Monterey Bay California

At the northern end of the central coast is Monterey Bay California, an area of extreme natural beauty, which can best be appreciated through a variety of outdoor activities.

Monterey Bay proper covers 5,322 square miles of water, filled with a multitude of diverse marine life, and stretching all the way from Marin to Cambria. But for the purposes of a Monterey getaway, we'll stick to the Monterey Peninsula for the following fun activities.

Many of the bay activities center around Old Fisherman's Wharf. While Monterey's wharf isn't as big as the San Francisco version, it still has its share of seafood restaurants (who can resist clam chowder with sourdough bread?), various shops and other assorted vendors.

Find a Monterey Bay Restaurant.

Just offshore is the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, which has an undersea canyon even deeper than the Grand Canyon. One place divers prefer to enter the water is on the northwest side of the Coast Guard Pier.

The Aquarius Dive Shop offers beach dives, guided tours and you may be able to request night dives also. They rent and sell gear there, and offer various classes. They are located at 2040 Del Monte Avenue. Call 831-375-1933.

Another place for divers is the Monterey Bay Dive Center at 225 Cannery Row. You can rent gear there as well. Call 831-656-0454.

Monterey Express Diving Charters offers 2 day trips every Saturday, and 2 day trips every Sunday, one at 8:00 a.m. and one at 1:30, but you need to be there a half hour in advance. They leave from the "K" dock of the City of Monterey inner harbor, between Wharf #1 and Wharf #2. You can book the dives at your dive shop. For more info, call 831-659-3009.

To view the marine life from above, kayaking is a fun option. You can take a kayak tour led by a naturalist around the sanctuary.

Monterey Bay Kayaks is at 693 Del Monte Avenue. They offer kayak clinics, classes, rentals and tours. Call 831-373-5357.

Adventures By The Sea offers double and single kayaks for rent. They also offer tours with a marine biologist. They are located at 299 Cannery Row and their number is 831-372-1807.

A B Seas Kayaks/Beachside Sports is at 32 Cannery Row. They offer kayak tours, classes and rentals. Call 831-647-0148.

If you prefer a larger craft, with no rowing involved, there are a few boat cruises to choose from. How about a whale watching tour, a glass bottom boat tour or a Monterey fishing trip? These are generally available from the Old Fisherman's Wharf.

Sea Life Tours at 90 Old Fisherman's Wharf offers glass bottom boat harbor cruises, sightseeing tours and nature tours. The glass bottom boat takes you on a 25 minute tour, where you can view sea birds, sea lions, sea otters and more. They leave every half hour from 11:30 till sunset, from June through October. After that, it's weekends and holidays only. You can call them at 831-372-7151.

Monterey Bay Sailing offers group charters, sunset dinner cruises, nature excursions, three day cruises and sunset sails. They're at Old Fisherman's Wharf #1 and their number is 831-372-7245.

Click here to find out about Monterey Bay whale watching tours.

This video shows a bit of the aquarium, whale watching, and more:

There are some great walking paths with views of Monterey Bay. The Monterey Bay Coastal Bike Trail runs for 29 miles extending from Castroville in the north to Pebble Beach just south of Monterey. It's used by walkers, joggers, skaters and bicyclists.

Around Monterey, you can pick it up along the water's edge, then head towards and through Pacific Grove for some fantastic scenery.

Another place to walk (or kayak) is Elkhorn Slough, where you can really get into bird watching, if you're not already.

Be sure not to miss walking around Point Lobos State Reserve, just south of Carmel, with its many picturesque trails, views and coves.

For some great information on bike paths around Monterey Bay California, see mtycounty.com.

Bay Bike Rentals has a selection of bicycles and surreys for rent. Surreys are those multi seated getups the family can enjoy together. Find them at 640 Wave Street. Their number is 831-646-9090.

In addition to kayaks, Adventures By the Sea rents out mountain bikes, surreys, beach cruisers and even skates. That's at 299 Cannery Row, 831-372-1807.

Monterey Moped Adventures rents out one and two-seated mopeds. They even offer free lessons for the uninitiated. You'll find them at 1250 Sloat, or call 831-373-2696.

Bay Bikes/Wheel Fun Rentals is located at 585 Cannery Row. They rent out surreys, cruisers, mountain bikes and more. They also offer custom tours. Call 831-655-2453.