What to do in Monterey & Carmel-by-the-Sea

hey there it's michael back with another episode of traveling tips this weekend we are exploring monterey and carmel california in this episode we're spending a weekend on the monterey peninsula we'll visit the world famous aquarium and cannery row take in the ocean vistas along 17 mile drive and experience the coastal california epicurean scene let's go [Music] when the squawk of the seagulls and the bark of the sea lions announced the start of a new day you know you're in monterey [Music] monterey and carmel by the sea california are located at the northern end of the monterey peninsula about two hours south of san francisco and five and a half hours north of los angeles on california's central coast [Music] monterey got its start as a fishing town where canning factories known as canneries packed sardines for national distribution today many recognized monterey from its role in the popular hbo show big little lies and disney's film finding dory monterey is also well known for its ties to the us navy and the naval postgraduate school [Music] we'll begin our weekend getaway on the peninsula with a day in the city of monterey i got a recommendation to start the day off with a pastry from parker lassoe pastries on hartnell street [Music] i've heard these croissants compared to those found in paris and being some of the best outside of france and these did not disappoint [Music] other breakfast options in the neighborhood are ulta bakery with its large garden patio and crepes of brittany popular for nutella crepes and mimosas just a short walk down alvarado street is the old fisherman's wharf this spot is definitely tourist central with souvenir shops and overpriced touristy restaurants stretching out over the water it sure smells fishy out here which is probably why these sea lions find this a great spot to take a rest sightseeing boats depart from the end of the wharf to cruise around monterey bay it's a bit chilly here by the water even in july so i definitely recommend wearing a jacket [Music] next we're heading over to cannery row cannery row is one of the most widely recognizable areas of monterey to get here we'll walk along a bike and pedestrian path from the wharf this path was once a train route connecting the cannery factories to the main line on this trip it's a great way to see the water and get some exercise while on vacation there's also a free trolley bus that connects the wharf and cannery row cannery row was once a bustling sardine packing district today it's a bit of a tourist attraction similar to the wharf psychic readings and dippin dots are across the street from wine tasting rooms with views of the bay the main draw of cannery row is the monterey bay aquarium this aquarium is a not-for-profit run by monterey bay aquarium foundation which was established in 1978 and opened to the public in 1984. [Music] the aquarium's mission is to promote awareness for the health and rehabilitation of the ocean this aquarium was initially known for its kelp forest which was the first kelp forest exhibit in the world [Music] the aquarium focuses on the natural environment in this part of the california coast [Music] my favorite residents of this aquarium are the sea otters and the penguins [Music] a large exhibit of jellyfish and the open sea also captivate visitors [Music] regular adult tickets are 50 for entry [Music] right now you must purchase tickets in advance online to receive an entry time [Music] down the road from the aquarium we're stopping into the taste of monterey wine bar for a sample of local wines and a view of the water [Music] for dinner we're hopping over to carmel by the sea to enjoy the tastes of portabella [Music] the short ribs pasta and european flair atmosphere made this a great pick for dinner i'd also recommend the sandbar and grill for seafood dinner in the monterey harbor area [Music] for this trip i'm checking into the casa munros hotel and spa located in the downtown area of monterey since i'm traveling with friends i reserved a suite the room is quite spacious with a large king bed and sofa bed divided by a gas fireplace monterey gets chilly even in the summer so the heat from the fire makes the room extra cozy rates at this hotel are reasonable and the monterey attractions are within walking distance there's a heated pool too also the hotel is dog-friendly [Music] we'll spend our second day of our weekend getaway exploring the city of carmel by the sea carmel holds some interesting pop culture fun facts did you know that clint eastwood was elected mayor of carmel the famed pebble beach golf course is here which hosts annual pga tour tournaments and championships but most people know this area for its scenic beauty [Music] for brunch we'll stop at the treehouse cafe in downtown carmel this bungalow vibe cafe is one of several quaint cottage style establishments along the main street [Applause] wandering around the downtown of carmel you feel like you're right in the middle of a fairy tale [Music] down the street is carmel beach [Music] the lovely white sand is pet friendly and frames the cove stretching from pebble beach to carmel point [Music] we're hopping in the car to take a ride on 17-mile drive this roadway circles pebble beach and treats visitors to stunning coastal views one of the first sights we see is the lone cypress this cypress tree clings to the rocky cliffs having survived decades of storms this tree is also part of the logo for pebble beach resorts road winds around sharp turns introducing new and more dramatic views than the last [Music] we reached bird rock which you guessed it it's a rock popular with birds there are several viewpoints along the road where you can get out and walk along the coastline and take in the sights and smells of the ocean [Music] as we continue north we arrive at point joe and the restless sea [Music] point joe is the site of many shipwrecks as sailors often mistook this stretch of the coast as the entrance to monterey bay [Music] the road passes several golf course country clubs along the way including pebble beach and monterey peninsula country club the drive costs 10.75 per car which you pay at one of the entrance gate houses credit card preferred with your admission you receive a guide that explains the various landmarks along the roadway [Music] if you want to explore more of monterey county i'd recommend a side trip to the carmel valley and to the bixby creek bridge the carmel valley has many fine dining and wine tasting experiences to enjoy the bixby creek bridge is one of the man-made marvels of the pacific coast highway you can see more about the bixby creek bridge and the pacific coast highway in my video that i'm linking here before we leave town we'll swing past lovers point park and delmonte beach i promise i watch other shows besides big little eyes but you'll certainly recognize these spots from both seasons of the show [Music] one of my favorite parts about the monterey peninsula is the convergence of nature and civilization the conservation mindset of this region promotes human enjoyment of the environment and surrounding area while also preserving the wildlife habitats of so many species of birds and sea life the food and drink scene here is incredible make sure to check out my full guide on travelingtips.com for all our restaurant and winery recommendations when the majesty of the sea perfectly balances with the delights of the land when the people you meet are as lovely as the view and when you sit back with a glass of wine without a care in the world you know it's a perfect weekend getaway for more travel videos like this make sure to subscribe to the channel thanks for watching and see you in the next one [Music] you

Channel: Traveling Tipps

Views: 164,058

Keywords: Traveling Tipps

Id: bsYHu4a_BLA

Length: 13min 10sec (790 seconds)

Published: Mon Aug 09 2021