There are so many unique Monterey attractions that it can be hard to pick just one!
There is plenty to see and do in Monterey County outside of meeting room
walls. Whether it’s sipping your way through Carmel Valley's
boutique wine tasting rooms or hopping on an unforgettable
whale watching excursion, Monterey County provides meeting attendees with a variety of extracurricular
activities.
Within its 12 towns, there’s so much to discover in Monterey County!
Explore more than 100
art galleries, numerous vineyards and tasting rooms, ten major
museums, and wide array of
attractions—from the renowned
Monterey Bay Aquarium to
17-Mile Drive in Pebble Beach.
Here's a quick overview of Monterey County's top attractions and
things to do.
Monterey Bay Aquarium
Called "one of America's most captivating aquariums" by ForbesTraveler.com,
the famed Monterey Bay Aquarium is teeming with discoveries and interactive
exhibits. Dedicated to marine research and conservation, the
Monterey Bay Aquarium presents marine life on a truly grand scale.
Cannery Row
In January 1958, the City of Monterey officially re-named Ocean View Avenue "Cannery Row" in honor of
John Steinbeck, the author of the well-known novel by the same name. Today's Cannery
Row, anchored by the Monterey Bay Aquarium, stretches along the waterfront
and features restaurants, hotels, specialty shops, local artists'
galleries and wine tasting rooms.
Old Fisherman's Wharf
Take in the sights, sounds and smells of Monterey’s thriving fishing
industry as working trawlers unload their catch of the day (and seagulls
try to get in on the action). Snap photos of sea lions and otters frolicking
in the calm inner harbor waters or get up close and personal during a
glass bottom boat tour,
deep-sea fishing trip or
whale watching tour. Don’t forget to grab a cup of steaming hot clam chowder, or stop
by one of several restaurants featuring fresh Monterey Bay seafood.
Fisherman's Wharf in downtown Monterey should be on visitor’s "must-do" list.
Pebble Beach
With eight championship
golf courses, gourmet restaurants, spas and shopping galore,
Pebble Beach isn't just a community; it's an attraction all its own. Be sure
to wind through
17-Mile Drive for spectacular points of interest along the way.
Scenic Drives
17-Mile Drive in
Pebble Beach is one of the best-known scenic drives in the world. It takes visitors
past impressive homes and the world's greatest golf courses, as well
as miles of scenic coastline and the serene majesty of Del Monte Forest.
Highway 1 from Monterey through Big Sur is the road trip of a lifetime.
It's a State Scenic Highway and has been declared an All-American
Road by the U.S. Department of Transportation's National Scenic Byways Program.
Historic Sites
Monterey County, once the capital of Alta California, is the epicenter
of California history. Explore the heritage of the California mission
era at our
three historic missions. Walk the
Path of History to learn about the Mexican era, as well as the area's early literary
history. Experience the works of Nobel Prize-winning author John Steinbeck
and the agricultural history of Monterey County at the
National Steinbeck Center in Salinas. Learn about the region's flora and fauna at the
Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History.
Parks
There is no shortage of lush acreage to discover.
Fort Ord National Monument,
Pinnacles National Park and the
Point Lobos State Reserve offer hiking, hang gliding, mountain biking, camping, horseback riding,
surfing, birding, diving and more.
Find your park here.
https://youtu.be/bHWD2t5_A0w
Whether you're looking for the quintessential sandy California surfing
beach, stunning cliffs with spectacular views of the ocean, or a picture-perfect
rocky shoreline, you'll find it all along Monterey County's coast.
Dive, surf, sail, kayak or watch wildlife at any of our 13 beaches - or
just enjoy the scenery.
Find your beach here.
Special Events
Monterey's widely acclaimed calendar of events attracts visitors from
around the world. Music lovers are drawn to the
Carmel Bach Festival in July and the
Monterey Jazz Festival in September. Car lovers and racing fans descend on Monterey County for
the legendary
Monterey Car Week and Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance as well as racing events at
WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. February's
AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and April's
Big Sur International Marathon are just a few of many competitive events that take place throughout the year.
Click here to see upcoming events.
Wine Tasting
Monterey County was named as one of 2013's "Top Ten Wine Travel
Destinations" in the world by Wine Enthusiast Magazine and for good
reason. It’s one of the
largest wine growing and producing regions in California made famous by unique microclimates
and diverse growing conditions that produce 42 varietals. There are wineries
and tasting rooms in virtually every city in the county, including
Marina,
Salinas Valley,
Carmel-by-the-Sea and
Carmel Valley.
Find your perfect wine tasting room here.