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Monterey Bay Aquarium is a world-renowned marine museum. A visit to the aquarium sets up your adventures in Monterey County, an opportunity to learn about those endangered sea otters you see in the kelp forests while cycling the 18-mile Monterey Bay Coastal Recreation Trail or the harbor seals spying on you as you paddle upon the serene Monterey Bay.
Avid cyclists can easily depart the Monterey Bay Coastal Recreation Trail, continue into Pacific Grove and along Sunset Drive past Point Pinos to get in some extra miles. Save time to pause at sublime Asilomar State Beach or Cypress Point, the site of one of the finest vistas of the Pacific. You can also head north from Monterey toward Marina, where some challenging climbs and downhill cruises await.
Pedals aren’t the only human-powered resource to engage in Monterey; paddles reign supreme as well. Listen for the heavy flap of the brown pelicans overhead as you explore Monterey Bay, a national marine sanctuary and sheltered habitat ideal for a first-time paddler or seasoned kayaker. Adventures by the Sea and Monterey Bay Kayaks provide rental kayaks and gear. It's hard to miss seals and sea otters, but remember to sharpen your eyes for jellyfish just below the surface and whales or dolphins farther out to sea.
Like a pod of dolphins, you’ll find a host of great inns swimming about Monterey. The Arbor Inn sits right in historic downtown Monterey within easy access of every trail, outfitter and attraction. The classic Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa perches above Monterey Bay’s waves, an ideal location from which to explore Cannery Row, alight on the Monterey Bay Coastal Trail or cast your kayak into the surf. The rooftop hot tub is the perfect spot to review your adventures as you soothe your bones. The Portola Hotel & Spa also overlooks Monterey Bay and features the largest day spa in Monterey County, a perfect excuse to leave the bicycle in the rack and clubs in the golf bag for a well-deserved "me day."
Surfers don their wetsuits (the water’s chilly in Carmel-by-the-Sea) and head to the terminus of 11th Street to catch a reliable break. If you’re new to surfing, book a lesson with the South Bay Surfriders, Carmel Surf Lessons or Monterey Bay Surf Lessons, among others.
Just ten minutes south by car, hikers and wildlife lovers won’t find wolves at Pt. Lobos State
Reserve, but they’ll almost certainly see a pack of frolicking sea otters rolling about in Bluefish and Whalers Coves, often with pups in tow, depending on the season. The sea lions bark from the rocky outcroppings, and numerous pelagic, shore and coastal birds fly through the ancient cypress grove or float on the frothy Pacific waters.
Carmel-by-the-Sea is the quintessential seaside hamlet, sprinkled with outstanding restaurants and seasoned with fabulous coastal lodging. The dog-friendly Cypress Inn captures the Mediterranean ambiance perfectly with whitewashed stucco walls and tiled roof and floors. The Carmel Forest Lodge offers a set of cottages in a serene garden setting emblematic of this rarefied village. After a day at the beach or hiking, settle in beside the fireplace, then tuck in before an excellent complimentary full breakfast come morning.
Equestrians have long sought out Toro Park for its unbridled access to perfect riding trails across 4,765 acres. The undulating interior landscape makes for strenuous day hikes (bring plenty of water) and outstanding cross-country mountain biking via 20 miles of trails. The 1800 Trail ascends 1,800 feet to provide vistas of the famous agricultural landscape. The Salinas topography is also ideally suited for road cycling, with gently rolling hills and great stopovers for refreshments at The Farm in Salinas Valley and wineries along the River Road, including Wrath Wines, a small batch wine rarely found in stores.
Fort Ord National Monument has evolved into a fantastic mountain biking habitat, whether you're a beginner or an experienced rider. Runners and hikers also love Fort Ord, a former military base with 83 miles traversing 7,200 acres. Fort Ord also offers prime horseback riding with trails that snake through valleys, over the undulating grasslands and into the oak woods. Wildflowers bloom throughout three seasons here, an environment that is home to an array of animals like coast-horned lizards, bobcats and scores of resident and migratory bird species. Pinnacles National Park in Soledad provides a spectrum of activities, like 30 miles of hiking trails, cave exploration and the best rock climbing in Monterey County.
getaway allows us to turn a jaunt into a vacation and provides enough time to explore Monterey County, arguably the most diverse county on the West Coast for outdoor recreation.
You can surf a reliable break, cycle a century past hillside vineyards and hike through ancient redwood groves all within a day. If movement is how you measure your vacation, Monterey County will satisfy your exercise rings and your soul.
ver notice how a day trip, no matter how adventurous, never quite feels like a vacation? Adding a night or two (or more) to our
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Endless Days of Outdoor Adventure Await Travelers in Monterey County
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Long trails through old-growth redwoods that follow seasonal streams to secluded beaches sound mystical because, as anyone who has explored Big Sur will tell you, there is something magical to discover in every acre here.
Head to Andrew Molera State Park if you're in the mood to get your tread on for an hour or the day. Twenty miles of trails await the intrepid here, with a two-mile loop ideal for little legs who will be delighted to see John Muir's water ouzel, the American dipper, dive beneath the water from rocks settled in the Big Sur River. The Bluff Trail travels along the headlands to the Panorama Trail, where a steady gain in elevation leads through lovely woods while providing exceptional coastal vistas. The Creamery Meadow Trail meanders through carpets of coastal wildflowers, under birds soaring on the coastal updrafts. The gentle path is an excellent beginner’s trail perfect for multigenerational enjoyment, with only 24 feet of elevation change. The flowy Old Coast Road in the Ventura Wilderness won’t test your technical skills either, but 2,500 feet of descent over 10 miles will definitely get your heart pumping. Molera State Park contains a variety of mountain bike trails for different skill levels.
Big Sur Lodge, located in Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park, forms an excellent hub for outdoor adventurers, given the variety of accommodations, including family-size rooms and kitchenettes. The Post Ranch Inn has few peers when it comes to sublime five-star lodging in one of the most beautiful settings in the world. Glen Oaks Big Sur offers guests Pendleton blankets and organic sheets, among other green amenities, for a full refresh before tomorrow’s adventure.
Not surprisingly, Big Sur is glamping central. The environment lends itself perfectly to serene domiciles that meld seamlessly into this sublime landscape. Ventana Big Sur lays out tent cabinslike trillium across its 20-acre redwood canyon. Glampers enjoy wood firepits and full access to The Sur House, currently reserved exclusively for overnight guests. Treebones Resort’s yurt village invites us to bask in solitude or gather together in the stunning Wild Coast Restaurant, which offers local farm-to-table fare, and The Sushi Bar, with an ocean view that certainly adds new vistas to the #glampinglife.
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