Monterey & Carmel Attractions
Located about 2.5 hours south of San Francisco, the Monterey and Carmel areas are beautiful coastal towns that make for great day trips and vacations. These areas are known for stunning white sand beaches, seaside trails and a mild year round climate.
One of the most popular landmarks is the world-renowned Monterey Bay Aquarium, sitting directly on the Pacific Ocean and at the end of historic Cannery Row, made famous by author John Steinbeck. The aquarium is revered for their California Sea Otter habitat; these animals can also be spotted in the immediate area. The Monterey Bay is a great area for kayaking or biking along the harbor. Golf lovers rejoice with the acclaimed Pebble Beach golf course, one of the most prestigious courses in the nation.
Carmel-by-the-Sea boasts a quaint, European-style downtown with restaurants, shops and a prominent collection of art galleries roughly 20 minutes from Monterey. Visit Point Lobos State Natural Reserve for picturesque ocean views, private coves and the famous “Lone Cypress Tree.
For a scenic tour of these areas, we recommend the 17-Mile drive, a mapped out route that passes by historic landmarks along the coast.