Making Family Memories Exploring Monterey

Monterey, CA is one of our favorite weekend away destinations.  There is so much to see that you could easily visit over and over again and still have new things to do, like hiking, whale watching, golf, shopping, kayaking, dining, parks, wine tasting, amazing spas, and much more. #GrabYourMoment #Monterey

We visited the Monterey Bay Aquarium.  We have been several times and it is absolutely beautiful.  The aquarium has more than 35,000 creatures representing over 550 species. With nearly 200 exhibits in all, the Aquarium is a window to the wonders of the ocean.  It is fun and educational.  My daughter loves the touch tanks where she can feel sea urchins, hermit crabs, and kelp.

The jellyfish are a highlight for me.  The way they glow is magical.

I have always loved hammerhead sharks.  I could sit and watch them for a long time.

The giant octopus is beautiful.  He was pretty active while we were there.  He was moving around and it was so cool to see how he suctions onto the tank.

While you are down at the Monterey Bay Aquarium be sure to enjoy all the fun shops and restaurants at Cannery Row.  We ate dinner and spent the dinner down there, followed by coffee and a croissant for breakfast the next morning.  It was nice and foggy, so beautiful. 

The next day we went to Point Lobos State Natural Reserve.  It is located between Big Sur and Monterey on California Highway 1 about 3 miles south of Carmel-by-the-Sea. 

Point Lobos has breathtaking views and is known for it’s sea lions.  Sea lions can be seen year round although their numbers are less in summer. Sea Lion Point Trail offers a direct view to the Sea Lion Rocks offshore.  You can hear them barking from most places in the park.  They are quite loud.  My daughter loved imitating them. She has perfected her sea lion bark. 

After enjoying Point Lobos we ventured down the road a little to The Barnyard Shopping Village Carmel.  We all really enjoyed looking in the shops and having lunch.  My daughter absolutely loved Smallsea: Metropolis In Miniature, which is a dollhouse museum.  She stood there quietly staring for ages.  I found it pretty cool too.  We had a beautiful weekend and are already planning to go back to do everything we didn’t have a chance to.  My husband wants to go back to get a golf game in and I want to go for a whale watching tour. 

Check out SeeMonterey.com for travel info for Monterey, Carmel-by-the-Sea, Big Sur, Pacific Grove, Pebble Beach, Carmel Valley, Salinas Valley, Moss Landing, Marina, Sand City, Seaside, Del Rey Oaks and Salinas.  Explore more moments and plan your getaway today!

See Monterey will be giving away 5 pairs of tickets to the Monterey Bay Aquarium! Leave a comment to enter. See Monterey will be selecting the top 5 comments to determine the winner. (Tickets to expire 7/31/16)

Have you visited Monterey?