Monterey

I wonder what the ghosts of Cannery Row think as they wander through the modern streets of Monterey now. Are they happy that people can visit and enjoy the beauty of this town where they worked in harsh, cold conditions so many years ago.

At The Clemont Intercontinental at Monterey Bay, the Concierge Lucile is a wealth of knowledge, not only regarding where to eat and play in the area but also all about the history of the area. She remembers her mother working in the factory canning the sardines. Walking along the railroad tracks as a child in the area that is now the trail. And she wears the same button that the factory workers once wore to identify themselves. She shared with me how the owner of the hotel has a great respect for the history of the area and does what he can to maintain it. The Clemont Intercontinental is one of the only hotels on the waterfront.

The breathtaking view of Monterey Bay combined with the friendly, helpful people and comfortable, beautiful rooms are among the reasons we return to stay here each time we visit.

There is so much to see in this area, that our planned visit time of 3 days was hardly enough to scratch the surface.
Some places we recommend during your visit include

Fish Hopper
Located on the water, this restaurant not only has delicious food, but also beautiful Bay views. If you ask at the front desk they will give you a coupon for the featured appetizer of the day. Reservations are recommended especially on weekends.

Whale Watching

We went out on the Princess, though the crew did not engage very much with us, we did see quite a bit of whale activity out in the water. You have 2 choices of purchase, the lower deck that is about 45.00, and the upper deck that was 65.00.

We purchased the upper deck, and it was much quieter up there. Most of these boats squeeze as many people as possible on the boats making the viewing difficult this boat was no different, but having fewer people did seem to make a difference.

C-Food – Located in the Intercontinental Hotel, they had delicious food and great drinks. Their blood Mary bar allowed you enough choices in your drink to make a meal. In addition to a variety of drink toppings they also allowed for a variety of mixes for the drink. Don chose tequila and tomatillo juice that made for a nice snappy drink to start his morning. I went for the more traditional vodka and tomato juice, but topped it off with shrimp, olives, bacon, celery and tomato. It was a feast in itself.

At breakfast on the weekends they had a guitar player who had the perfect volume for a nice breakfast. We sat outside and enjoyed the perfect weather and even saw a few whale spouts.

Sly McFlies – Great drinks, unique martini selection. On Friday night they had a band playing cover tunes with dancing. They are open late, its a great place to go to relax or kick up your heels in the evening.

The Aquarium – Located at the end of Cannery Row, their aquarium is not only a fascinating place to see ocean creatures, but also a good place to learn about our responsibility of protecting our oceans and the life that dwells beneath it.

There were several educational displays and staff around to answer questions. We went on a Friday and it was relatively busy, when we walked by Saturday the line was pretty backed up, so if you have a choice go on a weekday.

Monterey Coastal Trail / Cannery Row- This wide cemented path goes into town and along the Ocean path. You can rent bikes to ride it,or walk it.

Featured along one side of the path are characters and quotes from John Steinbeck novels. There are also beautiful ocean views, as well as access to other interesting historical places to see.

Old Fishermans Wharf
Celebrating 50 years of “The Summer of Love” go here for great restaurants, to hire boats to take you out for fishing and whale watching.

There are lots of shops to find the perfect souvenir, delicious food, and of course talented musicians to entertain you.

 

Monterey- Cannery Row, Carmel and Pebble Beach are beautiful areas, and a perfect vacation if your looking to escape the heat of the summer. With the Bay Breeze you will need a light jacket at night, and during the day will wish you could spend every moment outside.
Great food, friendly people, and perfect weather make for an ideal vacation spot!