Romantic Pacific Grove Weekend
Day Note:
Reserve an Attic Suite at the Centrella Inn on the top floor for view and seclusion. Check in as early as possible, so you can walk to the Aquarium and Cannery Row. Give yourself plenty of time for the Aquarium. As a break from the endless shopping opps on Cannery Row, try some of Monterey Bay's lovely wines at A Taste of Monterey. In the evening, what better activity than to walk to Lover's Point and dine overlooking the ocean?
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Monterey Bay Aquarium
Contact:
- (831) 648-4888
- visit website
Location:
- 886 Cannery Row
- (at the corner of David Avenue)
- Monterey,CA93940
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Map
Our Local Expert Says:
Purchase tickets ahead of time and arrive after lunch to avoid long lines. Don’t miss the feeding sessions and “touch pools”.
Description:
The Monterey Bay Aquarium is a world class facility located in the heart of Cannery Row, housed (somewhat ironically) in a repurposed sardine and squid cannery at the ocean's edge. The exhibits are mesmerizing, engaging, entertaining, and simply beautiful. The interactive areas (touch pools, under-the-sea themed play area) are a huge hit with children. This is a must, especially for families. To avoid long lines and heavy crowds, buy tickets in advance (to queue in the "have tickets" line) and visit during the fall and winter months (other than holidays) between 2 and 6 P.M. During peak summer months, mid-week is best. To save money, find on-street parking around Foam St. and David St, and pack a lunch for the aquarium's picnic area. For an extra $10, get a behind-the-scenes tour. If you are visiting during the holidays, don't miss the New Years Eve black-tie gala.
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Cannery Row
Contact:
- visit website
Location:
- Cannery Row
- Monterey,CA93940
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Map
Our Local Expert Says:
Find on-street parking but read signs carefully – parking is strictly enforced. Bring coins to feed the meters. Enjoy some good pub grub (try the fish and chips) and a cocktail at Bullwhacker’s – sit near a fire pit on their outdoor patio, where live bands play in the evenings.
Description:
Cannery Row is a waterfront street steeped in history and immortalized by the eponymous book by John Steinbeck, where it was described as "a poem, a stink, a grating noise, a quality of light, a tone, a habit, a nostalgia, a dream…". It was once a blue-collar industrial zone full of tin-roofed canneries packing sardines like… well, sardines. Due to overfishing and pollution, the sardine population languished, and the canning industry followed. Since the mid-20th century, the focus of "the row" has shifted from fishing for sardines to fishing for tourists. In recent years, the kitsch of Cannery Row's t-shirt and taffy stores has yielded somewhat to more tasteful development. On any given day or evening, the street is relatively crowded and the restaurants, bars, galleries and stores bustling. If you have an eye for history and literature, you might stumble upon old Doc Rickett's lab and some of the diminutive row houses where the cannery workers once resided.
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A Taste of Monterey
Contact:
- 831.646.5446
- visit website
Location:
- 700 Cannery Row
- Suite KK, upstairs
- Monterey,CA93940
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Map
Our Local Expert Says:
The last Friday of every month they stay open late (until 9pm) and often have live music. Request a list of local restaurants that don’t charge a corkage fee for wine purchased here.
Description:
In terms of wine production, Monterey County is to Napa and Sonoma what skiing in Alta or Big Sky is to Aspen… a less famous (and less pretentious) alternative of equal or greater quality. Over 85 vintners and growers call Monterey County home – and there's no better place to get acquainted with them than at A Taste of Monterey. Here you can sample wines from over 40 local vineyards in a room perched above the ocean with floor-to-ceiling windows. Finding the room can pose a challenge, as it's tucked away on the 2nd floor of an old cannery building. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable, and the atmosphere is inviting and festive. Tastings (6 wines) cost $5, which can be used towards a purchase. You can also find guides to the county's wineries, as well as a plethora of wine-related regalia and paraphernalia. A Taste of Monterey will impress you with its intoxicating view and leave you with a new appreciation for Monterey's unique and world class terroir.
Author note:
Tasting prices are not unreasonable: "Regular" tasting is $10 for 5 of the 9 wines; "Reserve" tasting is $15 for all 5 on the Reserve list. All wines on tasting list are also available by the glass. You'll probably buy a bottle or two anyhow‚ so the tasting fee will be waived
Day Note:
Start your morning with the informative exhibits at the nearby Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History, and marvel at the thousands of monarch butterflies, particularly at the Monarch Grove Sanctuary (also walk from the Centrella). A late lunch at Fishwife, and then aimless strolling along the Asilomar Beach. Take off your shoes and roll up your cuffs. For a fantastic dinner, with some exceptional wine, Passionfish is the local choice. It has a novella-length...
read moreDay Note:
Today's the day for a leisurely drive through the forests of the justly-famous 17-Mile Drive. When you pay your fee at the Pacific Grove Gate, make sure to take one of the detailed maps. There are many potential stops, and all of them lovely. Take your time, and get out to take a look frequently. You'll definitely want to stop at Pebble Beach Lodge to see what all the fuss is about, and to pick up a picnic lunch at Pebble Beach Market next to the Lodge....
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Pebble Beach Golf Links
Contact:
- +1 800 654 9300
- visit website
Location:
- 2700 Seventeen Mile Drive
- (The Inn at Spanish Bay)
- Pebble Beach,CA93953
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Map
Our Local Expert Says:
Every serious golfer should play Pebble Beach once in his or her lifetime. A memorable, albeit expensive thrill.
Description:
Pebble Beach Golf Links is among the most famous and breathtakingly beautiful courses in the world. A destination unto itself, Pebble is home to golf history, including some of the most memorable U.S. Opens in history. The signature holes are spectacular, particularly the short, sharp drop to the 7th green, the over-the-ocean 8th hole and the oceanside 18th back to the Lodge.
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Pebble Beach Golf Links
Contact:
Location:
- 2700 Seventeen Mile Drive
- (The Inn at Spanish Bay)
- Pebble Beach,CA93953
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Map
Our Local Expert Says:
Gather your friends for early evening drinks and appetizers on the patio and watch the sun sink into the Pacific.
Description:
Hawaiian super-chef Roy Yamaguchi brings his signature cuisine to the Monterey Peninsula. While California Cuisine is nothing new to foodies, Roy's mixture of ancient Asian cooking traditions and cutting-edge Pacific Rim techniques can make even jaded palates take notice. Try Slow-roasted Mongolian Pork Tenderloin, Steamed Hawaiian Onaga or Crispy Pumpkin Wontons. Accompany the meal with a red wine from Roy's own label. Relax in sophisticated surroundings, attended by an expert server. You will understand why Roy's is an island treat and a new mainland favorite.
