Where to stay

Stay in Cannery Row to visit one of the most popular regional attractions, the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Paddle out onto the bay to see otters and sea lions in the wild. Book a hotel in Monterey and walk to Old Fisherman's Wharf to see hundreds of sailboats. Across a narrow peninsula from Monterey, Carmel is also a great place to stay to play golf at gorgeous Pebble Beach or follow 17-Mile Drive past the golf course, the Lone Cypress and other scenic spots. Accommodations in Santa Cruz, less than an hour's drive north along the coast, are near a nice beach for learning to surf or paddleboard in a quiet bay. Stay in Pacific Grove to visit the Museum of Natural History, where hundreds of monarch butterflies overwinter between November and February. Marina is a good place to stay to simply relax on the sands of Marina State Beach.

The Monterey region has over 150 wineries. Stay in the neighborhoods of Carmel, Cannery Row or Monterey to visit lovely tasting rooms overlooking the ocean. Book a hotel in the Carmel Valley for a peaceful getaway in the vineyards, where many varietals of wine are served. Hotels in Salinas are perfect for visiting vineyards and tasting rooms in the valley from Salinas to Soledad. Consider biking from vineyard to vineyard to get exercise and enjoy the beautiful scenery between tastings.

Cannery Row was the setting for John Steinbeck's novel about cannery workers and a marine biologist living in this oceanside area during the Great Depression. Book a hotel here today to look for remnants of that manufacturing past in the buildings and signage of the neighborhood. Stay northeast of Monterey in Salinas, Steinbeck's birthplace, and visit the National Steinbeck Center or attend the Steinbeck Festival in early August. Hotels in Seaside are near the California State University's World Theater, where performances range from jazz to martial arts.