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Locally, Monterey is considered to be the hub of the Monterey Peninsula. From our city,you can travel down Lighthouse Avenue to Pacific Grove, down Highway 1 south to Carmel and Big Sur or head north to Seaside and Marina. Monterey and Salinas are connected together by the scenic Monterey-Salinas highway.
This site was designed to be like a virtual Monterey Chamber of Commerce. The big difference is that we can offer unbiased views on the best activities, restaurants and hotels. Because we are not paid by local merchants, our list of things to do and places to go is the best out there.
When people visit our Monterey Chamber of Commerce (which does a great job by the way), the first places they ask about are Fishermans Wharf and Cannery Row. These are two places that definitely cater to our tourist and offer some interesting shops and restaurants.
If I was coming to Monterey for the first time, here would be some of the places to definitely not miss:
Sunset bonfire on Del Monte Beach (or at least a picnic lunch). Nice beach, rarely crowded.
Lake El Estero. Great if you have kids because you can visit the famous Dennis the Menace park, feed the ducks, ride the paddleboats and enjoy a picnic lunch on the lawn.
Whale Watching or sailing departing from Fisherman's Wharf.
If you enjoy bike riding, taking your bike on the recreational trail is a lot of fun. If you want to avoid a lot of pedestrian traffic, take the trail heading north (out of town) and it will hug along the coastline.
Monterey Bay Aquarium. This is considered one of the premiere aquariums in the world.
When it comes to dining in Monterey, there are a lot of good restaurants from which to chose. If I had just two nights to eat out, I would be hard pressed to narrow down the field. Here are some top options:
Sardine Factory (old world charm, excellent food; expensive)
Fresh Cream (very expensive but great views and a true dining experience)
Schooners Bistro (outdoor patio, ocean views, waves lap up beneath you)
Montrio (great menu with something for everyone, ambiance, service can be slow but friendly)
Note: A lot of people venture to the wharf because of the charm. The restaurants are not bad and they do have great views but not amongst the best restaurants in town.
If you are looking for a place to grab a drink and relax, here is our top list of places to go in Monterey:
Schooners Bistro (see above notes)
Lalapooloza (upscale, great place to meet new people)
Cibo Ristorante (stay for the music, upscale)
Jack's (upscale, couch and high back chair seating)
Mucky Duck (pub style with an unbelievable happy hour, good for people in their 20's and 30's).
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