Monterey Bay (note that spelling isn't "Monteray"!) is on the coast in northern California, about 110 miles south of San Francisco, a two hour drive. Monterey Bay: features for families
Monterey Bay is a popular tourist spot, and deservedly so, home to Cannery Row (made famous in John Steinbeck's novel) and Fisherman's Wharf: walking from one to the other takes about half an hour and on the way you'll probably see sea lions, harbor seals and sea otters.
Also nearby is the Monterey Bay Aquarium which houses over 350,000 sea-creatures inside a former cannery. Read more about Monterey Bayat About's site for California for Visitors. (And by the way: if you've every wondered where Monterey Jack cheese came from-- you've found the place.)
Older kids would surely enjoy an on-the-water outing such as sea kayaking, which could double as a whale-watching opportunity during the months of March, April, and May: see the Kayak Connectionsite.
Monterey is also close to legendary Big Sur: one of the world's most scenic drives is down the Big Sur Coast. The beaches are beautiful, but warn the kids: that water's cold. According to the Big Surweb site, gray whales can be seen from the highway turnouts from December through April: whale-watching can't get more convenient than that.
Who are these whales, and where are they going? From December to early February, the whales are migrating south; starting in February, you begin to see whales heading north again with newborns. Where to stay, in Monterey:
The CalHotels site includes such family-friendly and budget-friendly choices as Comfort inn, Holiday Inn Express, and Travelodge.
If you're in the mood for a splurge, try the Monterey Plaza Hotel and Spa, with rooms literally right on top of Monterey Bay. This hotel (with Five Star Diamond Hotel Award) has European style and is on Cannery Row within walking distance of Fisherman's Wharf and the Aquarium. Kids under 18 stay free in parents' room. (Check for packages, such as "Aquarium Package".) Find out more about Monterey Bay:
- About's guide for California for Visitors covers Monterey Bay, including visitors' tips and photos of Cannery Row and the Monterey Bay Aquarium.
- Monterey.com covers attractions, recreation, lodging, etc.
