Table of Content
Monterey | Introduction
Monterey is a beautiful city on the central coast of California and a well-known California vacation destination, known for its spectacular coastline and abundant marine life. Monterey Bay is a great day trip from the Bay Area. The Monterey Bay Aquarium is one of the most famous aquariums in the world, with over 6,500 species of marine life. Once the center of the sardine processing industry, Monterey is now a popular tourist destination with its canned fish street and Fisherman's Wharf. The city is full of history and cultural heritage and is well worth a visit. Don't forget to visit the nearby Peninsula to see the well-knownSeventeen miles.Shoreline views.
Attractions | Monterey Bay Aquarium
Monterey Bay AquariumIt is a world-famous attraction, known as the world's first aquarium, and a must-see on any trip to Monterey Bay. There are over 6,500 species of marine life here, from sea otters to jellyfish, sharks to octopus, starfish to eels, and everything in between. We can observe a great diversity of marine life here and learn a lot by looking closely.
The Monterey Bay Aquarium has an extensive exhibition area divided into different themed zones, including the Seagrass Forest Zone, Mammal Zone, Sandbar Reef Zone, Deep Sea Zone, Coastal Animals Zone, as well as the Sea Otter Pavilion and the Tidal Wave Zone, where you can touch starfish, and each zone has its own special features and highlights. In addition, the Monterey Bay Aquarium offers a number of interactive display areas where visitors can learn more about marine life. The interactive displays include a tide pool display, a touch pool, and several educational displays. In the touch pool, you can touch some very soft and interesting sea creatures such as sea cucumbers and sea snails.
My favorite part of the exhibition was the variety of beautiful jellyfish, and the detailed explanation of their hatching and growing process. Of course, there were also many beautiful tropical fish.
In addition to the marine life, the ocean view view from the second floor observation deck is fantastic. The crystal clear water on the beach paired with the cloudless blue sky of California makes for a very relaxing experience.
Attractions | Fish Cannery Row
Leaving the aquarium, we walked along the coast to Fish Can Street, where many people rode bicycles to enjoy the sea breeze. Cannery Row was once famous as the home of sardine processing factories and for the novel "Cannery Row" written by John Steinbeck (author of "The Grapes of Wrath") in 1945. In the 1940s, there were more than 20 canneries on the street, producing more than 200,000 tons of sardines annually, and after its demise in the 1970s, it is now a shopping district with historical value. For those who are interested in history, you can also take a tour of the area.
Attractions | Old Fisherman's Wharf
A little further north is the old Fisherman's Wharf. It used to be an active fish market until the 1960s. The Fisherman's Wharf has many restaurants and stores, perfect for those who like to shop for souvenirs, and there are also many seafood snacks to try. Walking down to the end, you can enjoy the beautiful view of Monterey Bay from the pier.
Opposite to the pier is the Old Town area, also known as Old Monterey, where there are quite a few monuments.
Location | Monterey 17 Miles Drive
Drive south from Fish Can Street and it's not far from downtown.17 miles driveThis is a section of the Coastal Highway that is famous for its exceptional views. Note that if you follow Highway 1 to the entrance of 17 Miles Drive, you have to turn in. This road is privately owned and there is a $10 entrance fee to enter, but the views are well worth it. There are many places to visit along the way, which I have organized in the following article.
Monterey Gourmet | Old Fisherman's Grotto
- Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
- Price: $$$$
Old Fisherman's Grotto, a seafood restaurant at the old Fisherman's Wharf, basically has fresh seafood. We ordered clam chowder, strawberry milkshake, snapper, and fisherman's platter (with crab, crab cake, shrimp, and dried scallop). The portion was quite large and just enough to fill you up, and the seasoning was exquisite. Although the restaurant was full, we didn't have to wait long and the ambience was suitable for small families.
Further reading
- More Central California posts
- More CA-1 posts
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