Ever been to Monterey? If not, you have missed out. It’s one of my favorite places in California – if not, on the west coast – and in this little guide I’m going to explain why. Read on to find out my reasons for loving Monterey so much.
The temperature
We all know how hot it can get in California during the summer, but Monterey has this amazing cooling breeze that rolls in from the coast. It makes those high temperatures bearable, and as long as you have slapped on the sunscreen, it makes a nice break from the rest of the State. One thing, though – if you are looking for the sun, try and avoid June. It can be a little murky as the weather system makes its final change from spring to summer.
The whales
Anyone out there who loves wildlife just has to get on a boat and take a trip out from the Monterey coastline. It doesn’t matter what time of year you go, either – they are always there. I’m not sure if it’s the only place in the world that this happens, but i have yet to find somewhere else. They have all kinds of whale – and you can even see them from land at times. But your best bet is to get on a tour boat and hit the Submarine Canyon to get a close-up view of the amazing humpbacks. If you have always wanted to see whales in the wild but have always been out of luck, Monterey will be your savior.
The food
While I’m on the subject of sea life, make sure you pay a visit to the delightful Café Fina. It does some of the best homemade pasta dishes my friends have ever tasted and a good range of vegetarian options. But the main reason is that the views are breathtaking. There is nothing quite like chowing down on some great food, staring out at the ocean. There are plenty of excellent restaurants and cafes further inland, but I have a special place in my heart for Café Fina.
The drink
Well, when you’re on a city break, it’s important to let your hair down a little, right? And if you want to have a drink or two, then Monterey is hard to beat. It’s home to dozens of local breweries and vineyards that produce some amazingly flavored beers and wines. I urge you to spend a day or so going from one place to the next for some of the tours. It’s great fun, and delicious at the same time – and almost on par with the Czech beer I discovered in Prague.
The activities
There is so much to do in Monterey; a weekend doesn’t do it justice. It’s a real outdoorsy place, and obviously watersports are very popular. But there’s also plenty of hiking trips to take, and too many biking tracks to pick a favorite. To put it simply, I don’t know a better place that has everything on hand for the more adventurous holidaymaker.
Well, that’s a wrap. As you can probably tell, Monterey is one of my favorite places, but have I missed anything off my list? Let me know in the comments section below.
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Filed under: Beach, Culture, Living, Travel, Wishlist
