Tourist/Locals Overview

Big Sur

An incredible 90 mile drive along Highway One that begins just south of Carmel and ends at San Simeon (Hearst Castle).

Artists flock to Big Sur, captured by the breathtaking cliffs, impressive surf, spouting whales and wide-open skys. Henry Miller, writer and artist, called Big Sur "…a region where one is always conscious of eloquent silence…the face of the earth as the Creator intended it to look." Point Lobos, four miles south of Carmel, is the northern entry to Big Sur. Untouched meadows, forests and beaches make Point Lobos a irreplaceable destination in the California State Park system. A wonder of freeways, Highway One meanders above the sea through Big Sur. Visitors can stop and enjoy the fantastic views from many turn-outs.

Bixby Bridge on Highway One is a favorite of photographers who want to catch its muscle on camera. Over 700 feet long and 260 feet above a creek, it's one of the top ten tallest single-span bridges in the world. The bridge is just one part in the story of this marvelous scenic highway, officially opened in 1937.

The Henry Miller Memorial Library honors the life of novelist and painter, Henry Miller. The library hosts several events during the year. It is approximately 31 miles south of Carmel.

The Big Sur International Marathon, held in April, is one of the most picturesque marathon courses in the world. World-class athletes join with amateurs in the race to well-known Hurricane Point, sung to by singers and musicians.

Carmel

Carmel is just off Highway One, five miles south of Monterey and 26 miles north of Big Sur.

The stretch white sands of Carmel Beach lure tourists (and their dogs) from everywhere. Above the beach, the charming town of Carmel is a combination of art galleries, fine restaurants, and matchless boutiques. The homes of Carmel are pleasant in their variety of architectural styles and fauciful names. And while Clint Eastwood is no longer mayor, he brought an distinctive presence to council meetings in the 1980s!

The Carmel Mission Basilica, built in 1771, was the second of California's missions. Situated on Rio Road off Highway One, it's often the site of concerts and weddings.

The performing arts are popular in Carmel. The Forest Theater is California's first outdoor amphitheater. It's a setting for local creation as well as the Shakespeare Festival and an outdoor film festival. The Sunset Cultural Center has recently reopened after dazzling renovations and once again hosts the Carmel Bach Festival, Jazz at Sunset and scores of concerts. The Golden Bough Theater houses the Pacific Repertory Theater Company, which stages major works annually.

Point Lobos State Reserve is a miracle of nature two miles south of Carmel-by-the-Sea.Cloaked in mist or immersed in sunlight, Point Lobos (Spanish for 'wolf') is a world in itself. Meadows, headlands, coves and forests make this gem of a state park the ideal place to hike, picnic, view the wealth of wildlife, or just inhale in the fresh ocean air.

Carmel Valley

Running 12 miles inland to the east of Carmel-by-the-Sea, the valley is a  township of extensive ranches, rolling hills and vineyards.

Carmel Village has a small town character in a very open setting. Wineries have begun to dot this tranquil valley, home of working ranches and top quality resorts. Here, lavish sports cars share the road with horse trailers. Located in the "sunbelt," Carmel Valley offers a wide assortment of recreational activities as well as exceptional restaurants.

Carmel Valley Village is a few miles east of Carmel off Carmel Valley Road. Locals and visitors both enjoy the shops, restaurants, accomodations and wine-tasting rooms in the village.

Garland Ranch Regional Park is on the Carmel River. Best for hikers and horseback riders, Garland Park is a haven for deer, mountain lions, and other wildlife. Serene meadows lead to wooded trails, fresh ponds and extraordinary views.

Golfers have a selection of three championship golf courses: Carmel Valley Ranch Resort, Quail Lodge and Rancho Cañada. But maybe Carmel Valley's most peculiar attraction is its Labyrinth, just one mile east of Highway One on Carmel Valley Road.

Pebble Beach

At the southern tip of the Peninsula, west of Monterey and due north of Carmel-by-the-Sea, Pebble Beach is a residential and resort area.

Pebble Beach, a gated community in the gorgeous Del Monte Forest, is home to seven brilliant world-class golf courses. Pebble Beach Golf Links, Spyglass Hill, Poppy Hills, the Links at Spanish Bay and private Cypress Point attract golf devotees from all over the world.

The Lone Cypress seems to challenge the odds as it adheres to a bare rock above the Pacific Ocean. Many artists have been motivated by its elegance. Today, this landmark is a copyrighted icon of the Pebble Beach Company. Bird and Seal Rocks are a superb place to see shoreline birds like snowy egrets and blue herons. Sea lions and small harbor leopard seals bark and relax on the rocks. Take the chance to stop here along 17-Mile Drive and enjoy a picnic.

The AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am attracts stars and stargazers yearly to Pebble Beach. Celebrities, amateurs and pros test their skills to the enjoyment of crowds. The traditional golf tournament is held at the end of January or beginning of February.

Monterey

Historic Monterey is located at the southernmost curve of the majestic Monterey Bay.

Walking the streets of Monterey on the Path of History is a trip back in time. Old adobes have been caringly restored to recall the days when Monterey was capital of the Spanish territory of California, as have those significant buildings dating from Monterey’s time as California’s first state capital. The history of Monterey as a sea town is apparent at Cannery Row, Fisherman's Wharf and the Monterey Bay Aquarium. The Maritime Museum houses an absolute Visitors Information Center that's open every day. Photos and exhibits depict Monterey's seafaring heritage.

The Monterey Jazz Festival draws musicians from everywhere. It's the oldest jazz festival in the world.

Mazda Raceway at Laguna Seca is home to five big racing events including the World Superbike Championships and the Honda Grand Prix.

 

Located on Monterey Bay between the shore and the Pacific Grove border, it's a lively area with a colorful past.

Home to more than 200 galleries, shops, restaurants, hotels and inns, Cannery Row was immortalized in Cannery Row and Sweet Thursday by novelist John Steinbeck. A bust of the Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist looks over Steinbeck Plaza.

The Monterey Bay Aquarium inhabits the site of the former Hovden Cannery. But instead of canning fish, the purpose of the Aquarium is to shelter the bay, offering the visitor an exquisite view of the quantity of mammals, fish and plants that populate Monterey's waters. A visit to the Aquarium must include the three-story kelp forest, the hands-on touch pools, and the sea otter exhibit—but don't be startled if you can't see it all in one visit: more than 6500 live creatures fascinate children and adults throughout the Aquarium.

Visitors aged nine and under adore playing in exhibits at Splash Zone, where the penguins always draw a cheer. Two new special exhibits highlight delicate and rare seahorses and endangered species; the dazzling Jellies: Living Art opened in April 2002.

 

Located off Del Monte Avenue in Monterey two indivdual wharves are open to the public.

Fisherman's Wharf and Wharf #2 were once at the heart of the city's history. Seafood restaurants, fish markets, and candy shops fill the air with mouth watering smells. There are art galleries and a movie theater. Charter boat companies offer diving, whale watching and sightseeing tours. Fishing boats still unload the day's catch at Wharf #2, while gulls call, seals bark, and sea lions bellow from the Coast Guard Pier. Fishermen can lease boats to try their luck out on the bay.

Striking Monterey Harbor bustles with life and the present is never far from the past. Though modern boats have taken the place of steamships, the aura of old Monterey remains. From the mid-1800s to the early 1900s, the harbor was the site of a thriving cargo and whaling industry. Today, visitors can face Monterey's past as they tour the harbor.

Pacific Grove

"P.G.," located at the northernmost tip of Monterey Peninsula, is a charming town of Victorian homes and old-fashioned charm.

"America's last home town" has maintained a certain old-fashioned charm that appeals to those seeking respite from the busy world. Gracious old Victorian homes recall another time. Locals still take time to chat in their favorite cafes. And each year, the monarch butterflies return to "Butterfly Town, USA" in a glorious display of autumnal splendor.

The Point Piños Lighthouse is the oldest continuously operating lighthouse on the West Coast. Open to the public Thursday through Sunday from 1-4 pm, its steady light continues to guide sailors safely through the bay.

Victorian-era homes are part of the charm of Pacific Grove. Built as retreats for Methodists in the 1880s, they vary from grand to homey. Look for the plaques designating historic houses—they list the name of the original owner and date of construction.

The Museum of Natural History is one of the finest of its size in the country. A life-size sculpture of a gray whale outside the museum invariably beckons to children to come and take a ride. Inside, exhibits tell the story of native plants, wildlife and the region's original inhabitants.

Seaside and Sand City

These two neighbors offer visitors a wealth of shopping, snacking and beach-combing opportunities, backed up by reasonably priced accommodations.

Busy and bustling, the residential and commercial towns of Seaside and Sand City are reinventing themselves at a great pace. They share very easy beach access, and some of the sunniest weather on our sometimes foggy Peninsula.

Seaside is the Peninsula's most populous, and perhaps most diverse, community. Its inland hills were once the home of the U. S. Army base of Fort Ord, until its closure in 1993; now, the Bayonet and Black Horse golf courses are open to the public. Surrounding a blue-domed Russian Orthodox church, the tidy little Laguna Grande Park hosts neighborhood picnics as well as a jumping, jiving music festival every September.

Waterside Sand City is an anomaly however you look at it. With fewer than 1500 residents, its square footage of shopping space out-classes many larger cities with ease. The Sand Dollar Shopping area and new Edgewater on Monterey Bay center feature a book and coffee shop, pet shop, Costco, supermarket, clothing stores and eateries galore.

Marina

Change is everywhere in Marina. New resorts with spa services and elegant accommodation stand beside Marina's clean, comfortable motels, campgrounds and RV parks. The Marina is also the home of California State University, Monterey Bay.

Nature lovers enjoy Marina's numerous parks and recreation facilities. 8,000 acres of Bureau of Land Management terrain is open to the public for mountain biking, horseback riding and hiking. Interpretive signs at Marina State Beach help visitors discover the plants and animals that inhabit the dunes.

Marina's skies are often filled with an array of hang-gliders, paragliders, wind-sculptures, and kites of all sizes and degrees of complexity. A beachfront launching pad is available if you bring your own hang-glider. Marina's pocket-sized airport offers sightseeing, helicopter, and skydiving flights, and in October, vintage planes converge for the Marina Air Faire.