Too Much Fun - Monterey to Big Sur

We had plenty of highlights during our 3 day stay: Whale watching, Fisherman's Wharf, Cannery Row, the Aquarium, nearby 17-mile drive, Carmel and Big Sur, myriad parks, scenic vistas and adorable seals and sea otters frolicking on the shoreline.....add in friendly people and great restaurants and we can't wait to get back!

Quick Tips:

There are plenty of hotels within walking distance to the Cannery Row/Aquarium area. There are also nice places to stay downtown. Don't be fooled into thinking it will be warm in the Spring. Dress in layers!

Best Way To Get Around:

You'll definitely need a car to get around if you want to see all the great sights near Monterey. If you stay near Cannery Row, you can walk to most of the attractions and restaurants.

We had a fireplace room with high ceilings and two sinks in the bathroom which was nice. The rooms aren't swank, but comfortable. Their continental breakfast was better than most, with fresh fruit and coffee cakes in addition to the usual bagels and cereal. The staff was friendly and helpful. It cost $10/night for parking. Also, our room location was inconvient because we had to use our room key to get into the main building each time. Their website address is: www.victorianinn.com

Our friends who stayed in Monterey 4 nights ate dinner at Rosine's 3 of those nights! We joined them the last night and could see why. We had some of the best lasagna we've ever tasted for $10.25. They have generous servings, a varied menu besides the Italian specialities (steaks, chops, ribs, chicken, fish) and the BIGGEST desserts you'll ever see (the four of us shared one dessert). It's a family owned business that was started by the current owner's mother (Rosine) and father. Definitely worth a visit. To see their menus and get directions, click here.

If you're like us and like delicious, fresh fish, then you should visit this little restaurant just blocks from Cannery Row. True, they don't have a view of the Bay, but they do have very fresh fish, cooked to order and served quick. Great for a quick lunch.

I'll let the words from Nepenthe's website describe the setting: "Perched on the edge of the continent, high above the Pacific, watched over by the majestic Santa Lucia Mountains sits Nepenthe Restaurant. This Mecca of poets, artists, travelers and vagabonds has served guests for fifty years, opening for business on April 24, 1949. Sitting on the terrace, enjoying a glass of wine, an Ambrosia Burger, or one of our exceptional homemade desserts is a quintessential California experience. The first time visitor to the Central Coast will not want to miss it. Once you have visited, you are destined to return."

As someone who was leaving there when we arrived told us, "they could serve terrible food and it'd still be worth it". The view is terrific. We watched whales spouting in the distance while the fog rolled out to sea. Birds are famous for helping themselves to your french fries. We sat at the self-serve benches, right at the edge of the deck. Their gift shop is chocked full of imaginative and unique items and jewelry. To find out more, click here. A MUST SEE!

We were walking along the Fisherman's Wharf area in Monterey, not really thinking about dinner when a nice man offered my husband a small cup of clam chowder. A nice man standing at the front door informed us his father had started the restaurant over 50 years ago. The chowder was very good and my husband wanted to eat there. I on the other hand, was not finished looking around and promised the man we'd be back after we saw what was at the end of the pier. When we returned, he remembered us and asked the hostess to give us a good table. It was a great table with the best view and a good indication of what would follow.

While this is not a fancy, fine-dining establishment, the food, attention to detail and prices were all exceptional. We had shrimp cocktail, fabulous pan-fried snapper, drinks and delicious key lime pie and our bill was only $55 (before tip). Our server was extremely helpful, and went out of her way to make it a memorable dining experience. At the end of the meal, she presented me with a pretty little rose, which they give to all the ladies, I think.

A great place to be comfortable and have a delicious meal. Feel free to bring the kids, too. Their web address is: click here.

We booked a whale watching trip with Monterey Sportfishing. There weren't enough of us to fill a boat, so they hooked us up with Randy's Fishing Trips.

Our captain, Bill, was experienced and informative. We went out past the Bay for about 45 minutes to find the area where the California grey whales are migrating. I figured we'd be the 10% of the people who didn't get to see any whales, but before long there were 4 or 5 of them right in front of us! Because the whales are trying to swim thousands of miles in just a few weeks time, they don't come up for air as often and you don't see much more than their backs and tails. It was still THRILLING to be 40-50 feet away from such a magnificent animal!

It was all the more impressive when we went to the Aquarium and saw the life-size model of one of these giants hanging from the ceiling. If you're into wildlife and/or whales, you've GOT to take one of these tours.