Is Monterey Bay worth visiting?
Whether it’s your first or 10th time visiting the area, the stunning scenery along the 17-Mile Drive never disappoints. The beaches and coastal terrain — best found in Point Lobos State Natural Reserve — are also worth exploring.
What is Monterey best known for?
What is Monterey Most Famous For?
- Monterey State Historic Park.
- Old Fisherman’s Wharf.
- Whale watching.
- Monterey Bay Aquarium.
- Lovers Point.
- Pebble Beach Golf Links.
- Big Sur.
- Dennis the Menace Park.
What is the best time of year to go to Monterey?
The best time to visit Monterey is between April and May. Spring offers warmer temperatures, fewer crowds and food festivals dishing out delectable eats, including Pebble Beach Food & Wine and the Artichoke Festival in Castroville.
How many days do you need in Monterey CA?
I would recommend taking a 4-7 day trip to visit Monterey and the surrounding area. We spent our first day in Monterey exploring the shore, eating as restaurants, and window shopping.
What’s better Monterey or Carmel?
Carmel is more quaint village with beach access. Monterey is more family friendly working coastal/pier town. If it was a relaxing trip, I’d definitely pick Carmel- better food, better browsing, more picturesque. No need to drive to Carmel.
How do you spend the day in Monterey?
Morning
- Grab something to eat at Earthbound Farms.
- Explore nature by taking a mid-morning hike.
- Relish in Carmel’s art scene.
- Head to Monterey via the 17-Mile Drive.
- Take a break for lunch.
- Visit Monterey Bay Aquarium.
- Touring Cannery Row.
- Have dinner at Peter B’s Brewpub.
Is the 17 mile drive worth it?
Many people love taking this unique drive because it offers many exciting stops and breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean. This is where people will find the gorgeous white beaches, famed Lone Cypress, and pristine golf courses. Unsurprisingly, the 17-Mile Drive also features 17 marked stops.
How do people dress in Monterey Bay?
Monterey weather is mild all year long. The average high is the 60s most of the year with lows around 50 each night. Make sure to pack plenty of layers for your stay, as we don’t get the warm sunny days here that are usually associated with California.
What is the coldest month in Monterey California?
December
The cool season lasts for 3.6 months, from December 1 to March 22, with an average daily high temperature below 61°F. The coldest month of the year in Monterey is December, with an average low of 45°F and high of 60°F.
Which is better to visit Monterey or Carmel?
Is it better to stay in Carmel-by-the-Sea or Monterey?
Carmel is more art galleries, wine tasting rooms, ocean, and charming downtown It is closer to Point Lobos. Monterey is where the aquarium, cannery, Monterey Bay, is at There are some wine tasting rooms in the Cannery area. So you might want to choose your place based on what activities you plan to do.
How do I spend a weekend in Monterey?
The 11 Best Things to Do in Monterey for a Weekend Trip
- Explore the Monterey Bay Aquarium.
- Visit Cannery Row.
- Meander through Historic Monterey.
- Visit Monterey’s Cathedral along the Camino Real.
- Explore the Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History.
- Stroll Along Old Fisherman’s Wharf.
- Go Whale Watching.
- Kayak on the Monterey Bay.
What’s better Carmel or Monterey?
Carmel boasts a huge selection of tasting rooms for local wineries, hip, and modern restaurants and boutique shops that will certainly make it more appealing for couples looking for a romantic weekend away. On the other hand, Monterey is a more suitable destination if travelling as a family.
How much does it cost to go on 17-Mile Drive?
$11.25 per vehicle
Admission to 17-Mile Drive is $11.25 per vehicle. The gate fee is reimbursed with a purchase of $35 or more at all Pebble Beach Resorts restaurants, excluding Pebble Beach Market. Admission for tour buses is $5.50 per passenger.
How can I get on the 17-Mile Drive for free?
Residents, guests of residents, and those with overnight hotel reservations (at the The Lodge at Pebble Beach, The Inn at Spanish Bay and Casa Palmero) are allowed to drive in for free with confirmation.
What should I bring to Monterey Bay?
With cool temperatures all year long and moderate humidity, you will find that you will need to pack for the changing weather during your stay. It’s cool and breezy most mornings, so you’ll need something a little warmer like a light jacket, windbreaker or light sweater or a combination of those.
Can you wear heels in Carmel by the Sea?
Though often mistakenly thought of as an urban myth, the municipal code of Carmel bans wearing shoes having heels more than 2 inches in height or with a base of less than one square inch unless the wearer has obtained a permit for them.
What should I pack for Monterey?
Is it ever sunny in Monterey?
On average, there are 267 sunny days per year in Monterey.
The US average is 205 sunny days. Monterey gets some kind of precipitation, on average, 68 days per year.
Is it cheaper to stay in Carmel or Monterey?
Unlike in Monterey, for travellers looking for where to stay in Carmel, there is an unfortunate lack of conventional budget options like hostels and motels. This means that if you’re after a budget place to stay, you’re better off staying in Monterey over Carmel.
What’s the difference between Monterey and Carmel?
Monterey is more of a working town; larger and more spread out. Carmel is more of a village, with lots of tiny shops and restaurants. It’s not very easy to get an ocean view in Carmel, unless you get out of the village.
Is Carmel-by-the-Sea worth visiting?
Rated a top 10 destination in the United States year after year, Carmel-by-the-Sea is a unique, European-style village nestled above a beautiful white-sand beach where everything is walking distance. From performing arts to hundreds of shops, art galleries, and restaurants, you can do everything or nothing at all.
Is it better to stay in Carmel or Monterey?
Is the 17-Mile Drive worth it?
Do you need cash for 17-Mile Drive?
17-Mile Drive is one of the most famous scenic drives in the world. It passes through the gated community of Pebble Beach. Access to this exclusive neighborhood is available at five guard gates in Carmel or Pacific Grove where a fee is charged per vehicle ($11.25 cash only as of 2022).