Things to Do
The Monterey Bay Aquarium is the crown jewel here, and we always block out a full day for it. Admission is $55 for adults and $40 for kids, and it’s worth every dollar. The Open Sea exhibit, with its towering kelp forest and drifting jellyfish, is mesmerizing — we’ve stood in front of the main tank for 30 minutes straight. The sea otter exhibit is where we fall in love every single time. We buy tickets online in advance because popular dates sell out.
Whale watching from Monterey Bay is extraordinary. We book with Monterey Bay Whale Watch ($65 per adult for a 3-4 hour trip) and consistently see humpbacks, dolphins, and sea lions. The marine biologists on board make the experience genuinely educational. Between April and November, we’ve spotted humpbacks breaching close enough to hear the splash. On calmer days, we rent kayaks near Fisherman’s Wharf ($40-50 for a 2-hour rental) and paddle among harbor seals and sea otters in the kelp beds.
The 17-Mile Drive ($11.75 per car) is an iconic Monterey Peninsula loop past Pebble Beach, the Lone Cypress, and dramatic rocky coves filled with harbor seals. We go early in the morning when the light is golden and traffic is thin. Cannery Row, once a gritty sardine-packing district made famous by Steinbeck, is now a walkable stretch of shops, restaurants, and tasting rooms — kitschy in spots but genuinely fun, especially when the afternoon sun hits the bay.
Where to Stay
Monterey has good options across the budget spectrum. The HI Monterey Hostel sits just a few blocks from Cannery Row with dorm beds starting around $40-55 per night — it’s clean, friendly, and impossibly well-located for the price. There are also several motels along Munras Avenue in the $100-150 range that work perfectly as a budget base.
Mid-range travelers should look at hotels along Cannery Row or near Fisherman’s Wharf, where ocean-view rooms run $180-280 per night. We love being able to walk to the aquarium and dinner without moving the car. For a special occasion, the InterContinental The Clement on Cannery Row (from $350) puts us right on the water with fireplaces in the rooms and binoculars for otter-watching from our balcony. Pacific Grove, the quiet Victorian town next door, has charming B&Bs from $150-250 that feel more intimate than the Cannery Row hotels.
Where to Eat
Fisherman’s Wharf is our first stop for a steaming bowl of clam chowder in a sourdough bread bowl ($12-15) — Old Fisherman’s Grotto and Monterey’s Fish House both do excellent versions. We always sample from the free chowder tasters that several restaurants offer along the wharf before committing. For a proper seafood dinner, Passionfish in Pacific Grove ($28-45 entrees) serves sustainably caught fish with creative preparations, and the wine list emphasizes Monterey County producers.
Our budget-friendly go-to is Compagno’s Deli on Lighthouse Avenue, where massive Italian subs cost $12-15 and feed us for half the day. For breakfast, we hit First Awakenings near the wharf — generous portions of pancakes and omelets for $14-18 in a bright, friendly space. If we’re treating ourselves, The Sardine Factory on Cannery Row ($40-65 entrees) has been a Monterey institution since 1968, with an abalone bisque that’s become the stuff of legend. Alvarado Street in downtown Monterey is an emerging food scene with craft beer spots and taquerias where we eat well for under $15.
Getting Around
We drive to Monterey, but once we’re settled in, the car mostly stays parked. The Monterey-Salinas Transit (MST) bus system covers the peninsula well, and several routes are free in the tourist areas. A free trolley runs along Cannery Row and to downtown during summer months. The Monterey Bay Coastal Recreation Trail is a gorgeous paved path stretching 18 miles along the waterfront — perfect for walking or biking between major attractions.
For the 17-Mile Drive, we need a car (no buses allowed on the private road). Bike rentals along Cannery Row start at about $30 per day and are ideal for exploring the recreation trail and Pacific Grove. Rideshare costs $8-15 for trips within the peninsula. If we’re heading to Big Sur for a day trip, it’s a scenic 30-mile drive south on Highway 1 — one of the most beautiful stretches of road in the world. We always fill up the tank in Monterey since gas stations are scarce along the Big Sur coast.