So you've decided to drive to the Monterey Bay area from San Francisco (a very wise decision). It's the only way to go. Rent a car from the airport, and make sure to bring your favorite tunes, for you are about to go on…Read More

So you've decided to drive to the Monterey Bay area from San Francisco (a very wise decision). It's the only way to go. Rent a car from the airport, and make sure to bring your favorite tunes, for you are about to go on a cruise through some spectacular country. It will take the better part of the afternoon. Sure, you can get to Monterey in just a couple of hours if you take the freeway, but the PCH (Pacific Coast Highway) is just the ONLY way to go. So it takes a little longer, what else do you have to do?

I've taken several routes. The easiest, if you are coming from the airport area in South San Fran, is to turn off the freeway and cut through San Mateo, over the hills through Belmont, and pick up the PCH before Half Moon Bay. You'll get some terrific views when you hit the crest of the hills.

Another way, coming down the Peninsula, takes you through Pacifica and a state park area. It's a nice winding drive through a redwood forest, but if you get car sick, this may get a bit too much. It takes much longer too. The San Meteo route is just as pretty.

Stop at one of the road side produce stands along the way. My companion and I bought a ten pound bag of artichokes for $2. (It seemed sensible at the time, and we had no where to pack them in our luggage. Back home we ate artichokes until we were sick).

Carry on. Up ahead, you'll see Pigeon Point Lighthouse, a picturesque structure with a white picket fence and little gardens, just sitting there all on its own. The site has an attached row of guest rooms that are now a hostel. Might be an interesting place to stay if you are looking for something isolated. Stop and take some pictures. It'll be a good time to stretch your legs, too.

If you have the time, Santa Cruz is a good place to stop overnight, as we did. As you wind into town off the PCH, you'll pass perfect little beachside homes, another lighthouse, and if you look out into the Pacific, you'll certainly see people surfing. There's the amusement pier and fisherman's wharf. If you are into fishing, this seems to be the place. (PS, however, my whale watching excursions from Monterey have been much more spectacular than from Santa Cruz. Maybe the north end of the bay isn't as good for that sort of thing, maybe it was just the day. I'd wait until you get to the south end of the bay.)

The Hippy lifestyle seems alive and well in Santa Cruz. And its a college town, to boot, so there'll be things to do at night. There's a charming little Main street with gift shops and bars. And, of course, the Mystery Spot is nearby. For that alone you should stay. (see my other entry on the Mystery Spot)

Near Santa Cruz is my favorite winery, Bonny Doone. They make some world class wines and have delightful quirky labels and names for the wines. You can't miss it; turn off the PCH onto Bonny Doone Road. It's up in the hills a way about five to seven minutes from the coastal highway.

If you're driving straight through, and not stopping in Santa Cruz, you will come into the Monterey Area just at sunset (how perfect is that?) Get out, take some snaps of a perfect sunset, and come on into Monterey, or carry on to Pacific Grove or Carmel for the night.

I've made this drive several times. In fact, every time I come to Monterey, it's how I go. I go out of my way to build in an extra day to drive. PCH is a good safe road that never seems to be crowded, is relaxing to drive, and without a doubt, scenic. Close

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…Read More

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.

In an area noted for world class restaurants and fine dining, this little place in Pacific Grove is holding its own. And why not? It's tiny to be sure, but locals love it. The aroma of wood smoke barbecue fills the surrounding air as the…Read More

In an area noted for world class restaurants and fine dining, this little place in Pacific Grove is holding its own.

And why not? It's tiny to be sure, but locals love it. The aroma of wood smoke barbecue fills the surrounding air as the ribs and chicken are cooked to perfection out in front of the cafe.

The choice of sides is the usual, beans, rice, potato salad and fries.

Prices are very pocketbook friendly.

One caveat, the place is so small, it's best to take your order and head somewhere like Asilomar beach to enjoy it. Close

You can get some truly breathtaking photos from Point Lobos. There are walking trails that lead you through groves of scenic pines and wildflowers. Don't touch! Poison Oak is very prevalent at Point Lobos. Other trails offer views of playful sea otters and…Read More

You can get some truly breathtaking photos from Point Lobos. There are walking trails that lead you through groves of scenic pines and wildflowers. Don't touch! Poison Oak is very prevalent at Point Lobos. Other trails offer views of playful sea otters and pelicans, and the ocean.

During whale watching season December to May you can catch a glimpse of migrating gray whales. As you walk around the reserve the ocean seems to turn from a deep navy blue to emerald at China Cove.

It's billed as a living museum and cost only $7.00 per car to get into the park. Bring a picnic lunch and dine at one of the picnic tables provided. No wonder this is a favorite of artists and photographers. Close

For anyone associated with the military who has ever lived in California, a trip to Fort Ord might be like a trip down memory lane. Unfortunately much of Fort Ord was closed down some time ago and is left boarded up and neglected, little…Read More

For anyone associated with the military who has ever lived in California, a trip to Fort Ord might be like a trip down memory lane. Unfortunately much of Fort Ord was closed down some time ago and is left boarded up and neglected, little use to anyone. However, do not let this stop you from driving through. Part of Fort Ord has been taken over by a local university, and part of Fort Ord was never shut down at all. In fact, when my father was stationed at Fort Ord over twenty years ago, we lived in Fitch Park which provided housing for officers. This area is still used for military housing. It is alive with young families whose military member is taking classes either at the Naval Post Graduate School or the Defense Language Institute. It was very wonderful for me to see a home in which I spent three of the happiest years of my childhood. Maybe only other military children would understand how it feels to not have a home to which they can lay claim, but Fort Ord felt to me like home as soon as I saw the hill on which I broke my wrist, learned how to sort-of ride a bike, and played tag with my brother and neighborhood best friend for hours into twilight. Sentimental freak that I am, I even spent a few minutes on my old elementary school playground, Marshall Elementary, which is still in operation. My, it's funny how those monkey bars shrink when we grow up!

Fort Ord would only be of interest to a military family that was once stationed on the premises UNLESS you play golf. The Bayonet and Black Horse Golf Courses are now open to the public and worth the green fees (See separate entry.).

On the northern edge of the city of Seaside, above Monterey, there is a large shopping center called Edgewater Center. Locals know about the beach and walking area located just outside the shopping center, behind the Home Depot building. I highly recommend this stop, as…Read More

On the northern edge of the city of Seaside, above Monterey, there is a large shopping center called Edgewater Center. Locals know about the beach and walking area located just outside the shopping center, behind the Home Depot building. I highly recommend this stop, as the beach is never crowded, has some gorgeous views, and offers breathtaking vistas from the bluffs above. I stop here in the mornings to get in a jog along the walking path. Then, for a slower pace, I like to stroll along the beach. The bluffs above the beach hold picnic benches and have an exercise path that never seem to be used. I think of it as my own private getaway beach when I go, because I have never come across any other people out there.After your day at the beach, you can always check out the shopping center that offers the parking for the beach access. I enjoy finding a bakery, or small deli in town, and buying a sandwich to take out there with me. I think that this would be a fantastic place to take children to allow them to play on the beach without the crowds. Retirees would also enjoy this spot for its relative seclusion, and the peacefulness of the surroundings. The waves are also gorgeous to watch, you could fall in love with the scenery here. I will post my pictures for you to look at and you can judge for yourself.Close

Denver - San Jose AirportTotal Flight Time - about 2 hrs. 10 mins. We decided to skip San Francisco, and opted to fly into San Jose. One, less city hassle to contend with, and more importantly, it's closer to Monterey. One…Read More

Denver - San Jose Airport
Total Flight Time - about 2 hrs. 10 mins.

We decided to skip San Francisco, and opted to fly into San Jose. One, less city hassle to contend with, and more importantly, it's closer to Monterey.

One can actually fly direct to Monterey, however, flight time option is very limited and we wanted to take advantage of time spent. Anyway, the trip from San Jose to Monterey is scenic.

I guess, it might also be a good idea to fly direct to Monterey if we do decide to go back. That way, we also see the scenic fly in and out of the Peninsula. Hhhhhmmm.....that's a thought....

From San Jose (Airport)

We took the Monterey/Salinas Airbus (www.montereyairbus.com), researched online planning this trip.

One way-trip was $30 per person but this would only take you to their downtown stop in Monterey, the Ordway Drugstore on Pearl and Alvarado Sts.....which, if like us, you book at the Marriott is about a good 5 minute walk.

For an additional $5 (or a total of $65 for both of us), it was direct to the hotel.

TiP :

MONTEREY AIRBUS
(www.montereyairbus.com)
2220 Del Monte Ave
Monterey, CA 93940
Phone No. (831) 373-7777

Make reservation/s with the Airbus ahead. You can do this online via their website. You receive confirmation of your reservation via email. (Payment is cash or credit card on the day of the trip and paid to the driver upon pick-up.)

I suggest you print a copy of your confirmation letter just in case and note their contact phone number.

On our trip TO Monterey (arrival), we were lucky as there were only about 6 passengers and the vehicle that picked us up was a 20-30 seater tour bus.

Designated pick-up from San Jose Airport if arriving in Terminal C is at the Ground Transportation island shelter labeled "Scheduled Buses".

Our bus was for 1:30 and except for a short "restroom break" and a really quick purchase of some bagged snacks, we were on our way out the terminal.

Tip:

The trip from San Jose (airport) to Monterey is about 1.5 hour so I suggest you make use of the "restroom" facilities at the airport. =)

At 1:40 with no bus in sight, a lady waiting as well, asked if it was possible we had missed the bus. The company's phone number I noted down sure came in handy!

Turns out, the scheduled pick-up time is more like an ETA. Whew! That was a relief! I was reassured that the bus was just delayed and would be arriving soon.....and it did by 1:50.

There were already 2 onboard, who, we guessed, were picked up from SFO (airport) since our pickup was the 2nd point for the Monterey/Salinas route.

Tip:

Choose seating on the right, the view is better. *wink*

Also, REMEMBER to make reservations for your return trip. This you can do yourself, a day before your flight or thru the Front Desk of your hotel.

As a footnote, (AGAIN) make sure you have the airbus co.'s phone number handy. You just might have to call their office like we did on our return trip.

We made reservations the day before for a "PICK-UP from HOTEL" service (again $65 for the 2 of us or $60 if we had gone to their pick-up point ourselves).

However, 20 minutes past the scheduled time of pick-up we were told, I called to double-check and somehow, I felt like our reservation for a pick-up was nearly missed after being told to hold.

So.....again, make sure you call if there is more than a 10-minute delay as the next scheduled trip could pose a problem with your flight time.
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Asilomar is one of the best conference centers I have seen -- much nicer than typical convention centers or hotels. You can stay on the grounds for convenience and the meals provided are decent and filling. One of the attractions to Asilomar is the way…Read More

Asilomar is one of the best conference centers I have seen -- much nicer than typical convention centers or hotels. You can stay on the grounds for convenience and the meals provided are decent and filling.

One of the attractions to Asilomar is the way the buildings are situated. To get from room to room, you stroll through woodsy walkways and you can see the ocean across the road. During lunch, I like to sit on the beach and watch the waves roll in -- its very therapeutic!

If you are looking for a place for your business to have a conference that employees will appreciate and enjoy, I highly recommend looking into Asilomar's facilities.Close

There are a plethora of dining establishments in Monterey because it is rather touristy. I recommend staying away from the overpriced restaurants on Cannery Row and heading up to Lighthouse Road to find better and cheaper food. There are bagel shops, pizza places, seafood restaurants, whatever you…Read More

There are a plethora of dining establishments in Monterey because it is rather touristy.

I recommend staying away from the overpriced restaurants on Cannery Row and heading up to Lighthouse Road to find better and cheaper food.

There are bagel shops, pizza places, seafood restaurants, whatever you want. I recommend the Cioppino, because the seafood is fresh. There is a Baskin Robbins near Breakwater Cove -- that's one of my favorite stops between dives when the weather is warm.Close

Okay, so you've got the car, the sky is a perfect California Blue and you've just slept like a baby in your seaside hotel room. What to do? Drive up the Pacific Coast Highway to Santa Cruz. In the hills beyond town is an...…Read More

Okay, so you've got the car, the sky is a perfect California Blue and you've just slept like a baby in your seaside hotel room. What to do? Drive up the Pacific Coast Highway to Santa Cruz.

In the hills beyond town is an... well, I guess you can call it an attraction. The Mystery Spot, packaged with just the right amount of schmaltz, is really and truly mysterious. Theories abound as to why the strange things that happen here do happen, like trees growing in spirals, steel balls rolling uphill, tricks of gravity and that weird feeling that follows you around the place. Some say these strange natural phenomena happen because of an ancient meteor imbedded in the earth. Who knows. The guides seem to have been working at the Mystery Spot forever and put on a good show. Its not a hoax. Its not a side show, its really a mystery and should not be missed. Its open 365 day a year. Check out the web site, it doesn't tell you much about the place but is good for directions.

Mystery Spot 465 Mystery Spot Road in Santa Cruz www.mysteryspot.com