Visiting Monterey: Where to Stay & What to See and Do

You’re going to Monterey County in California and want to make the best out of it. To do this, you should know everything there is to know about the area. The following will help you figure out where you’ll be staying and what you’ll see and do.

Where to Stay?

There seems to be an endless list of hotels and other places to stay, and most of them are costly. The good thing is there are a few things you can do to figure this out before you get there. First, figure out what you want from the place. For example, if you want to take in the natural beauty of Monterey County, look for Airbnb rentals with outdoor kitchens and scenic views.

You should also figure out if you want to be downtown or prefer a family-friendly area. If you’re looking for something family-friendly, you want to stay at Cannery Row.

What to See?

There’s a lot to see when you get to Monterey County. For example, you can go to the Monterey State Historic Park. You’ll see some beautiful landscapes and gardens that are true works of art. The park is in the heart of downtown if you’re going to be in that area. If you’re going to be in Munras Avenue, you want to visit the Iris Canyon Greenbelt.

This is where you want to be if you want to see the incredible vistas Monterey County has to offer. If you’re going to be in the Pacific Grove area, you want to take advantage of the beach trail. This gives you a fantastic opportunity to see beautiful coastal views of California as a digital nomad or casual vacationer.

visiting Monterey
Image by Sarah Tipton from Pixabay

What to Do?

What you get to see in Monterey County is one thing, but now you’ve got to figure out what you’re going to be doing there. The good thing is there’s a lot you can do; it just depends on what you like. For example, if you love to admire fine art, then you’ll fall in love with the Artisana Gallery in Pacific Grove.

You could also take a trip to the Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary and find yourself in the middle of many beautiful butterflies. You could also go to Munras Avenue and rent a few bikes so that you can enjoy a little sand biking; it’s one of the most exciting things to do in this area.

More travel inspiration:

How You’ll Do It?

The next thing you have to worry about is transportation. The simplest thing to do is rent a car so that you can get around wherever and however you want, but that’s not always possible. The good thing is you have other options. For one, you can just download one of the popular rideshare apps to have folks drive you where you need to go.

You could also find some taxi services in town. Some people love to take the shuttle, which is free during Memorial Weekend and Labor Day Weekend. The area is also walk and bike-friendly if you prefer to explore things at a slower pace.

visiting Monterey
Image by David Mark from Pixabay

What to Take?

The last thing you want to worry about if you’re going to be in Monterey County is what you’ll be wearing. Travelers bring a lot of clothes to wear but don’t always pack what they need. You know you’re going to be near a beach, so you are probably bringing swimwear, but there are hiking trails, too, so make sure you bring appropriate shoes and even pants for protection.

You also want to bring light clothes, preferably stuff made out of linen, which is breathable. It can get hot in this area. You should also consider a few light sweaters because nights can get chilly.

Hopefully, this information helps you enjoy everything there is to see and do in Monterey. Visit the visitor’s center to find out what else this city has to offer.

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