Our Great Perhaps is reader-supported. When you buy something I recommend, I may get an affiliate commission, but it never affects your price or what I pick.
Monterey is one of the most beautiful and peaceful places I’ve been… in the US. The thing about Monterey is that it’s not about what shops or cool stuff they have to offer, it’s just the vibe of the area. It’s so serene, that it’s one of the first places I feel like I was reminded to breathe and remember that it’s okay to take life slow for a little while. It was early January, but the weather was still mild.
If you’re looking for peace, Monterey is the spot.
So Where’d I Stay?
I stayed for pretty cheap at The Inn at 1252 Monterey, and it did the job, no glitz or glam. I got there late, right after the floods in the area calmed down. Pictured behind me is the inn. Don’t expect to find a lot of big chains for your hotel around here, it’s mostly a lot that look like this one.
What Do You Do When You Only Have 24 Hours?
The walk along towards Pacific Grove borders the ocean, and even in 50 degrees boasts beautiful views that will keep you outside in every weather. Lots of free parking there as well, with no signs dictating times or costing money. That day, I took the world’s longest walk, since I wasn’t able to run out of pretty views, it was hard to decide where to turn around.
I hopped in and out of a bunch of souvenir stores on my last day. Cannery Row features a plethora of spots for shopping and dining. While it only technically spans one street and a block or so, there are plenty of shops above it, the row itself is along the ocean which makes it prime real estate. I checked out After the Quake, Mackerel Jacks Trading, and Five & Dime General Store. A lot of the shops were closed for the winter, so it was nice and empty everywhere I went… that’s why I love traveling during off season.
Enjoying this post?
Join Liz Long and Prosper for bi-monthly travel tips, destination guides, freebies, and my free 25-page guide to saving money on travel.
Also on Cannery Row is the Monterey Bay Aquarium, which is one of the best aquariums in the world! Of course, I didn’t realize that until I was about to leave, or it would’ve been first on my to do list despite the price tag. $50 would’ve been nothing to see what that aquarium had to offer. Old Fisherman’s Wharf is also alongside that area, and well-worth adding to your list to check out.
Definitely make sure you check out Asilomar State Beach if you want to catch a beautiful sunset over the water. It’s free at this time of year, and very easy to find parking. The beach was totally empty on arrival. Even though the sunset I saw wasn’t quite brilliant, I was still so glad I went to go check it out. The pastels may have been dull, but it still shined in my eyes.
Some other spots worth adding to your itinerary this trip are the Point Lobos State Nature Reserve, which is $10 to get in, and the Monterey State Historic Park… at least some outdoor things. One more thing to consider is the 17 Mile Drive in Pebble Beach which is supposed to offer some incredible views along the whole drive, and it costs $11.75 per car, and definitely worth it.
How About Food?
I grabbed breakfast at Captain + Stoker Café, which was walking distance to the beach, and just about everything else in Monterey. It was a great spot to get work down, just a little pricey, which is an expectation for me in California at this point. There were some good snacks here, good Wi-Fi connection, and it was quiet enough to focus, so it checked off all my necessities.
I finished the night out by grabbing dinner at Hulu’s Island Grill which had a decent happy hour menu. I headed to The Wild Plum Café for some grub the next day. Before I left, I grabbed a snack from Sarita’s Original Mexican for lunch, which was definitely subpar, but affordable.
I use cookies to improve your experience and understand how people use the site. By clicking "Accept", you agree to this. You can learn more in my Cookie Policy.
