Otters. Wine tasting. Whale watching. Clam chowder. Monterey is one of the most beautiful towns along the California coast – and the most historically important! Famous for its incredible aquarium – part interactive museum, part animal conservation facility, part research lab – Monterey has loads to offer as a weekend trip from San Francisco. Which is why we visit Monterey several times a year!

Just two hours down the Pacific Coast Highway from San Francisco, Monterey’s world-class aquarium, fascinating history, fresh seafood, rich arts scene, and some of the country’s best wines make this coastal paradise a must-visit destination. Ours lays out all the best things to do in Monterey to help you plan your trip!

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Monterey FAQ’s

• Where is Monterey? Monterey is located on the California coast, about two hours south of San Francisco and just under an hour north of Big Sur. If you’re driving the Pacific Coast Highway, you’ll pass right through town – and it’s one of our favorite stops on Highway One!

• Wait, is Monterey a town or a county? It’s both! While the town of Monterey is the county’s biggest city center, Monterey county encompasses coastal towns like Carmel-by-the-Sea, Pacific Grove, Moss Landing, and Big Sur, and stretches inland to encompass the Salinas Valley, Los Padres National Forest, and Pinnacles National Park. But for the sake of this post, we’re focusing on things to do in the town of Monterey, as well as the surrounding areas on the Monterey peninsula.

• Where have I heard of Monterey before? If you’re a John Steinbeck fan, there’s a good chance you’ve heard of Monterey – he grew up in nearby Salinas, and much of his writing was about this area, including the novella Cannery Row. I strongly recommend reading Cannery Row before your trip, as it will really enhance your visit! Or perhaps you recognize Monterey as the setting of the TV show Big Little Lies. The show was filmed all over town (although, for no good reason, there were a LOT of unnecessary shots driving over the Bixby Bridge… which is actually 45 minutes south of Monterey!) And if that doesn’t ring a bell, then you’ve probably heard of the world-famous Monterey Bay Aquarium, which is arguably the best in the country, and possibly the world. (I’m ready to argue about it, anyway.)

• When is the best time to visit Monterey? The best time of year to visit Monterey is in spring between March and April. California’s springtime will be in full bloom, and this time of year also overlaps with the monarch butterfly migration, grey whale migrations, and the ice plant bloom in Pacific Grove. The second best time of year to visit Monterey is in the fall between September and October: the weather is perfect and it’s more likely to be clear and sunny. The worst time to visit Monterey is between May and August, when the entire coast is shrouded in “June gloom” and cold, foggy days are the norm. Yes, this is one of those weird northern California coastal quirks – summer is the worst time of year here! We visited in November, and the weather was clear, sunny and warm.

Things to Do in Monterey

History, culture, arts, and outdoors are just the beginning of Monterey things to do. Throw in some wine-tasting, marine critters, and fresh seafood, and you’re all set for an incredible coastal getaway! 

A world-class aquarium, fascinating history, a rich arts scene, and some of the country’s best wines make this small town a must-visit destination.  Here are the best things to do in Monterey.

Explore Cannery Row

Once lined with sardine canneries (which I’m sure smelled … great…), this central stretch of town is now home to Monterey’s world-famous aquarium, a few beaches, the InterContinental The Clement Monterey, and many other shops, and is the bustling epicenter of Monterey.

In between the shops and restaurants, you’ll see evidence of Monterey’s storied past. Walkways criss-cross overhead, which once housed industrial equipment to shuttle sardines from the ocean into the canning facilities, and a charming walking path has replaced what was once a bustling railway which transported cans of sardines and passengers up and down the California coast. 

Murals portraying the area’s diverse population of workers appear in between storefronts, and the small, well-preserved homes that once housed those workers interrupt and otherwise modern stretch. Keep an eye out for signs explaining the historical significance of these landmarks or you might miss them!

If you’ve read John Steinbeck’s novella Cannery Row, then you’re already familiar with this street and its history. And if you’ve never read his novel, then pick up a copy before heading out on your adventure in Monterey! It will add a fascinating layer of depth to this bustling area and the people who lived there in decades past.

Other than popping into every shop that strikes your fancy, here are a few highlights along Cannery Row:

• See the real-life inspiration behind Steinbeck’s Cannery Row: Steinbeck’s influences can be seen everywhere along this stretch, and I’m not just referring to Cannery Row Monument on Steinbeck Plaza. The real-life inspiration for his novella and all of the historical places and people which were immortalized as characters from his book can be seen here. For instance, the original, still-preserved Pacific Biological Laboratories building (aka Doc’s Lab) still sits at 800 Cannery Row, where it was once inhabited by famed marine biologist and BFF of Steinbeck Ed Ricketts. To see it all and connect real life to the book, take this self-guided walking tour!
• Take a Guided Tour: This tour brings Steinbeck’s characters to life as you explore Cannery Row on foot. Learn about the history of Cannery Row, its significance in Monterey, and its role in Steinbeck’s literature.
• McAbee Beach is the perfect escape from town. Steps from Cannery Row – literally, down a set of stairs right off Steinbeck Plaza – this sandy expanse (at low tide, at least) is an ideal spot for picnicking, kayaking, or just taking in the view. In contrast to some of the more wild and pristine beaches in the area, McAbee is lined with old concrete walls reminiscent of Monterey’s industrial past.

Stroll the Boardwalk at Fisherman’s Wharf

Old Fisherman’s Wharf was first built in the mid-1800s for passengers and freight arriving in Monterey. The Wharf, run by the Monterey City Council beginning in 1913, supported the different industries and populations that used the waters of Monterey Bay. Chinese fishermen came for abalone and squid, Portuguese whalers came for the blubber of resident gray and humpback whales, Japanese fisherman came for salmon and abalone, and the Italian fisherman ignited the boom in the sardine industry. 

In 1923, at the height of the sardine explosion in Monterey, the largest shipment of sardines was about to depart Fisherman’s Wharf. A ship that was about to be loaded with 20,000 cases of sardines tipped onto the wharf due to rough weather, and more than one hundred feet of the wharf collapsed. Needless to say, a lot of sardines were returned to the bay that day. (In hindsight, this incident definitely should have been taken as a sign of the impending collapse of the sardine industry, but ya know … there was money to be made!)

The Wharf was reconstructed and expanded, and the sardine industry continued to boom right up until it completely crashed after World War II, when the population of sardines was depleted thanks to overfishing (whoops). And like the rest of Monterey, Fisherman’s Wharf became a tourist attraction instead of a center of fishy industry!

Today, this pier is full of shops, restaurants, confectioneries, and whale-watching tours. On the weekends, you’ll often find the plaza out front stuffed with local vendors selling handicrafts and artwork or performing live music or magic tricks. It’s Monterey’s very own beach boardwalk!

• Carousel Candies: There’s no shortage of candy stores, taffy pullers, and fudge makers along Fisherman’s Wharf, so it’s hard to pick a favorite, but Carousel Candies is at the top of our list. Pick up all the fudge, chocolates, saltwater taffies, and dipped apples you can eat (plus more to take home) at this heavenly-smelling, bright pink establishment. We recommend the penuche fudge — oh, and if you buy two pieces of fudge, you get one free!
• Take a self-guided walking tour: This tour highlights the history of Fisherman’s Wharf, Portola Plaza, Custom House Plaza, the Pacific House Museum, the First Brick House Museum, and other historic Monterey buildings. This tour is a must for history lovers — or fans of the HBO miniseries Big Little Lies (you can see places where some scenes were filmed!).
• Water and Leaves: If all the walking, shopping, and fudge have got you dragging, perk up with a cup of tea or mug of coffee at Water and Leaves. This hip and trendy cafe features a local and sustainable menu of carefully crafted drinks and fresh pastries. You’ve also never sweetened your tea like they do it here — with six (yes, six) flavors of honey on tap. Plus, you can’t beat the view.

Learn About Monterey’s Rich History

Monterey played a critical role in the history of not just California, but also Spain, Mexico, and the USA. You see, Monterey was the capital of Alta California, a massive Spanish and later Mexican territory that included most of modern-day California, Nevada, and Utah, and parts of Arizona, Wyoming, Colorado, and New Mexico. 

So yeah: it was kind of a big deal. Of course, just because Spain and Mexico claimed the area as their own didn’t necessarily mean much – much of Alta California was still fully under Indigenous control! Before Spain arrived to colonize the area, Monterey was part of the territory of the Ohlone tribe, who also lived in modern-day San Francisco and Oakland (and still do to this day). 

When California was taken over by the United States in the mid-1800’s, Monterey welcomed groups of immigrants from Japan and China, joining the Mexican residents still living in the area. Monterey quickly became a center for industry, with a diverse population of workers to fuel its rapid growth and expansion.

In the mid-1800’s, shortly after being claimed by the United States, Monterey quickly became a hub for the bloody, booming whaling industry. Monterey Bay is a stop along the annual migration for Grey Whales (and many other whales), which meant it was also a fantastic place to hunt and kill whales to use their blubber as fuel. 

Unfortunately, killing animals en masse is a great way to destroy their population and ruin your own industry, a fact that Monterey, unfortunately, had to learn twice. You can learn more about Monterey’s whaling history at the Old Whaling Station on Heritage Harbor.

Not to be deterred by the collapse of the whaling industry, in the early 1900’s Monterey soon re-emerged as a center for sardine fishing and canning. The sardine canning industry transformed Monterey, as new canneries popped up overnight along today’s Cannery Row. Sardines were fished from Monterey Bay by the boatload, transported across the street (along walkways that can still be seen today) to be canned or turned into fertilizer, and dropped off onto waiting railroad cars directly behind the canneries. Business was booming, and Monterey was soon known as the sardine capital of the world!

But as the sardine canning industry grew, the sardine population declined. And during WWII, even as soldiers all over the world relied on cans of sardines for their rations, the industry ground to a sudden, screeching halt. Monterey learned its second lesson in destroying animal populations for profit, and the industrial era of Monterey ended. 

You’ll see evidence of Monterey’s sardine canning history all over Cannery Row, in converted and abandoned canneries still dotting the shoreline. Our hotel,InterContinental The Clement Monterey, was once a cannery, as was the Monterey Bay Aquarium and many other buildings along the town’s central strip. Be sure to read all the signs along the waterfront as you explore!

Today, Monterey’s economy relies on tourism rather than industry, and it is best known for its pioneering approach to marine conservation and research.

Here are a few spots in town to dive deeper into Monterey’s fascinating history: 

• Monterey State Historic Park: A great place to start learning about Monterey’s history, the Monterey State Historic Park is a collection of historic buildings and gardens, including the site where the Spanish first arrived in the early 17th century. Join a guided tour or take a self-guided tour along the Monterey Walking Path of History to see old whalebone sidewalks, historic homes, and delightful gardens.
• Pacific House Museum:  On a self-guided walk through the Pacific House Museum and Memory Garden, you’ll trace a piece of California’s rich history, spanning its Native American origins through Spanish, Mexican, and American arrival in Monterey. The museum is housed in a 1847 building first used as a U.S. Navy storage facility. Before becoming a museum, the building served as a courthouse, pub, church, and more, so you’ll literally be experiencing a piece of Monterey’s past!
• San Carlos Cathedral: The oldest church and first stone building in California, the San Carlos Cathedral dates back to 1794. It’s now a working parish and was recently restored, but the architectural beauty is still something visitors can appreciate today. Next door there’s a museum, where you can find old photos and drawings of the chapel and pieces of the church’s historic whale-bone sidewalk. You can also take a docent-led tour to enrich your experience of this historic landmark. 

Take a Self Guided Walking Tour

This walking tour covers most of the Cannery Row area, beginning and ending right by InterContinental The Clement Monterey, where we stayed. 

You’ll stroll past beaches, under cypress trees, and past historic canneries on this lovely 2-hour self-guided walking tour. You’ll also learn all about Monterey’s history of sardine fishing, as well as the landmarks and people who inspired John Steinbeck’s novella Cannery Row.

Even if you don’t follow the tour exactly, I recommend reading through it to get some context for this area! We saw most of the landmarks on our walk from the hotel to get breakfast at Tidal Coffee, and knowing that history made the murals, statues, paths and buildings come alive as we explored the streets of Monterey.

Hit the Beach

Monterey is a coastal town, and that means one thing: beaches! There are beaches all over Monterey and the Monterey Peninsula, from right in the center of town at McAbee Beach (steps from our hotel) to Del Monte Beach, Monterey State Beach, and Sand City beach just up the road. 

That said, take it from a Northern Californian: some beaches are, er, better than others. (Although don’t worry, none of the beaches in Monterey are as miserable as our own home beach, Ocean Beach in San Francisco, which is essentially the Arctic tundra.) 

Here are the best beaches in Monterey and the surrounding areas:

• Carmel Beach: Beaches aren’t scarce in California, but Carmel beach is something special. Soft, white sand, excellent surf, and perfect sunsets make this stop worth your time. Bring an evening picnic, take a long walk on the scenic path, or just sit and listen to the waves crashing onto the beach. This beach is also dog friendly, so you just might make a few furry friends. (Oh, and keep an eye out for Mulan! She’s a big fan.)
• Lover’s Point Beach: Lover’s Point Beach is in the neighboring town of Pacific Grove and is a hotspot for boating, kayaking, and surfing. Because of the orientation of the Monterey Peninsula, it actually faces east — so you can count on a beautiful beach sunrise if you wake up early enough! A breakwall makes for calmer waters, so if you can bear the cold, it’s a good place to take a dip. (Just in case, though, bring a wetsuit. The Pacific is freezing!)

• Asilomar State Beach: This gorgeous beach, just west of Pacific Grove, is a mix of beautiful sandy shores and hidden, rocky coves. The Asilomar Coastal Trail takes you along the length of the beach, making it easy to explore the dunes, tidepools, and coves.

​​Visit the Monterey Bay Aquarium

The world-famous Monterey Bay Aquarium is one of the largest aquariums in the world – and one of the best! Located in a converted sardine cannery (of course), the non-profit aquarium is centered around research and marine conservation and is home to thousands of marine species, including many that are found only here in Monterey Bay.

In the aquarium’s 35 exhibits, you’ll see playful otters, marvel at mesmerizing jellyfish, learn about cephalopods and meet the great Pacific Octopus. You’ll experience the inside of a wave as it crashes over you, see divers feeding stingrays and sharks, and meet penguins, puffins, and coastal seabirds. 

In one of my favorite exhibits, you’ll also find out what makes Monterey Bay’s waters so special: its enchanting kelp forests! Filled with teeming marine life, the kelp grows 100 feet tall and gently waves back and forth – and you’ll get to see it all up close, as if you were scuba diving in the waters just outside the aquarium’s back doors (which is also on our bucket list). 

It’s truly incredible, and you’ll gain a new appreciation for the kelp forests that are home to Monterey Bay’s unique marine ecosystem – the perfect context for going kayaking, diving, or boating through the Bay.

But my favorite attraction at the aquarium is the sea otter habitat, where the world’s cutest marine mammals frolic and play. Monterey Bay Aquarium is known for its role in rescuing and rehabilitating sea otters. In the early 1990s, there were only 50 southern sea otters left in California. The situation became so dire that many people thought these animals would go extinct within just a few years. But thanks to the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s careful efforts, that didn’t happen.

You’ll see tons of otters playing in the water around Monterey, and if you look closely, you might see little tags on many of them, identifying otters that spent some time at the aquarium before being released back into the wild! 

Today, nearly all the sea otters in California live near Monterey Bay (you’ll also see many of them in Morro Bay, Jeremy’s hometown). The aquarium’s rescue program has played a key role in this success story, and these animals continue to be ambassadors for the habitat restoration that is crucial if we want to protect our oceans! You can even meet the sea otters before your trip on the live Sea Otter cam. 

Be sure to purchase a ticket for the aquarium before your trip.

Go Whale Watching 

Whale-watching in Monterey is a bucket list experience. Monterey offers some of the best whale watching in California, which in turn is some of the best in the country (yeah, we’re pretty awesome). Oh, and it was also the first: whale watching as an organized activity dates back to 1950 when the Cabrillo National Monument in San Diego was declared a public spot for the observation of Gray Whales.

Monterey Bay is one of the best places to see gray whales in Northern California. There are two seasons for whale watching in Monterey Bay. Visit from mid-December through mid-April to see gray whales, dolphins and orcas as they migrate south, or visit from mid-April through mid-December to see humpback whales, blue whales, dolphins, and orcas. (Psst: for more details, we’ve got an entire post about whale watching in California!)

You can get a good view of the whales from shore as they come to feed in the Monterey Submarine Canyon, which is where most whale watching tours embark from, as well as at Point Lobos Natural State Preserve. You can also see whales offshore at Garrapata State Park, especially if you do the hike to Sobrantes Point & Whale Peak.

But for the best whale watching experience and to really get up close and personal with these giant, majestic creatures, take a Whale Watching Tour. Departing from Old Fisherman’s Wharf, this tour will also give you a great point to spot sea lions as you go in and out of the harbor. The tour takes you into the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, where whales are spotted almost every day. The tour lasts 3-4 hours and is hosted by a marine biologist who explains conservation efforts in place to protect the whales and other wildlife in the area.Travel Tip: Are you as fascinated by whaling history as I am?? Pay a visit to the Whalers Cabin & Museum in Point Lobos and the Old Whaling Station near Fisherman’s Wharf to learn about California’s whaling history. And for more information about what whales frequent California’s coast and when, head to our whale watching in California guide!