Best Reasons To Visit
Monterey California

Monterey California has a wealth of attractions. Every time I go, I find yet more reasons to come back soon.

Monterey may be the biggest city on the peninsula, but it's still small enough to be easily manageable for tourists and other visitors. The population is around 30 thousand people, and more than doubles during the tourist season.

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The aquarium and Cannery Row are within easy walking distance of each other, while Fisherman's Wharf is just a few strides away from the Old Town and it's historic buildings.

The region has a rich and fascinating history behind it. Native American Indians lived there for thousand of years, followed by the Spaniards, who founded the Presidio. The Franciscans founded the second California Mission, which was later moved to Carmel. Monterey California was also the state capital until it was moved to Sacramento sometime during the Gold Rush.

There's still a commercial fishing industry, though not as big as in the past. Agriculture is a large employer, as is the services industry. Monterey tourism is booming in the summertime.

Monterey weather, with it's cool sea breezes, is a big attraction for those seeking relief from the hot inland valleys. When the sun is out, the lighting is superb, which is one reason there are so many Monterey Peninsula artists taking advantage of it.

The Monterey wineries in Cannery Row offer wine tasting, as do the tasting rooms up in Carmel Valley or out in the Salinas Valley.

The Monterey Fairgrounds are host to a number of annual events, such as the county fair, the blues festival and Monterey On Ice.

Several types of musical events on the Monterey festival calendar also draw adoring fans each year, including the jazz festival and the reggae festival.

Other popular local activities include taking in the area's beautiful natural environment. The famous 17 Mile Drive , which winds around Pebble Beach, should be enjoyed at a leisurely pace. Point Lobos has lots of trails and beach coves to explore.

There's a wide variety of cuisine at Monterey restaurants, reflecting the diverse international cultures, which make up the local community. Many places offer oceanview dining.

You can fly into San Francisco or San Jose and then rent a car. It's about a 2 hour drive from SFO. It is also possible to fly into Monterey Airport, which is located just a few miles inland off of the Monterey-Salinas Highway (Hwy 68). There are about five airlines which offer nonstop flights to major western hubs. From there you can transfer to international flights.

Highway 101 is about 20 miles east. You get off in Salinas and take Highway 68 west to the Monterey Peninsula. It's about a half hour drive from there.

Amtrak provides train service on the Coast Starlight route, which runs up and down the state. The train station is in Salinas, where the Amtrak thruway service will take you to stations in Monterey via coach.

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