past the Coast Guard Station)
• At the aquarium, off the passageway labeled Member and Group Entrance. Open during aquarium hours.
• Wave Street between Hoffman and Prescott