These sites and attractions listed below cover not only
the town of Monterey but also the Monterey peninsula and vicinity.
Mission San Carlos Borromeo Del Rio Carmelo is better known as the Carmel Mission. This mission was
established in 1770 by Junipero Serra in Monterey. A year later it was
moved to its present site near Carmel. In fact out of all the 21
California Missions, he is buried under the church floor in
front of the altar. This mission was his home and headquarters
for 13 years.
Besides
the beautiful grounds, and mission you will want to look at some of Junipero
Serra's books on display. Relicts and a Moorish Bell tower are
also interesting sites. I recommend about 45 minutes to an hour
to see this mission and the grounds.
I always find that the California Missions
provide excellent photo opportunities. This is true especially in their
courtyards. The Mission is open from Monday through Saturday from 9:30am
until 7:30pm. On Sunday and holidays it is open from 10:30am until
7:30pm. Admission is $2 for adults and those between the ages of 12 and
17 are a $1. For more info call PHONE (831) 624-3600.
www.carmelmission.org or
www.missionart.com/hSCB/p-SCB.html
Point Lobos State Reserve is located 2 miles south of Highway 1.
This reserve is fairly large and covers about 1,300 acres. There are
many trails here, some provide rather beautiful views of the rugged
coast. You can purchase maps of the trails at the entrance station for
50 cents. If you are lucky you may see some California Sea Lions or
California Otters. The immediate ocean off the coast is part of the
reserve. In order to have enough time to do some hiking and sightseeing
approximately 2 hours is recommended. The park is open from 9am until
7pm daily from mid June through September. It is open until 5pm the rest
of the year. Admission is $6 per car. For more information call PHONE
NUMBER (831) 624-4909.
http://pt-lobos.parks.state.ca.us
The Monterey Bay Aquarium is an attraction that is well worth
taking the time to see. In fact many people come to Monterey just to see
this aquarium. This is one of the largest aquariums in the world and
provides excellent and dramatic displays of marine life. This wonderful
attraction is located at 886 Cannery Row. It is the large building
located right next to the ocean with the gray blue roof. There are more
then 500 species of marine life exhibited in more then 100 galleries and
exhibits. One of the top attractions is the "million" gallon
tank. This tank contains sunfish, barracudas, tuna, sharks, turtles and
stingrays. The main panel from which you can see these creatures is 54
feet long, 15 feet high and 13 inches thick. You sure don't want that
amount of water and pressure escaping!
The jellyfish display is also worth seeing. These are well displayed and
the lighting is perfect. Nearby is the 15,000 gallon anchovy tank. Many
educational institutions utilize this great resource and offer field
trips. Parts of the museum are geared towards the younger kids. They
feature hands on tide pools, life size models of sea creatures, and a
theatre.
Some of the tanks are refilled with 1,500 gallons of seawater per
minute. A neat feature is the "Live from Monterey Canyon".
This is an exhibit which has live video transmissions from the depths of
Monterey Canyon located in Monterey Bay. This canyon descends up to
depths of 6000 feet. A research submarine broadcasts these transmissions
to the aquarium Thursday and Friday from 11 to 2 in the main auditorium.
In order to experience this place you need at least half a day. They are
open daily from 9:30am to 6pm from mid June to Labor Day and from 10am
until 6pm the rest of the year. When I was here I was able to get a good
parking spot about 2 or 3 blocks from the aquarium on a city street.
Admission is $13.75 for adults. Students are $11.75. For more
information about the aquarium call PHONE NUMBER (831) 648-4888. For
advance tickets call PHONE NUMBER 1-800-756-3737. You can also visit the
aquarium on the Internet and get a sneak preview. To do this simply
click on www.mbayaq.org
The Seventeen Mile Drive is a beautiful toll drive that extends
from the small town of Pacific Grove in the north to Carmel in the
south. It is situated right along the coast of the Monterey Peninsula.
There are many pullout areas along this drive which provide excellent
photo stops of the coast and the ocean. I find that the Monterey Cyprus
trees are quite picturesque and always add character to my photographs.
Some of the attractions along this drive are Seal Rock, Cypress Point,
and Spy Glass Hill. This road also winds near the golf course where the
AT&T Pro-Am Golf Tournament is held every year at the end of January
and early February. This is a golf tournament for professionals as well
as many celebrities. If you are going to drive without stopping 45
minutes would enough time. However, you will probably want to stop and
walk along the beach or look at the marine life. For a leisurely drive
several hours would be fine.
The toll for this drive is $8 per car. For general information about the
drive call PHONE NUMBER (831) 625-8426.
Dennis the Menace Playground is located in a park near Lake
Estero. Hank Ketcham the creator of the comic strip helped in the design
and creation of this park. This is a great place to take the children.
There is a maze, a climbing area, and slides. For more information call
PHONE NUMBER (831) 646-3866. Admission is FREE.
The Monterey Peninsula Museum of Art is located at 559 Pacific
Street. They exhibit displays of Oriental, regional and folk art. Allow
between 45 minutes and an hour. They are open Wednesday through Saturday
from 11am until 5pm. On Sunday they are open from 1pm until 4pm.
Admission is $3. Children under 12 are free. For more information call
PHONE NUMBER (831) 372-7591.
Website:
www.montereyart.org
The San Carlos Cathedral is located at 550 Church Street. This
was the church that was originally going to be one of the California
Missions. It was built in 1770 and instead of a mission became a church
for Spanish colonists and soldiers. This church has been in continuous
use since 1795. It is open daily from 8am until 6pm. Admission is FREE.
PHONE NUMBER (831) 373-2628.
The Steinbeck Spirit of Monterey Wax Museum is located at 700
Cannery Row. This museum exhibits various wax figures from Monterey's
historical past. Allow at least 30 minutes. They are open daily from 9am
until 10pm. Admission is $5.95. Students are $4.95. Children between the
ages of 6 and 12 are $2.95. For more information call PHONE NUMBER (831)
375-3770.
Website:
www.wax-museum.com
