Monterey Travel Information
Monterey and the Monterey Peninsula are a fascinating melting pot of
culture. Monterey Bay is a large, protected bay located in the middle
of the California coast. Because of its geographic location, much of
Monterey’s livelihood has long been dependent on the Bay which gave it
its name. Originally, Monterey was a center for sardine fishing, and
much of that Cannery Row culture has bred the kitschy, tourist trap
environment that makes up the waterfront today. There are, however, a
few things of interest available to the discerning sightseer. The
Monterey Bay Aquarium is a must-see attraction for anyone visiting the
area. This massive monument to sea life contains over 350,000 marine
species, some of which is housed in a 325,000 gallon interior tank or
1,000,000 gallon exterior tank. Far removed from the bustle of
the aquarium is the once artist's paradise of Carmel-by-the-Sea. Carmel
was once inhabited by such artists as Ansel Adams, Robert Louis
Stevenson and Sinclair Lewis; their Utopian dream still lives on in
some ways and has been completely reversed in others. Wildflowers
line the streets and inns and shops are only referenced by
cross-streets, a throwback to the artist's refusal to allow buildings to
be attached to street numbers. However, the burgeoning shopping
districts will remind you to bring your credit card and not your coin
purse. Between Monterey and Carmel Bay lies the golfing paradise
of Pebble Beach. This quiet secluded section of coast is home to
seven golf courses, including the daunting Pebble Beach Golf Links, luxury
resorts and dramatic cliffs. The general rule of thumb in Pebble
Beach: if you have to ask how much it is, you can't afford it.
Monterey is located along California's west coast and is best
reached via California Highway 1. Monterey is approximately 70 miles
south of San Jose.
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