Monterey Travel Guide

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Monterey Travel Tips

  • Don't miss a chance to explore Monterey, rated "the best beach dive in the U.S." by Scuba Diving Magazine.
  • Sight grey whales, sea lions, dolphins, and otters in Monterey's waters.
  • Spread out in 5,300 square miles of water at Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary—more than 65,000 divers visit the site each year.
  • While surfing, wear a wetsuit. Pacific waters are chilly year-round.
  • Rollerblade, ride, or pedal a four-wheel surrey along the 18-mile Monterey Bay Coastal Trail.

Monterey Overview

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: $143

Hotel Pacific

300 Pacific Street
Monterey, CA 93940 Map

Distance: 0.0 mi.
(from destination center)

Hotel Class: 3 class stars

Expert Rated & Recommended
4.0
2.0
from: $167

Monterey Plaza Hotel

400 Cannery Row
Monterey, CA 93940 Map

Distance: 0.0 mi.
(from destination center)

Hotel Class: 4 class stars

Expert Rated & Recommended
4.0
2.0
from: $200

Spindrift Inn

652 Cannery Row
Monterey, CA 93940 Map

Distance: 0.0 mi.
(from destination center)

Hotel Class: 3 class stars

Expert Rated & Recommended
4.0
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Attractions

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

Beach Bluff Pathway

Carmel, California

Distance: 3.6 mi. (from destination center)

Description: The Beach Bluff Pathway is a gravel pathway that parallels Scenic Road on the bluffs above Carmel Beach. It provides eight stairways that access the beach.... Read More
Expert Rated & Recommended
5_0
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Airports

Major Airports near Monterey

Distance (mi.)
San Jose International Airport 52.1 map Flight Deals to SJC
San Francisco International Airport 75.3 map Flight Deals to SFO
Oakland International Airport 79.3 map Flight Deals to OAK

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
San Diego (SAN) to San Jose (SJC) $146
Denver (DEN) to San Jose (SJC) $166
Omaha (OMA) to San Jose (SJC) $224
Austin (AUS) to San Jose (SJC) $229
Philadelphia (PHL) to San Jose (SJC) $267

Feature Articles

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    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

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GORPtravel Adventure Trips & Guided Tours

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Monterey Vacation Rentals

check rates
from: $595

Classic Contemporary, BIG MONTEREY BAY VIEWS!

Bedrooms: 3
Bathrooms: 2
Sleeps: 6
Amenities: Fireplace, No Pets, Non-Smoking, TV
check rates
from: $300

Oceanfront/Petfriendly Cottages in Santa Cruz!

Bedrooms: 3
Bathrooms: 2.5
Sleeps: 6
Amenities: Full kitchen, Hot Tub, Non-Smoking, Oceanfront, Pets OK
check rates
from: $300

Beautiful Cottage in the Heart of Cannery Row

Bedrooms: 1
Bathrooms: 1
Sleeps: 4
Amenities: Dishes, Dishwasher, Full kitchen, No Pets, Non-Smoking, Refrigerator, TV
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Monterey Travel Guides

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