Discovering Monterey, California
Monterey delighted us. This town of 29,000 people has the attractions and shopping of a city of 200,000. I came as a teenager with my family more than 20 years ago and have always wanted to share the aquarium with my children. This visit we lounged at the Lover’s Point Inn (10% off with military ID at http://www.loverspointinnpg.com/) with great rooms and a two-minute walk from the beach—try the Mermaid Beach House if you want something extra special with the space of a home.
The hotel is conveniently located; you can park your car for a few days and enjoy strolling to everything you want in the city. An idyllic shoreline path lets you watch the seals sunbathe on rocks and in sandy coves while you take in the fresh air walking to the aquarium, Cannery Row, or monarch butterfly grove.
Monterey Bay Aquarium
We spent an awe-inspiring day at the Monterey Bay Aquarium marveling at the wonders of nature. My favorites were the “open sea” exhibit, where every jaw in the crowd dropped (and let out a quiet “ooh” in awe) when the 20,000-sardine school flashed and shimmered past, the enigmatic 5,000-pound sunfish, the crazy otters, and of course, the narrated penguin feedings.
Our kids could have easily spent a whole second day at this place. We’ve visited many southern California aquariums, and while all were good and enjoyable, they never captured the kids for more than half a day; this one surpassed every other we’ve visited.
If you love aquariums it’s a must see and worth making a vacation destination. You can’t buy military discount tickets at the door, but their webpage lists the places where you can: http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/vi/vi_tickets/military.aspx (Naval Post Graduate School and the Presidio are both in Monterey).
Cannery Row
Since you’re in Monterey, add Cannery Row to your bucket list. It reminded us of Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco; just as fun with similar shops, scents, and feel. Scratch your clam-chowder-in-a-sourdough-bowl itch here, get fresh saltwater taffy, or walk the pier. One of our San Francisco traditions is a visit to Ghirardelli Square for sundaes; to our surprise and delight, Cannery Row has a Ghirardelli Chocolate shop, too. Amidst all the grown-up shopping and consumer delights is an oasis of kid fun: Lazer Challenge/Mirror Maze/Mini Golf (10% of with military ID), where you can distract the kids while Mom shops—except that Mom kept coming back to try and best me in “Speed Freak.”
Big Sur
To round off your time in Monterey, you must lift your eyes and take in what is arguably California’s most dramatic and picturesque coastline—Big Sur. You would be remiss were you to miss it. Big Sur stretches from the Carmel River south for about 90 miles. The Big Sur coastline shelters the southernmost stands of Coastal Redwoods and unmatched views from a highway carved into the cliffy walls where the Santa Lucia Mountains clash with the ocean swells and rise abruptly over 5,000 feet. Even if you don’t venture for a night, a windy and jaw-dropping trip to one of the most photographed waterfalls is worth an afternoon. If you continue south, be prepared for remote areas with few towns and services once you pass the Big Sur townsite, but camping and resorts abound.
Carmel by the Sea
When you return, take a few hours to enjoy Carmel by the Sea and finish the night off with a bonfire on the beach at the Carmel City Beach Park to watch the sun set. For a great twist on the classic hamburger, try 400 degrees Fahrenheit’s (10% off with military ID) Kobe Burger and pumpkin shake. Other must-see locations around Carmel include the iconic Pebble Beach (17-mile drive), shopping on Ocean Avenue, and the pocket of pristine vistas along the trails of Point Lobos State Natural Reserve.
Once you’ve visited, you can’t help but want to sell everything and try to move here. Monterey has the capacity to leave you renewed instead of frazzled, in awe of Mother Nature’s beauty and wonder.
