Travel Guides > Monterey, CA

Monterey California Travel

The peninsula of Monterey, California, boasts some of the Western United States' most incredible views and scenery. Overlooking the Monterey Bay, this coastal town, once the "Sardine Capital of the World" provides views of sweeping vistas, tranquil blue waters, lovely turn-of-the century homes, and much more.

But Monterey and the sardine industry of the past are an important part of the fabric of California history. At one point, in the early years of the 20th century, fishing boats carted more than 25 tons of sardines each night to the nearly two dozen canneries that once stood here, and workers labored from early dawn to prepare the previous evening's catch. The plight of the town and its workers was told in the words of famed author John Steinbeck in his novel "Cannery Row."

The sardine industry died in the mid 1900s due to over-fishing and Cannery Row fell into disrepair. Decades later, the city rescued the historic area and it's now home to shops, restaurants, and a handful of historic sites.

Not unlike San Francisco, which is about 100 miles to the north, Monterey has capitalized on its beautiful waterfront area and created an attraction known as Fisherman's Wharf. The atmosphere is much the same as San Francisco's, but the view is more stunning and the harbor less crowded. Stop by and purchase some unique crafts at the shops here, grab a souvenir or two, and be sure to have some warm and delicious clam chowder delivered to hungry diners in a sourdough bread bowl.

If staring at all that water makes you hungry for the sea, there are lots of boat charters available to take you for a trip around the bay. You might even decide to treat yourself to a day of deep-sea fishing.

But the most marvelous reason for visiting Monterey has to be the Monterey Bay Aquarium. This is truly one of the most magnificent aquariums in the world and the reason that other Monterey businesses fare so well. The aquarium attracts in excess of two million visitors each year that stay to explore the rest of the town. You'll find about 350,000 marine animals and plants here and the large tank exhibits are awesome.

Many travelers use Monterey as a base for exploring some of central California's other coastal areas like Carmel and Big Sur. Food and accommodations are more affordable in Monterey than they are in these neighboring posh seaside towns.

Monterey has also begun to form a reputation as a wine-producing region, rivaling Napa and Sonoma to the north. Guests can stop by A Taste of Monterrey on Cannery Row, the official visitor's center for local wineries, and do some tasting or gather more information about tours of local vineyards.