Nestled on the California coast, Monterey is great fun to visit. With a great aquarium, fun shops and the chance to see otters, here’s how to spend a day in Monterey.
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What’s the best time of year to visit Monterey?
Monterey is a great destination to visit all year round. Many of the attractions can be visited at any time of the year. But my favourite time of year to visit is just outside the summer months. At this time of year, the weather can be beautifully sunny but not too hot so you can still enjoy the sights. I visited in September and it felt like the perfect time of year, with good weather and the chance to see otters in the sea. Here’s how to spend a day in Monterey in the late summer.
Top things to do on a day in Monterey
When you’re planning your trip to Monterey, I’d recommend buying this guide to the California coast (affiliate). There’s a great section on Monterey, with ideas of places to stay and some useful maps.
Monterey Bay Aquarium
Start off your day in Monterey with a trip to one of its most famous attractions, the Monterey Bay Aquarium. This aquarium deserves its reputation as one of the best aquariums in the world, and you can easily spend the whole morning here. Start off with the starfish and rays in the touching pool, then continue to explore the aquarium. Watching the otters play is great fun, and the penguins are super cute as well.
Continuing through the aquarium, you get to see the beautifully serene jellyfish, and the huge tank with sharks is so impressive. There are great information displays as well so you can learn about the sea life and the important conservation work around the world.
The gift shop at the aquarium is good fun as well, with a fun variety of Harry Potter and otter-related gifts for your friends and family back home. Check out opening times and ticket prices for the aquarium here.
Lunch with a view
For a memorable lunch after visiting the aquarium, head to a restaurant with a beautiful view of the bay. Bubba Gump Shrimp Company is a great choice for lunch, and it’s close to the aquarium on Cannery Row. The restaurant has huge windows so you can look out over the sea as you eat. The great variety of fish and shrimp on the menu really makes you feel like you’re by the seaside.
Seals, pelicans and otters
Another of the things Monterey is most famous for is its amazing wildlife. After lunch, you can take a walk to try to see some as well as enjoy the coastal views. If you walk along the coast from Cannery Row towards Old Fisherman’s Wharf, keep an eye out for wildlife in the sea. If you’re lucky, you might be able to spot some of the sea otters in the water. They often enjoy laying in the kelp, so that can be a good place to spot them. Sea otters are so cute and I loved seeing them in the wild.
There’s other wildlife you can spot from the coast in Monterey as well. I saw pelicans just perched on the edge of the rocks. Grey seals were laying on the rocks as well, just looking like they were relaxing and watching the world. It was amazing to be able to see some great wildlife just from walking along the edge of the city by the harbour.
Old Fisherman’s Wharf
For my final tip on how to spend a day in Monterey, head to Old Fisherman’s Wharf for the rest of your afternoon. Old Fisherman’s Wharf is a really fun place to spend some time. There are great shops to explore, and lots of ice cream and candy stalls. for dinner, there are also some great restaurants as well, or you can try the Clam Chowder that this area of California is famous for.
There are other activities you can do from Old Fisherman’s Wharf in Monterey as well, including some whale watching trips. If you’re only got a day in Monterey, you probably won’t have time to do a whale watching trip as well as see the other sights. So if you’d like to do a whale watching trip, I’d recommend skipping one of the earlier activities or spending an extra day in Monterey. There’s so much to do in this part of California you could easily spend days or even weeks here!
Enjoy your day exploring Monterey! Remember to check out this travel guide (affiliate) when you’re planning your trip. California is a great destination with so much more to see and do. Why not head to San Francisco and check out the top 15 things to do in San Francisco. Or continue your travels in California with trips to Big Sur, Santa Barbara, Los Angeles or Yosemite National Park.
Been to Monterey ages ago and loved just hanging around by the seaside. What a beautiful place. Thank you for sharing your tips!
Glad you enjoyed your trip, it really is a beautiful place.
I could see myself enjoying a meal with a view of the otters. Monterey looks like a lovely place to visit. I’m putting it on my list.
It was lovely, seeing the otters and other wildlife was my favourite part of my trip.
Monterey sounds like a lovely place to spend some time. Enjoyed the photos of the wildlife.
It is lovely, the wildlife was my favourite part of the trip.