top 10 things to do in
top 10 things to do in
Monterey is a great town for 2 main reasons. The downtown itself is a classic California beach town with houses and shops hugging the beautiful rocky coastline. It’s a perfect town to visit for a long weekend to enjoy the oceanfront parks and explore the art galleries.
What makes Monterey even more incredible is that it’s a great hub to explore quite possibly the most impressive coastline in the US. Within an hour’s drive you’ll see so many stunning views that you’ll end up like us looking for houses for sale when you get back to your hotel.
1. monterey peninsula trail
This is a great place to start your visit to Monterey. Walking along the trail you’ll see the water lightly crashing against the rocks all the way up the coast from Fisherman’s Wharf to Lucas Point. There are lots of shops and restaurants along the way as well if you’re interested.
For us it’s all about the scenery and the wildlife. We love seeing all of the squirrels amongst the bushes and occasionally out on the rocks in the water. There are so many places to stop, sit on a bench and enjoy the incredible views. Speaking of stops along the trail, here are our favorites:
2. coast guard pier sea lions
Coast Guard Pier is a great stop on the trail. Jamie loves sea lions and if I don’t pull her away she’ll watch them all day. If you like sea lions definitely stop by the pier and enjoy the terrible smell. It’s worth it for a few good pictures and a sight at these beautiful creatures.
3. cannery row
Monterey’s last cannery closed in 1973. In their place Cannery Row is lined with shops and restaurants. It’s definitely not our favorite part of Monterey to be honest, but it’s a must if you’re visiting to get a sense of the downtown. It’s also a nice place to walk, explore a few art galleries and then get back to the trail on the water.
4. lover's point park
This is our favorite spot along the trail. The beautiful trees and rocky coastline make for a great place to stop and take it easy for a bit. Most of the quintessential pictures of Monterey that you see are of this area. Classic California style houses surround the park along the quiet street. Even if you can’t do the entire trail, don’t miss Lover’s Point Park.
5. asilomar state beach
Now we’re off the trail to Asilomar State Beach. This is just on the other side of the Peninsula to the West. If the weather is right you’ll be blown away by this beach and it’s surrounding area. The bright green fawna that surrounds the beach makes for a beautiful contrast against the blue water. It’s a perfect beach to stay for a few hours or just a quick walk along the water.
6. 17 mile drive
The first time we visited Monterey we actually somehow missed the famous 17 Mile Drive. Don’t make this mistake yourself. This scenic road takes you through Pebble Beach and Pacific Grove with dozens of great stops along the way. You’ll see a handful of mansions, a few golf courses and of course the incredible Pacific coastline. The highlights are definitely the Lone Cypress and Bird Rock. Plan for a few hours and take your time on the serene 17 Mile Drive.
7. carmel river state beach
If you’re looking to get away from town and spend the day on a beautiful wide open beach, then check out Carmel River State Beach. It’s just 15 minutes south of Monterey and a great place to relax. We actually stopped here right before getting to town on our way up the coast. We had about an hour to kill before our dinner reservation and there’s no better way than watching the sunset on this quiet beach.
8. carmel by the sea downtown
Our first visit to Monterey didn’t include Carmel by the Sea, but I’m so glad we stopped by this last time around. It’s far more charming as a downtown than Monterey and honestly more than most small towns. The streets are lined with unique buildings, great restaurants and pretty trees. The best part about Carmel by the Sea for us though, is the next item on the list.
9. never ending art galleries
Josh is a sucker for a good art gallery and Carmel must have 50 of them. The art scene is huge in this area ranging from small artist run galleries to stunning high end galleries. There’s absolutely no question that like us, you’ll find a few pieces you wish you could afford. Or hell maybe you can afford them, then you’ll enjoy this hunt through Carmel even more.
10. point lobos state park
Just 15 minutes south of Monterey is one of the most impressive oceanfront parks we’ve seen. The Point Lobos State Natural Reserve is filled with incredible nature hikes along the coastline. You’ll probably end up with 100 great pics from just exploring this area. We would recommend at least a half day to really explore the entire reserve.
Our favorites are probably the Cypress Grove Trail and China Cove. Point Lobos is right along the Pacific Coast Highway. If you need more ideas of what to see along this amazing American road check out our PCH guide here.
So there’s our list of the 10 Best Things to Do in Monterey. We hope you visit Monterey yourself and see why we love it so much! Let us know in the comment section below if we can help.
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We love traveling together to see incredible places and eat as much delicious vegan food as possible. This site is our way of helping you plan your perfect trip based on our experiences.
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