Monterey Bay Area Attractions, The Call Of The Wild

All phone numbers in 831 area code unless otherwise noted

EYE POPPIN’ CRITTER WATCHIN’

The waterways and wetlands of the area are teeming with wildlife! Park yourself on a dock or a rock and there is sure to be a floor show at any time. Or treat yourself to a short trip to Elkhorn Slough National Estuary Reserve.

To get there, take Highway 1 north from Monterey or south from Santa Cruz to Moss Landing. Just south of the smokestacks at the power plant, turn east (inland) onto Dolan Road, go 3.5 miles, and turn left onto Elkhorn Road. Go 1.9 miles, and turn left into the reserve gate. Access to Elkhorn Slough is available only at the reserve gate, Kirby Park, or the Moss Landing Wildlife Area. (You can also launch kayaks at various points in the Moss Landing Harbor.) The reserve and the Visitor Center are open Wednesday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free to the Visitor Center and picnic area; to walk the trails, there is a $2.50 day-use fee (cash or check, no credit cards) for adults 16 and older. Entry is free for children or with a California hunting or fishing license. A one-year pass is available for $15. There are docent-led tours every Saturday and Sunday at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. There is also an early birding walk the first Saturday of every month at 8:30 a.m. All tours are free with the day-use fee and meet at the Visitor Center, rain or shine; no notice or reservations are needed for groups of fewer than six. The Visitor Center’s exhibits invite everyone to explore, including the award-winning Unseen Slough exhibit. The docent staff hosts special events throughout the year. The center also lends binoculars and bird books, in case you left yours at home.

To visit the slough by kayak, call Monterey Bay Kayaks at 373-5357 or Adventures by the Sea at 372-1807. For a less demanding excursion, relax and enjoy a two-hour, in-depth tour on a Coast Guard certified, 27-foot pontoon boat by contacting Elkhorn Slough Safari Nature Tours at 633-5555.

WHALE OF A TIME

The blue whale is the world’s largest animal in size and mass. There may be fewer than 5,000, yet you can see them, as well as humpback whales, in the Monterey Bay Marine Sanctuary. For a safe, up-close-and personal look at these majestic creatures, climb aboard one of the Monterey Whale Watching boats (372-2203). Special charters are available year-round through Sanctuary Cruises in Moss Landing, 643-0128.

PEDAL POWER

One of the most scenic bike trips begins at the Pacific Grove Gate of the Pebble Beach 17-Mile Drive and winds around the shoreline to Bird Rock. Another worthwhile ride is a five-mile bike path from Lovers Point in Pacific Grove to Seaside. There is also a route that extends from the north end of Seaside, past the California State University of Monterey, to the town of Marina. You can rent bicycles from Bay Bikes at 646-9090 or Adventures by the Sea at 372-1807.

SADDLE UP

For some of the most picturesque touring, you can’t beat the view from horseback. The Pebble Beach Equestrian Center (624-2756) offers four guided beach trail rides daily. Molera Trail Rides in Big Sur (625-5486) boasts “more than just another trail ride” in Andrew Molera State Park. The Holman Ranch in Carmel Valley (659-6054) has 400 acres of scenic trails where “horsing around” is the order of the day.

HIT THE BEACH

The beautiful, pristine white-sand beaches are ideal for combing, strolling, picnicking, kite flying, exploring tide pools, whale watching, or just getting away. Marina State Beach — from Monterey to Seaside — offers long stretches of sand dunes with overhead views of hang gliders. Lovers Point Beach in Pacific Grove is a popular spot for picnicking, swimming, and diving. Just north, Asilomar Beach is great for surfing, strolling, tidepooling, and watching gorgeous sunsets. Carmel Beach, at the end of Ocean Avenue in Carmel, is known for its cypress trees, fine white sand and spectacular views, while the graceful arc of Carmel River Beach to the south is less crowded and bonfires are permitted. Both Garrapata State Beach and Pfeiffer Beach in Big Sur are great for hiking and retreats. The coastal waves can be unpredictible so always use caution and never turn your back to the water.

RAISE A TOAST

Tasting the world-class wines and visiting the internationally renowned vineyards of Monterey County — from San Lucas to Monterey — are a must for those who enjoy the viniculture that the numerous tasting rooms have to offer. The Monterey County Vintners and Growers Association sponsors special touring and tasting events all year. Call 375-9400.

DEEP-SEA DIVERSIONS

The world-renowned Monterey Bay Aquarium boasts a million-plus visitors each year, and for good reason. Exhibits reveal deep-sea life — a world amid deep reefs and rocky shores. The Outer Bay is filled with sharks, jellyfish, and tuna and from time to time, sharks are in residence. There’s also the three-story Kelp Forest and the familyoriented Splash Zone, featuring penguins, moray eels, and sea dragons. The aquarium, on Cannery Row, is open from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. May through Labor Day, and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. the rest of the year, except Christmas Day. For more information, call 648-4888.

WALK THROUGH HISTORY

Follow Monterey’s “Path of History” tour to explore the historical city’s magnificent adobes on foot. There are 46 buildings and sites included on this self-guided trek. Some of the highlights: California’s first theater; Colton Hall, site of the California Constitutional Convention in 1849; the Custom House, the oldest government building on the West Coast; and the Stevenson House, named for its famous guest, author Robert Louis Stevenson, who stayed there in 1879. (This building was the setting for John Steinbeck’s short story How Edith McGillcuddy Met R.L.S.) Maps are available at the Monterey Peninsula Chamber of Commerce, 380 Alvarado St., Monterey.

SET SAIL

Boating and sailing are popular in Stillwater Cove at Pebble Beach, as well as in the Carmel and Monterey bays. The Monterey Peninsula Yacht Club at the Municipal Wharf (372-9686) offers a junior sailing school. Party boats can be chartered on Fisherman’s Wharf #1.

MUSEUM HOP

The Monterey Bay area is rich in California history. (Did you know that Monterey was the original capital of California?) Visit some of the many museums in Monterey, Carmel, and Pacific Grove for an entertaining and informative look back in time. See our Museum Page for more information.

GET FRESH

Every Tuesday evening, weather permitting, Alvarado Street in downtown Monterey comes alive with folks searching for fresh ideas. The Farmers Market is a popular, year-round attraction for locals and tourists seeking fresh produce, beautiful bouquets, handmade products and a free and festive night on the town. By 4 p.m., the street is closed to traffic and people stroll past the booths, sampling different foods and unusual art — and enjoying the music and the night air. The Barnyard Shopping Village, on Highway 1 in Carmel, hosts a Farmers Market every Tuesday. There, among other scrumptious veggies, you can purchase heirloom tomatoes, a treat for which Carmel Valley has claimed bragging rights.

THE MISSION TRAIL

Much of California’s history began with the Spanish missions. The chain of 21 missions along California’s El Camino Real (“The Royal Highway”) represents the first arrival of Europeans to California. Prominent among them is Mission San Carlos de Borromeo in Carmel, the jewel of Father Junipero Serra’s nine missions. At one time the center of religious control, this mission has a dramatic history that evokes inspiration and often mixed emotions among visitors. The mission welcomes visitors from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays, and 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekends. For guided tours, call 624-1271.

CHALLENGE THE SURF

If you can surf Carmel, you can surf anywhere. Remember, it’s not the height of the wave, but the power of the ride. And the view is sensational. The Santa Cruz Beach is a popular surfing spot, as is Carmel Beach. But, because the waves are unpredictable, please use caution on Carmel Beach. Surfboard and wet-suit rentals are available at On the Beach Surf Shop in Monterey, 646-9283.

CAST A LINE

Deep-sea, rock and surf fishing are popular around Monterey Bay. You can call Tom’s Sport Fishing in Moss Landing at 633-2564 or contact one of the many sport-fishing charter boats that leave from Fisherman’s Wharf in Monterey each day. Landlubbers can cast a line along the pier at Municipal Wharf #2. For freshwater fishing, good bets are the Big Sur and the Little Sur Rivers in the beautiful Los Padres National Forest. Don’t forget, if you are between 16 and 65, you will need a fishing license. Call the California Department of Fish and Game, Monterey office, for details, 649-2870.

CASTLES IN THE SKY

The closest you may come to the ivory tower is a visit to the area lighthouses, fondly referred to as “coastal castles.” The Point Pinos Lighthouse, perched atop the northernmost tip of the Monterey Peninsula in Pacific Grove, is the oldest continuously operating lighthouse on the West Coast and is open 1 to 4 p.m., Thursday through Sunday. Point Sur Light Station, cresting its namesake peak in Big Sur, is open for guided tours, which begin at the base of the mountain and wind up to the station at the top. Moonlight tours are also available.

SNORKEL OR SCUBA DIVE

Visit the undersea world, where Monterey holds awesome secrets to be discovered daily by divers and marine biologists. Temperatures in the bay range from 50 to 60 degrees, so if you didn’t bring your wet (or dry) suit, you can rent one from one of the many PADI- and NAUI-approved dive shops, such as Aquarius Dive Shop, 375-1933. These stores also provide guided tours, instruction, diving service, and information.

HAVE A PICINIC

You must have a picnic to take advantage of all the natural beauty in the area. Choose your favorite eats and treats at 5th Avenue Deli in Carmel (625-2688) and let them arrange a picnic basket for you! Then, find a spot, sit down, and nourish all your senses.

OLD MOVIE MAGIC

Catch a three-hour scenic, narrated bus tour that winds along 17-Mile Drive through Carmel, Pebble Beach, and Pacific Grove. Visit the locations of some of Hollywood’s most notable films, such as Mutiny on the Bounty (1935), National Velvet (1944), East of Eden (1955) and, of course, Clint Eastwood’s classic Play Misty for Me (1971). For a schedule and more information, call Monterey Movie Tours, (800) 343-6437.

SALAD DAYS

The Farm, on Highway 68 and Spreckles Blvd. in Salinas, is an agricultural education center and local farming business. Enjoy farm tours, special family activities, farm-fresh produce for sale, and a pleasant rural destination. Visit the organic demonstration farm or try a tractor ride. For information, call 455-2575 or 424-1996.

TAKE A RIDE AND SEE THE SIGHTS . . . IN STYLE

Central Coast Day Tripper has been proclaimed “The best way to see Big Sur.” Dave Engelberg will chauffer you along breathtaking, winding Highway 1, stopping whenever and wherever you want. Dave can even take you to little-known special spots along the way. See the spectacular beauty of the Big Sur Coast while enjoying a comfortable, safe ride. Call 657-9442 or 241-2526 for details.