Monterey is a short 1-2 hr drive from the Bay Area and a perfect getaway for the weekend. Over the years, I've made short treks over there for various trips (e.g. romantic, bachelorette party, wedding, with the little one) and here are some highlights for what you can do there.
Monterey Bay Aquarium
Obviously the aquarium is a popular attraction. It is pretty crowded on the weekends, so try to go on a weekday if possible.
If you enjoy the aquarium and plan to go multiple times in a year, consider getting an aquarium membership. See membership options. There's different prices for ages and here's a couple things to keep in mind. Kids who are 4 and under are free admission, so if you have very young ones, you don't necessarily need a family membership. Last time we went, we bought 2 individual memberships instead of a family one.
One nice advantage of being a member is that there are sometimes special hours for members. For weekends from now through Labor Day 2023, you can get in a half hour earlier than the public opening time at 9:30am instead of 10am which would be a good way to experience the aquarium with less crowds.
Another great perk for the highest level of membership (Ocean Advocate at $500) is that you have 2 transferrable guest cards. And that's actually how I did enter the aquarium one time, because a friend had some guest cards we could use. Sweet!
Other things to do
If you're not as much of a fan of the aquarium, you could also check out:
The 17-mile drive (bike or drive it)
Head to Carmel (stroll around their nice downtown area - cutest kids clothing store or brunch at Katy's Place)
Take a boat ride (bundle up for this, otherwise you may end up buying Monterey sweatshirts/sweatpants from the tourist shops like we did)
Head to the beach!
Where to stay
Intercontinental The Clement Monterey - Probably my top choice. Steps away from the Aquarium. This location is most convenient. Fanciest hotel amongst the options (attended a wedding here!). Breakfast at the restaurant is nice too, overlooking the water and the kids menu is pretty good. Valet parking is pricey though.
Portola Hotel and Spa - Nice hotel too. You can get a massage at the spa. And it's got a great crepe place across the walkway too. There's a short walk between the parking garage and the hotel.
Monterey Marriott - Right in downtown and steps away from lots of restaurants. They have a yummy breakfast buffet too that's about $30 / person with an omelet and waffle station, hot breakfast foods, donuts, pastries, yogurt, and more. Valet is $40 / day. Join the free Marriott Bonvoy club if you haven't already so you can get points for your stay.
All of these options also have a crib/pack-n-play, so at least you don't have to lug a travel crib if you have a baby.
What to eat
Crepes of Brittany - Scrumdiddlyumptious crepes. They have a whole range of sweet and savory crepes. Great for breakfast / brunch. Their pastries are good too! Lots of people enjoying their crepes inside or outside.
Monterey's Fish House - Fresh seafood. This place is always packed and has a huge line. You can't make reservations, so get there early to start lining up! Anything oak-grilled is delicious - like their octopus. We also really like their artichoke seafood pasta, which I think is a special and not listed on the menu.
Revival Ice Cream - Try their award winning Bee's Knees ice cream. It uses local honey and beeswax from Monterey, with pieces of "honeycomb" candy throughout. Be prepared for a long line to get some ice cream - maybe 20 min wait. But worth it! We're still dreaming about this ice cream and wish we had bought a pint before we left. Fortunately though, from their website, they do ship nationwide (though you would need to order 6 pints)!
If you want something less tourist-y, you could also head to Pacific Grove which is the next town over and is less crowded. For example, we had a nice Italian dinner at La Mia Cucina one night when we drove in late to Monterey and luckily got seated right away.
I haven't found my favorite fish and chips / clam chowder place in Monterey yet. There are some near the aquarium that are alright, but none that are particularly drool-worthy. I think I prefer the clam chowder in Bodega Bay or Pismo Beach better.
As we left Monterey, we also stopped at Lupita's Bakery (a Mexican bakery) for some taquitos too as a snack before heading home!
Hope some of these highlights help and have a great time in Monterey!
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