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NATURAL OFFERINGS
The ice plant blooms in the spring at Lovers Point in Pacific Grove, creating a stunning corridor of shocking-pink wildflowers along one of the most beautiful seascapes on the planet. Sparkling waves, in endless shades of blue, crash against the rocks and lap gently at the shores here, bathing visitors in the refreshing scent of the Pacific. If you’re seeking romance or merely relaxation, this is where you’ll find your bliss.
The breathless beauty of the Monterey Peninsula’s shoreline reaches miles down famous Highway 1. Travelers come from all points of the globe to absorb the magnificence of Big Sur, where the mighty cliffs and the raging ocean mesh as eternal soul mates to create a solace you’ll find nowhere else.
But don’t miss the shy little paradise called Point Lobos, just south of Carmel. This is a nature reserve where a maze of hiking trails circle through the trees and down to the shore, where the sea life is abundant and history is palpable. At one time or another, Point Lobos has been home to Native Americans, Chinese fishermen, Japanese abalone harvesters, and Portuguese whalers. It has been the site of an abalone cannery, a coal-mining business, a granite quarry, a military base, and numerous film productions. The scuba diving at Point Lobos is world famous, but certification is required. Passenger cars enter the reserve at a cost of $10, or you can park along Highway 1 and walk through the gate for free.
A centerpiece of the Monterey Peninsula is the famous Monterey Bay Aquarium, celebrated as one of the top aquariums in the world. This is where you can marvel at Earth’s most exotic sea life, including the newest exhibit, The Secret Lives of Seahorses, which provides close access to fascinating fishes with heads like horses, tails like monkeys, and pouches like kangaroos. The aquarium is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. Closed Dec. 25. Other holidays, 9:30 a.m.-6 p.m. Visit www.montereybayaquarium.org.
GENTLE GIANTS
You’ve read about them in Moby Dick. You’ve seen them in Disney animation. But until you’ve sighted a living, breathing whale from the deck of a boat on the pristine waters of Monterey Bay, you can’t appreciate the sheer power and glory of the world’s largest mammals. It’s a safe bet that your visit here will coincide with migration times of gray whales. For a safe, up-close-and-personal look at these majestic creatures, climb aboard one of the Monterey Whale Watching boats (831-372- 2203). Special charters are available year-round through Sanctuary Cruises in Moss Landing, (831-643-0128), or grab your field glasses and watch these magnificent creatures while visiting Big Sur or Point Lobos Reserve. By land or by sea the show is always amazing.
BIKING BY THE BAY
The best way to feel the ocean breeze in your hair is astride a bicycle on the magnificent 17-Mile Drive in Pebble Beach, where one-of-a-kind vistas are around every winding turn through the Del Monte Forest and the spectacular shoreline that inspired the novel Treasure Island. Another superb ride stretches along a five-mile oceanside recreation trail from Seaside to Pacific Grove. You can rent bicycles from Bay Bikes (831-646-9090) or Adventures by the Sea (831-372- 1807).
HORSEPLAY
For a different kind of view of the Monterey Peninsula, mount up and see it from horseback. The Pebble Beach Equestrian Center (831-624-2756) offers four guided beach-trail rides daily, taking you through forests leading to the sea and back. Molera Trail Rides in Big Sur (831-625-5486) boasts “more than just another trail ride” in Andrew Molera State Park. The Holman Ranch in Carmel Valley (831-659-6054) has 400 acres of scenic trails where “horsing around” is the order of the day.
ON GOLDEN SANDS
By the sea is where you want to be, soaking up the sunshine on some of the most breathtaking beaches on the Pacific Coast. The sands at Lovers Point, Del Monte Beach, Pebble Beach, Spanish Bay, and Big Sur beckon lovers and sun worshipers from all over the world for romantic strolls, picnics, kite flying, whale watching, swimming, surfing, or just getting away. Carmel Beach, at the end of Ocean Avenue in Carmel, is known for its cypress trees, fine white sand, and spectacular views — and it’s also the best place in the world to take your dog for a run. The graceful arc of Carmel River Beach, to the south, is generally less crowded; and bonfires are permitted. Both Garrapata State Beach and Pfeiffer Beach in Big Sur are great for hiking and retreats. Rogue waves can be unpredictable, so always use caution and never turn your back to the water.
WINING ENCOURAGED
World-famous vineyards speckle Monterey County, from San Lucas to Monterey, offering wine lovers a cornucopia of samplings of some of the finest vintages in California. Tasting rooms and winery tours can be found along picturesque Carmel Valley Road, as well as River Road, which can be found off Highway 68, between Monterey and Salinas, and in the King City area of Highway 101. The Monterey County Vintners and Growers Association sponsors special touring and tasting events all year, call 831-375-9400. Or try Taste of Monterey, with two locations, to sample wines from more than 70 vintners at the Visitors’ Center on Cannery Row in Monterey or in Old Town Salinas. (831-646-5446).
THE HISTORY STROLL
The first California Constitutional Convention was held at Monterey’s Colton Hall in 1949. The Custom House, located at Fisherman’s Wharf, is the oldest government building on the West Coast. The Stevenson House was the home of author Robert Louis Stevenson in 1879. All of these venues, and many more, are showcase attractions of Monterey’s Path of History Tour, which explores the historical city’s magnificent adobes on foot. Maps are available at the Monterey Peninsula Chamber of Commerce, 380 Alvarado St., Monterey.
THE SAILOR’S LIFE
Though the shore is a memorable way to enjoy the Monterey Bay, the deck of a sailboat is an experience you’ll never forget. Boating is popular in Stillwater Cove at Pebble Beach, as well as in the Carmel and Monterey bays. The Monterey Peninsula Yacht Club at the Fisherman’s Wharf (831-372-9686) offers a junior sailing school. Party boats can be chartered on Municipal Wharf #1.
TO THE MARKET WE GO
When whether permits — which is most of the time on the Monterey Peninsula — a diverse and enjoyable experience awaits on Monterey’s historic Alvarado Street, which closes to traffic every Tuesday at 4 p.m. for a farmers market. It offers arts, live music, and of course a variety of delicious foods. If you’re closer to Carmel, a farmers market unfolds there on Tuesdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. On Thursdays, the party moves to the parking lots of Monterey Peninsula College.
THE MISSION TRAIL
Much of California’s history began with the Spanish missions. The 21 missions along California’s El Camino Real (“The Royal Highway”) represents the 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. Once the center of religious control, this mission’s dramatic history evokes inspiration and often mixed emotions among visitors. The mission welcomes visitors 9:30 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. weekdays and 10:30 a.m. -4:30 p.m. on weekends. For guided tours, call 831-624-1271.
SURF’S UP
The curls at Carmel Point, Spanish Bay, Lovers Point, Big Sur, and other locations lure some of the best surfers on the Central Coast, offering an adrenaline rush for wave riders at almost any time of the year. Be advised that the water is chilly (a wetsuit is recommended). If you’d rather stay dry, bring your camera and get stoked watching the locals hang ten. Surfboard and wetsuit rentals are available at On the Beach Surf Shop in Monterey (831-646-9283). Whether you are a novice or expert, for the best in surf instruction call Noah Greenberg at 831-915-4065.
PLENTY OF FISH IN THE SEA
Whether you prefer the rocks south of Lovers Point, the dock at Municipal Wharf #2 or the high seas, you can find a fisherman’s bliss on the Monterey Peninsula. For the full ocean experience, call Tom’s Sport Fishing in Moss Landing (831- 633-2564) or contact one of the many sport-fishing charter boats that leave from Fisherman’s Wharf in Monterey each day. For freshwater fishing, good bets are the Big Sur and Little Sur rivers in beautiful Los Padres National Forest. If you are between 16 and 65, you will need a fishing license. Call the California Department of Fish and Game for details (831-649- 2870).
AN ILLUMINATING EXPERIENCE
The locals call them “coastal castles” because of the way they’ve towered majestically over the ocean, lighting the way for fishing vessels for decades. 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 1-4 p.m. Thursday through Sunday. Point Sur Light Station, cresting its namesake peak in Big Sur, offers guided tours, including moonlight sessions, beginning at the base of the mountain and winding to the station at the top.
UNDERSEA MYSTERIES
If the waters of the Pacific look vast, consider this: You’re only seeing the top! There’s another world under the surface of Monterey Bay, and scuba divers and snorkelers travel from around the globe to see it. Temperatures in the bay range from 50 to 60 degrees, so if you forgot your wetsuit, you can rent one from one of the many PADI- and NAUI-approved dive shops, such as Aquarius Dive Shop (831-375-1933). The stores provide guided tours, instruction, diving service, and information.
CINEMATIC HISTORY
If certain locations on the Monterey Peninsula bring a sense of déjà vu, you might be remembering scenes from some of Hollywood’s most-notable movies. Catch a three-hour scenic bus tour along the famous 17-Mile Drive to visit filming locations that were used for scenes in Mutiny on the Bounty (1935), National Velvet (1944), East of Eden (1955), and Play Misty for Me (1971), the classic that starred former Carmel mayor Clint Eastwood. For a schedule and information, call Monterey Movie Tours (800-343-6437).
