Located on the coast of Central California, Monterey is a paradise for whale and dolphin lovers. Sightings of these sea mammals are so commonplace in this region that those who operate Monterey tours featuring whale and dolphin watching routinely advertise that guests who fail to see ocean wildlife are free to take another tour
at no charge. Another must see for lovers of marine life is the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Visitors are advised to allow themselves plenty of time to be mesmerized by enchanting exhibits featured here.
This community also provided the setting for John Steinbeck's "Cannery Row," and other well-known novels, and many popular Monterey excursions are based Steinbeck's life and writings. The National Steinbeck Center has long been one of the top attractions in Monterey. But Monterey, CA isn't known as the Language Capital of the World because it was the home of a famous novelist; the city is global leader in language instruction. The Defense Language Institute and the Monterey Institute of International Studies are both heavy players in worldwide language education.
Delighting jazz lovers since 1958, the Monterrey Jazz festival is one of the best events of its kind in the world. If jazz isn't your thing, though, you can always enjoy the Monterey Blues Festival, which has been going strong since 1986. The theater arts are also well-represented in Monterey. In fact, California's first theater was build there in 1947, which has earned the community the nickname of the "First City."
One of the newer Monterey activities sure to become a classic is the First City Festival that takes place in the latter part of the month of August. If you love playing golf, you are probably already aware that Monterey features a world-class golf course known as Pebble Beach. You will find no shortage of things to do in Monterey, and the friendly ambiance of the community will ensure you won't feel like just another tourist during your stay. Because Monterey isn't a large, sprawling metropolis, it's easy to find local spots where you'll feel right at home.
Please feel free to contact our office here at Expedia for the latest information on places to stay and things to do in Monterey. We can also provide you with a map of the local area to make sure that you won't miss out on any of the fabulous attractions in Monterey.
