Where is Monterey?  Located on the coast of California, Monterey is approximately two hours south of San Francisco and slightly less than an hour north of Big Sur. This town is one of our favorite stops on Highway One, and you’ll pass right through it if you’re driving the Pacific Coast Highway.

Is Monterey a city, town or a county? It’s all that, and more! While Monterey is the largest city in the county, Monterey County also includes the Salinas Valley, Pinnacles National Park, Los Padres National Forest, and coastal towns like Moss Landing, Big Sur, Carmel-by-the-Sea, and Pacific Grove. However, activities in and around Monterey and the Monterey Peninsula will be the primary focus of our blogs and promoted activities.

I think I’ve heard of it before…is Monterey Famous?  Monterey may be familiar to readers of John Steinbeck’s works, as the author spent much of his childhood in the neighboring city of Salinas and wrote extensively about the region, including the short story Cannery Row. Cannery Row is a must read before your trip; it will enrich your experience here. Maybe you’re familiar with Monterey as the location of Big Little Lies, a popular television series. Despite the show’s extensive use of the city’s many locations, the Bixby Bridge—actually located 45 minutes south of Monterey was used in an excessive number of pointless scenes. Also, you’ve definitely heard of the Monterey Bay Aquarium, the most famous aquarium in California and perhaps the world, was a key location in the box office hit Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home.

When is the best time of the year to visit Monterey? Although there are great events to attend and places to explore year-round, Monterey is at its most picturesque in the spring, from March into April. The monarch butterfly migration, the ice plant bloom in Pacific Grove, and the springtime bloom in California all happen at the same time. Fall, specifically the months of September and October, is the second-best time to visit Monterey due to the pleasant weather and increased likelihood of clear, sunny skies. During the months of May through August, Monterey is enveloped in “June gloom” and typically experiences cold, foggy days, making it less appealing for some travelers.