Guidebook
Sites and Activities
Where to go and what to do
Great day trip. Spectacular views and hikes. Redwoods, rivers, beaches, and ocean views. Bixby Bridge, Big Sur River, Jade Cove, and Julia Pfeiffer Beach are a few spots to see.
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Big Sur
Great day trip. Spectacular views and hikes. Redwoods, rivers, beaches, and ocean views. Bixby Bridge, Big Sur River, Jade Cove, and Julia Pfeiffer Beach are a few spots to see.
Great hiking destination for all fitness levels. Park on HWY 1 and walk in or pay the day use fee and drive into Point Lobos Reserve. Hike in the morning and pack a picnic and let the kids play at Monestory or Carmel River State Beaches close by.
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Point Lobos State Natural Reserve
62 CA-1Great hiking destination for all fitness levels. Park on HWY 1 and walk in or pay the day use fee and drive into Point Lobos Reserve. Hike in the morning and pack a picnic and let the kids play at Monestory or Carmel River State Beaches close by.
Beach Day! A huge beautiful dog friendly beach with surfings, swimming, and tide pools. Great beach for family fun. No restaurants or food options so pack a picnic.
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Asilomar State Beach
Sunset DriveBeach Day! A huge beautiful dog friendly beach with surfings, swimming, and tide pools. Great beach for family fun. No restaurants or food options so pack a picnic.
A world famous aquarium in Historic Cannery Row. The aquarium is educational fun for the family; learn about, see, and even touch some of the marine life. From Cannery Row you can walk to the wharf and downtown Monterey. There is also a free shuttle.
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Monterey Bay Aquarium
886 Cannery RowA world famous aquarium in Historic Cannery Row. The aquarium is educational fun for the family; learn about, see, and even touch some of the marine life. From Cannery Row you can walk to the wharf and downtown Monterey. There is also a free shuttle.
Lovers Point is one of the best swimming beaches on the peninsula. Beautiful, historic, sandy beach, tide pools, and food options, and park area with tables and grills. Also the location of the outdoor cafe in HBO's Big Little Lies.
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Lovers Point
631 Ocean View BlvdLovers Point is one of the best swimming beaches on the peninsula. Beautiful, historic, sandy beach, tide pools, and food options, and park area with tables and grills. Also the location of the outdoor cafe in HBO's Big Little Lies.
As a kid I begged my parents to take me here all the time. Slides, swings, sand, maze, bridges, etc. Can rent paddle boats or walk across the street to the beach. Plenty of parking and good Food Trucks typically show up.
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El Estero Park
725 Pearl StAs a kid I begged my parents to take me here all the time. Slides, swings, sand, maze, bridges, etc. Can rent paddle boats or walk across the street to the beach. Plenty of parking and good Food Trucks typically show up.
Santa Cruz is a day trip away along the scenic HWY 1. Surf, Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, Mt Biking, Nicene Marks, UC Santa Cruz, and countless other options.
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Steamer Lane
700 W Cliff DrSanta Cruz is a day trip away along the scenic HWY 1. Surf, Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, Mt Biking, Nicene Marks, UC Santa Cruz, and countless other options.
Fishermans wharf is a classic spot in downtown Monterey with restaurants, shops, and clam chowder samples. Also is where you access whale watching tours and fishing trips.
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Old Fisherman's Wharf
1 Old Fisherman’s WharfFishermans wharf is a classic spot in downtown Monterey with restaurants, shops, and clam chowder samples. Also is where you access whale watching tours and fishing trips.
There is a fee at the gate for a reason, Pebble Beach is beautiful with some of the best beaches around.
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Lone Cypress
There is a fee at the gate for a reason, Pebble Beach is beautiful with some of the best beaches around.
Sightseeing
San Francisco is 2 hours away by car. If road trips are your thing, San Francisco can be day tripped. Monterey to San Francisco along HWY 1 is beautiful. Half Moon Bay or Davenport are good stops to break the trip up.
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San Francisco
San Francisco is 2 hours away by car. If road trips are your thing, San Francisco can be day tripped. Monterey to San Francisco along HWY 1 is beautiful. Half Moon Bay or Davenport are good stops to break the trip up.
Hearst Castle is an amazing place. I went on one of the tours expecting boredom and left fascinated with what I learned. The beach below also is famous for elephant seals.
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Hearst Castle
750 Hearst Castle RoadHearst Castle is an amazing place. I went on one of the tours expecting boredom and left fascinated with what I learned. The beach below also is famous for elephant seals.
Food and Drink
Fieldwork Brewing Company
560 Munras AveAlvarado Street Brewery is great. Amazing beer with seasonal and contemporary food options.
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Alvarado Street Brewery
426 Alvarado StAlvarado Street Brewery is great. Amazing beer with seasonal and contemporary food options.
Acme Coffee Roasting Company is great spot. Few places can create such a popular coffee shop out of an industrial alley. Check it out.
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Acme Coffee Roasting Co
485 B Palm AveAcme Coffee Roasting Company is great spot. Few places can create such a popular coffee shop out of an industrial alley. Check it out.
Great Taqueria/Mexican food option. Tortas, burritos, tacos, platos, if you do not know what any of these are you may want to try La Tortuga.
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La Tortuga
1257 Fremont BlvdGreat Taqueria/Mexican food option. Tortas, burritos, tacos, platos, if you do not know what any of these are you may want to try La Tortuga.
Crystal Fish is a local's favorite for sushi. Great place. Daily specials, Asahi beer on draft, and great menu.
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Crystal Fish
514 Lighthouse AveCrystal Fish is a local's favorite for sushi. Great place. Daily specials, Asahi beer on draft, and great menu.
Best pizza spot in my opinion. Thin crust or deep dish, Heirloom gets both styles perfect. Roasted broccoli and thin crust sweet and spicy is an order I have made many times.
heirloom pizza co.
700 Cass StBest pizza spot in my opinion. Thin crust or deep dish, Heirloom gets both styles perfect. Roasted broccoli and thin crust sweet and spicy is an order I have made many times.
Schooners is located in the Plaza Hotel and Spa in Cannery Row right over the water. Great food, incredible views, and best outdoor ambiance.
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Schooners Coastal Kitchen & Bar
400 Cannery RowSchooners is located in the Plaza Hotel and Spa in Cannery Row right over the water. Great food, incredible views, and best outdoor ambiance.
Specializing in quality meats, Meatery is the place to go for BBQ supplies. They also have sandwich options and specials.
The Meatery
1534 Fremont BlvdSpecializing in quality meats, Meatery is the place to go for BBQ supplies. They also have sandwich options and specials.
Chopstix is a great spot for Pho and ban mi. Pho is my favorite order.
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Chopstix Vietnamese Restaurant
1868 Fremont BlvdChopstix is a great spot for Pho and ban mi. Pho is my favorite order.
Amazing French bakery. I love the small sandwiches to go and fresh baguettes. Lafayette Bakery sandwiches and a hike in point lobos is a great combo.
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Lafayette Bakery & Cafe
3659 The BarnyardAmazing French bakery. I love the small sandwiches to go and fresh baguettes. Lafayette Bakery sandwiches and a hike in point lobos is a great combo.
Famous for it's views of the Big Sur Coast, cheeseburgers, and bloody Marys.
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Nepenthe
48510 CA-1Famous for it's views of the Big Sur Coast, cheeseburgers, and bloody Marys.
Poppy Hall
589 Lighthouse AvenueMy favorite restaurant now. Seasonal local fresh and amazing.
Great place to purchase fresh local seafood. Buy locally caught wild fish: Salmon, halibut, san dabs, rock fish or have them grill it up for you there. Good place to buy fish while in Cannery Row for dinner later.
Sea Harvest
598 Foam StGreat place to purchase fresh local seafood. Buy locally caught wild fish: Salmon, halibut, san dabs, rock fish or have them grill it up for you there. Good place to buy fish while in Cannery Row for dinner later.
Date night! Montrio is a fabulous place. Amazing food and drink in downtown Monterey.
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Montrio Bistro
414 Calle PrincipalDate night! Montrio is a fabulous place. Amazing food and drink in downtown Monterey.
Carmel Valley is our local wine country. Taste wine from the region, find a hike, and grab some food from one of the many options in Carmel Valley Village.
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Carmel Valley
Carmel Valley is our local wine country. Taste wine from the region, find a hike, and grab some food from one of the many options in Carmel Valley Village.
Another great take out option. Zarape has won best taqueria a few times in the last few years.
Taqueria Zarape
1107 Fremont BlvdAnother great take out option. Zarape has won best taqueria a few times in the last few years.
Local favorite. Has not changed in decades because it is great and loved by the locals and CSUMB students. Breakfast burritos to-go is my order.
Papa Chevo's Taco Shop
1760 Fremont BlvdLocal favorite. Has not changed in decades because it is great and loved by the locals and CSUMB students. Breakfast burritos to-go is my order.
Tipps für Reisende
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Variable Weather
Coastal Monterey weather can change quickly with cold ocean breezes. Bring a sweatshirt or extra layer
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Beaches
Tons of great beaches to visit. Surf schools and surf gear rentals are available. On the Beach Surf Shop is a great place to start for wetsuit and surf gear. Monterey State Beach by El Estero Lake, Asilomar, and Carmel Beach are best for kids n surf.