Monterey Bay is a stunning area with beautiful costal views and plentiful wildlife. There are plenty of things to see and do here. I grew up visiting Carmel as my parents had a weekend home in the Carmel Highlands and now my mom is retired there and my sister lives in Pacific Grove. I spend a lot of time there and would like to share some of my favorite places and recommendations.
Monterey Bay Aquarium
The world reknowned Monterey Bay Aquarium is a must see destination. It is perched over tide pools with some of the most beutiful views of the Monterey Bay. I love the Jellyfish exhibit. It is mesmerizing and they did an amazing job of the lighting. It is so peaceful to see the abundandant different types of Jellyfish slowly floating. The Sea Otters are a popular attraction. These cute guys are indeginious to the area it is fun to see them being fed. The Open Sea exhibit it one of the largest tanks in the world with the biggest pane of glass. There are giant tuna, funny looking Sun Fish that top out at 5,000lbs and look like they are misisng a tail. Sharks, and giant sea turtles cruise by the 90 foot single pane window. The splash zone is popular with the kids. It has an interactive tidal zone where the kids can touch the seastars and seaslugs – and maybe even pet a sea ray!
17 Mile Drive
17-Mile Drive is one of the most scenic coastal drives in the world, winding through the private Pebble Beach community on California’s Monterey Peninsula. For a $12 entry fee, visitors can explore a breathtaking route filled with dramatic cliffs, pristine beaches, and world-famous golf courses. Along the drive, there are numerous marked stops where you can pull over and admire the views, take photos, or simply breathe in the fresh ocean air. Highlights include Spanish Bay, the striking sand dunes, the rugged coastline of Point Joe, and the majestic Del Monte Forest filled with Monterey cypress trees. It’s a perfect way to experience the natural beauty and dramatic landscape of the central California coast at a relaxed pace.
Tip grab a couple of drinks or lunch at the Inn at Spanish Bar or Pebble Beach and ask the waiter to get a refund on the entry fee.
We love going to the Inn at Spanish Bay for drinks or a meal. It is a beautiful resort with a Scottish links golf course. At sunset every evening a Scottish Bagpiper plays out the course for the day. It is a great photo opportunity to be enjoyed with a drink at the fire pits with the stunning views of the bay.
Pacific Grove
Pacific grove is a quaint town with stunning water views. This is a historic place with some beautiful Victorian homes along the waterfront that serve now as Bed and Breakfast hotels. Originally founded as a Methodist retreat in the late 19th century, the town has preserved much of its quaint, old-fashioned charm. The town is also famous for the annual arrival of thousands of monarch butterflies, who winter among the eucalyptus and pine trees in the Monarch Grove Sanctuary. Whether you’re biking along the coast, visiting the nearby Monterey Bay Aquarium, or simply enjoying a slow, scenic walk, Pacific Grove offers a timeless blend of natural beauty and heartfelt simplicity.
The Point Pinos Lighthouse, located in Pacific Grove, California, is the oldest continuously operating lighthouse on the West Coast of the United States. First lit on February 1, 1855, it has guided mariners along the rocky shores of the Monterey Peninsula for over 170 years. It originally used a whale oil lamp. The original third-order Fresnel lens, manufactured in France in 1853, remains in use today, casting a beam visible up to 15 nautical miles. The lighthouse is open to the public Monday, Thursday, and Friday from 1 PM to 3 PM, and on weekends from 11 AM to 3 PM.
Tip: There is a beautiful side walk running from Lovers Point Park in Pacific Grove through Cannery Row and to Monterey’s Fishermans wharf. Bikes can be rented in Pacific Grove you can even rent a 4 person bike which is fun with a group.
Restaurant Recommendations:
Cannery Row
Cannery Row is one of California’s most famous waterfront streets, immortalized by John Steinbeck’s novel Cannery Row. Once a bustling hub of sardine canning factories, today it’s a vibrant, lively area full of shops, restaurants, and attractions. You can still see remnants of the old industrial days, with preserved warehouses and historic plaques lining the streets.
Local Tip: Avoid the crowds in Cannery row and Fisherman’s wharf and eat where the locals do with a stunning view right on the water. Osteria al Mar is located at the Monterey Marina at the Coast Guard Pier. This Italian restaurant has great views, friendly staff and excellent seafood and pasta. Here you can enjoy an Italian wine while watching the seals frolic and the boats come in and out of the Marina. I have never had a problem getting a table and have always enjoyed the meals.
Monterey’s Fisherman’s Wharf
Originally built in the 19th century for commercial fishing operations, the Fisherman’s Wharf has transformed into a popular destination for visitors. Today, it’s filled with seafood stands offering free samples of clam chowder, souvenir shops, whale watching tours, sunset cruises, and waterfront dining with stunning views of the bay.
Tip: Paluca Trattoria the first restaurant on the right is a cute Scilian eatery with tasty food, friendly service, and views (of course). It was a setting for some scenes with Nicole Kidman and Rease Wetherspoon in the popular HBO Series, “Big Little Lies” that was filmed in Monterey.
Carmel by the Sea
Carmel is a quaint town with scenic ocean views that is frequented from tourists from all around the world. The town’s main thoroughfare, Ocean Avenue, is lined with whimsical cottages, boutique shops, art galleries and high end shopping brands. Visitors can explore hidden passageways and courtyards that reveal delightful surprises at every turn. The town’s commitment to preserving its fairytale ambiance is evident in its absence of street addresses and neon signs, encouraging a leisurely exploration of its offerings. Here you can buy a diamond ring at Tiffanys & Co. or thousand dollar hand bags and heels at Bottega Venata.
There are plenty of cute boutique hotels and bed and breakfast places in town as well as amazing restaurants. After strolling down Ocean Ave take a walk on the beautiful long and wide Carmel Beach which stretches from Carmel Point in the south to the bluffs of the famous Pebble Beach Golf Club on the north side. Every year there is a sand castle competition with some elaborate and artistic creations made from sand and natural things collected on the beach.
Restaurant Recommendations:
Portabella – This is a very cute restaurant on the main street Ocean Ave. They have a great cream of mushroom and a crab bisque soup.
Tip: Carmel is very dog friendly. You can dine in most restaurants with your canine companion. Some of the restaurants even have a doggie menu, but if they don’t you can usually a request a chicken breast with veggies for your pup and you your canine companion can enjoy Papucino.
La Bicyclette – This small french restaurant is so good and popular it is hard to get a table so be sure to reserve in advance.
Grasings – This high end restaurant has a great bar with inventive cocktails, an outdoor patio and dining on 2 levels. They serve healthy and hearty California cusisine. Everything is tasty here and the service is first rate.
Flying Fish Grill – This is one of our favorite restaurants. The owner and chef is Japanese and the menu leans heavily on the seafood side. It is a small and intimate setting. Be sure to call in advance for dinner reservations.
Tip:
If you like long walks on the beach you can walk all the way from Carmel Beach to Monastery Beach. There are amazing views and along the way you can explore the tide pools and intereseting rock formations. When you reach the southern end of Carmel Beach head up to Scenic Road and be sure to check out the distintive, Clinton Walker House by Frank Loyd Right perched on the rocks overlooking the ocean and beach. There are some cute cottages with thatched roofs. And even a small castle, Kustler Castle built in 1920. For the really intrepid explorer you could keep going from Monastery beach to the stunning Point Lobos National State Park which might be a good idea as it fills up quickly every day and there is no parking left.
Carmel Mission & Mission Ranch Inn
Carmel goes way back (at least by California standards) having been the site of the officially named Mission San Carlos Borromeo del Río Carmelo, which was founded in 1771 by Father Junípero Serra as the second of California’s 21 Spanish missions. Located in present-day Carmel-by-the-Sea, it became Serra’s headquarters and burial site, playing a central role in early California history and Native American conversion. Today, it remains an active parish, museum, and historic site, beautifully restored and visited by thousands each year for its architecture, gardens, and cultural significance. If you do the walk from Carmel Beach to Monastery beach try and to find the wooden cross, known as Father Serra’s Cross. It commemorates the original location where Spanish missionaries first erected a cross in 1771 when founding the Carmel Mission. It marked the area where Father Junípero Serra and his party held the first Mass, symbolizing the beginning of their missionary work in California.
Tucked away behing the Carmel Mission, is the Mission Ranch Inn a laid back resort owned by Clint Eastwood.