Monterey: Culture, Coast and Nature

A trip to Monterey can have a variety of focuses: historic institutions, art, seaside trails, beaches or wildlife viewing.

History and Art

Monterey State Historic Park is home to two historic landmarks with distinct profiles. The park includes California's First Theater. It is also home to the Custom House, which is California State Historical Landmark No. 1 and is considered California's oldest government building. This means that a theater and a government building represent two different historical themes in the same park.

The art offerings also differ. The Monterey Museum of Art has galleries for American and California painting, as well as photography and contemporary art. The Stanton Center presents local art from the past and present, featuring paintings, sculptures and photographs. The two institutions differ in both subject matter and presentation: the museum lists gallery and art categories, while the Stanton Center emphasizes the local connection and the breadth of its art across time.

Coastal Trails and Beach

The Monterey Bay Coastal/Recreational Trail is a 4.75-mile section of an 18-mile oceanfront system running from Pacific Grove to Castroville. It is used for walking and cycling. The two lengths refer to different scales: 4.75 miles describes the section, while 18 miles refers to the entire system.

Huckleberry Hill Nature Preserve has well-established hiking trails and fire roads. Pedestrian access is via Veteran's Memorial Park. This makes a dedicated hiking area part of Monterey's nature offerings; its trails and access are distinct from those of the coastal trail.

Monterey State Beach consists of three golden-sand beach areas between the cities of Seaside and Monterey. Visitors can surf and explore tide pools at the beach. These activities differ from walking and cycling on the Monterey Bay Coastal/Recreational Trail: the beach offers surfing and tide-pool exploration, while the trail is for traveling along the sea.

Marine Wildlife and Dining

The Monterey Bay Habitats exhibit at the Monterey Bay Aquarium showcases sharks, giant sea bass and flatfish on the sandy ocean floor. It focuses on these species and their habitat in an exhibition. By contrast, wildlife viewing is the main attraction at Old Fisherman's Wharf: visitors can watch sea otters, sea lions, harbor seals, dolphins, whales, seabirds and other wildlife there. Whale-watching excursions are also available. You can choose between an exhibit about species on the sandy ocean floor, viewing a variety of wildlife, and a whale-watching excursion.

Restaurants at Old Fisherman's Wharf serve sustainable seafood, clam chowder and calamari. This adds a culinary focus at the wharf to the wildlife and coastal offerings.

Discover more destinations: Soledad, Pacific Grove, Salinas, Moss Landing, King City, Carmel-By-The-Sea, San Lucas, Greenfield

For the main travel overview: Monterey.