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Much Love, Monterey
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items Last year I was fortunate enough to spend a few days in Monterey, CA. Two hours south of San Francisco and a popular tourist destination, Monterey (and the adjacent Carmel-by-the-sea!) is home to some of the most beautiful views of Northern Californi...
The best way to directly land in Monterey! A short car or bus ride to the heart of the city, where beaches, museums, and restaurants await!
Monterey Regional Airport
This is where I stayed for my time in Monterey, and I CANNOT recommend it enough. It’s a 5 minute walk to the nearest beach, and there’s a 24 hour CVS that’s even closer than that. Location wise, it is just as centrally located as all the expensive h...
Monterey Hostel
Such a cute and aesthetic way to take in the sights of Monterey! Has a very cozy feel to it and takes you along certain historic sites. For timeliness and for getting to a specific location though, I’d recommend the actual transit system. This is mor...
MST Trolley/Monterey Trolley
I felt very safe and welcome on the Monterey transit line. The driver I had on my bus ride from the airport to the hostel was so happy to share about his experiences with me, and gave me recommendations on where to visit! Affordable also! And doesn’t...
Monterey-Salinas Transit
An absolute must if you are visiting Monterey! Beware of the high ticket prices and long lines, I had to arrive TWO hours before opening to get to the front of the line! Expect a multiple hour wait if you go during the day or on weekends. However it’...
Monterey Bay Aquarium
A historical site turned tourist attraction, it's littered with endless shops and restaurants and cafés! Right on the beach, next to the aquarium, and 5 mins from the hostel!
Cannery Row
A great way to take in the art and culture of this city! Learned a lot about the history of Cannery Row and got to appreciate local artists!
Monterey Museum of Art
The cutest boardwalk ever! It can get extremely busy with tourists so it can be hard to maneuver through, but it's still worth checking out! Whale watching, cute shops, and lots of candy shops and restaurants/bars, right on the water! I loved people ...
Old Fisherman's Wharf
Saw this on someone else's travel list and had to go try it! Had their famous Bee's Knees ice cream, with real honeycomb, and loved it! They make all their ice cream in house! I wanted to try everything!
Revival Ice Cream
If you're going to Monterey, you NEED to stop in Carmel-by-the-Sea. It's gorgeous! So scenic and peaceful, just know in addition to the beaches, it's also quite steep and hilly!
Carmel-by-the-Sea
Actually the most beautiful beach I have ever seen, and my favorite from this trip! It was great for laying out, hiking, walking etc but the waves are very strong - making it hard to leisurely swim. Monterey would be better for a relaxing dip.
Carmel Beach - Carmel-by-the-Sea, ...
Such pretty architectural design and cute shops. Very close to Carmel Beach! I stopped by the café during the day, and actually got to perform with a dance company here at night! Very social and fun atmosphere here.
Carmel Plaza
They don't have Jack in the Box where I'm from…so naturally I had to try it! Really good food, I was surprised at the quality and the amount of options!
Jack in the Box
One of the smaller beaches, but the closest one to the hostel and right off Cannery Row! Gets crowded quickly but great to stop and take a break or eat your quick bite from the many restaurants around you!
McAbee Beach in Monterey, CA
I spent most of my time at this beach as it was a decent size and not too far of a walk from the hostel. At the end of Cannery Row and leads you to the boardwalk - so it's a good place for a pitstop! I loved swimming here and just sitting on the sand...
San Carlos Beach in Monterey, CA
The largest beach I went to in Monterey, so I recommend here if you want to feel in your own world! I walked along this beach for miles just for fun, it was very therapeutic, but is a lot more out of the way than the other beaches if you're staying a...
Del Monte Beach
This trail takes you through almost every single location I listed here. I highly recommend following this trail and going with the flow, discovering things as you go! A lot of dog walkers, pedestrians, and bikers of course, but there's space for you...
Monterey Bay Coastal Rec Trail