Monterey Beach Travel Guide

Monterey Beach Travel Guide

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Beach Destinations Near Monterey

Travel Guides Near Monterey

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Sailboats in a marina in Monterey, California
Monterey Harbor at dusk (courtesy, Monterey Convention Authority)

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Monterey Beach Travel Tips

  • Don't miss a chance to explore Monterey, rated "the best beach dive in the U.S." by Scuba Diving Magazine.
  • Schedule an autumn trip when summer fog gives way to blue skies and gentle offshore winds.
  • Steer clear of great whites, a hazard here.
  • Enjoy the most bio-diverse ecosystem in the Pacific Ocean, replete with birds, sea otters, and seals.


Monterey Travel Guide

Monterey is now famous as the site of the world's longest running jazz festival, which draws nearly 50,000 visitors annually for performances by the likes of Tony Bennett, Sonny Rollins, and Branford Marsalis. The town itself, however, is much older than that—and no less significant to state history. Settled in 1770 as one of the West Coast's first European outposts, Monterey was the capital of California under Spanish, Mexican, and American rule. The state constitution was drafted here in 1849, which paved the way for admission to the Union a year later. Many early colonial buildings still stand. A major whaling center in the 1800s, Monterey eventually became the sardine capital of the Western Hemisphere when the first packing plant was built in 1900. By 1913, boats were bringing in 25 tons of sardines a night to the 18 canneries. The gritty lives of the mostly working-class residents were captured by local hero John Steinbeck in his 1945 novel Cannery Row. Read More

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Hotels

from: $139

Seascape Resort Monterey Bay

One Seascape Resort Drive
Aptos, CA 95003 Map

Distance: 24.3 mi.
(from destination center)

Hotel Class: 3 class stars

expert favorite hotel
Expert Rated & Recommended
5.0
5.0
from: $169

L Auberge Carmel

Monte Verde and 7th Avenue
Carmel, CA 93921 Map

Distance: 3.6 mi.
(from destination center)

Hotel Class: 5 class stars

expert favorite hotel
Expert Rated & Recommended
5.0

Santa Cruz KOA

1186 San Andreas Road
La Selva Beach, CA Map

Distance: 22.6 mi.
(from destination center)

Hotel Class: Not Yet Rated
expert favorite hotel
Expert Rated & Recommended
5.0

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Attractions

Monterey Bay Aquarium

expert favorite attraction
886 Cannery Row
Monterey, California

Distance: 1.3 mi. (from destination center)

Description:

Monterey Bay Aquarium [STSTST] [kds]—Ranked one of the nation's top family... Read More

Expert Rated & Recommended
5_0
5_0
4_0

Monterey Bay Coastal Trail

expert favorite attraction
Monterey, California 93940

Distance: 2.4 mi. (from destination center)

Description: The Monterey Bay Coastal Trail spans the coastline for 18 miles, from Pacific Grove to Castroville.... Read More
Expert Rated & Recommended
5_0

Monarch Grove Sanctuary

expert favorite attraction
Ridge Road
Pacific Grove, California

Distance: 2.7 mi. (from destination center)

Description: Thousands of Monarch Butterflies migrate to the Monarch Grove Sanctuary every October and cluster... Read More
Expert Rated & Recommended
5_0

Airports

Major Airports near Monterey

Distance (mi.)
San Jose International Airport 52.1 map
San Francisco International Airport 75.3 map
Oakland International Airport 79.3 map

Other Smaller Airports near Monterey

Distance (mi.)
Carmel/Monterey Peninsula Airport 2.7 map
Modesto Municipal Airport 87.8 map
Merced Municipal Airport 89.6 map

Flight Deals to Monterey

Originating From
Los Angeles (LAX) to San Jose (SJC) $126
San Diego (SAN) to San Jose (SJC) $145
Las Vegas (LAS) to San Jose (SJC) $146
Seattle (SEA) to San Jose (SJC) $166
Denver (DEN) to San Jose (SJC) $176

Feature Articles

  • Tough Break
    outside
    Restrictions on personal watercraft threaten California's baddest wave
  • San Francisco
    outside
    IF YOU'VE HAD your fill of lingering summer fog, yoga-mat gridlock, and a whole lotta dazed and confused former dotcommers, now's the time to leave your heart in San Francisco but take the rest of you out yonder to Sierra peaks and serene redwood forests.

Trip Ideas




Monterey Vacation Rentals

check rates

Country Farmhouse

Bedrooms: 3
Bathrooms: 2
Sleeps: 11
Amenities: BBQ, Cable/Satellite TV, Dishwasher, Fireplace, Full kitchen, Laundry, Microwave, Oven, Patio, Playground, Refrigerator, Restaurant, Stove, Utensils
check rates

Fully Furnished Victorian

Bedrooms: 3
Bathrooms: 2
Sleeps: 8
Amenities: Breakfast Bar, Fireplace, Garage
check rates
from: $214

A Beautiful Ocean View House

Bedrooms: 2
Bathrooms: 2
Sleeps: 4
Amenities: Ceiling fans, Dishes, Dishwasher, Full kitchen, Garage, Laundry, Microwave, No Pets, Non-Smoking, Refrigerator, Stove, Utensils

Monterey Beach Travel Guides

Sailing | Scuba Diving | Surfing

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