List of tourist attractions in Monterey County, California

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The Monterey Aquarium is one of Monterey County's most visited attractions. MontereyBayAquariumBackview.jpg
The Monterey Aquarium is one of Monterey County's most visited attractions.

Monterey County is a county on the Pacific coast of the U.S. state of California, its northwestern section forming the southern half of Monterey Bay. The population of the county in 2021 was 437,325. [1] The coastline of Monterey County includes Big Sur, Highway 1, and the scenic 17 Mile Drive in Pacific Grove and Carmel that traces the perimeter of the Monterey Peninsula. Tourism is an important part of the economy in the coastal regions of Monterey county, although agriculture is more dominant in the inland Salinas Valley.

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The first people to live in the Monterey Bay Area were the Ohlone. [2] Ancient shell mounds in the Bay Area suggest human settlements were established about 4000 BCE. [3] Spanish explorers first landed in Monterey in 1602, and the city of Monterey was the capital of California while it was under Spanish and Mexican rule. There are also a variety of historic Catholic mission churches, some dating as far back as the 18th century. Monterey has a rich history and is one of California's most historically important cities. The Monterey Bay is also an important marine environment due to its unusual geography and high biological diversity, and the entire coast of Monterey County (as well as the coast north to the San Francisco Bay) is designated the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. The Monterey Bay has a high concentration of species, many of which are found nowhere else in the world. Monterey Bay also features an underwater canyon, Monterey Canyon, that is as deep as the Grand Canyon, and which makes the waters of the Bay nutrient-rich, helping support an ecosystem that includes large mammals such as whales and dolphins, as well as sharks (including Great white sharks). The close proximity of the canyon to the shore has greatly facilitated scientific research of deep sea environments, and Monterey County is home to a variety of world-class marine research institutions, as well as the world-famous Monterey Bay Aquarium. The Monterey Bay provides many recreational opportunities for tourists, including scuba diving, surfing, swimming, fishing, and sailing.

Monterey County has also held strategic importance, both historically and currently. It is home to several former and current U.S. military installations and facilities, including Fort Ord, a decommissioned Army base that housed soldiers going through basic training during World War II; the Defense Language Institute, which provides foreign language training in over a dozen languages for U.S. and foreign military, U.S. government, and law enforcement personnel; and the Naval Postgraduate School, which is operated by the Navy and which offers graduate degrees to U.S. military and Department of Defense personnel. Monterey County's significant military population and presence, as well as its abundance of research institutions focused on marine environments, and the proximity to the Bay Area, mean the county attracts a significant number of visitors associated with the military.

Several artists have called Monterey County home, including writer and Nobel prize laureate John Steinbeck (Salinas and Pacific Grove), writer Robert Louis Stevenson (Pacific Grove), surrealist painter Salvador Dalí (Monterey), and California poet Robinson Jeffers (Carmel-by-the-Sea).

Historic sites

National Steinbeck Center in Steinbeck's hometown, Salinas NationalSteinbeckCentre.jpg
National Steinbeck Center in Steinbeck's hometown, Salinas
The reconstructed Mission San Antonio de Padua as it appeared in 2006. The baked brick Campanario is unique among the Missions. Mission San Antonio de Padua modern.jpg
The reconstructed Mission San Antonio de Padua as it appeared in 2006. The baked brick Campanario is unique among the Missions.
Fisherman's Wharf and the Monterey Marina Monterey Fishermans Wharf.jpg
Fisherman's Wharf and the Monterey Marina
Cannery Row Monterey Cannery Row at night.jpg
Cannery Row Monterey

Historic buildings

Historic mission churches

Literary sites

Museums

Art

History

Science

Arboretums and gardens

Golf courses

Cultural

A view of Laguna Seca Raceway's Turn 8, the "Corkscrew," a challenging curve with a downward gradient of up to 16% Laguna Seca - Corkscrew - Miata Spec Race.jpg
A view of Laguna Seca Raceway's Turn 8, the "Corkscrew," a challenging curve with a downward gradient of up to 16%
A sunset over the Forest Theater in Carmel-by-the-Sea Forest Theater.jpg
A sunset over the Forest Theater in Carmel-by-the-Sea

Performing arts centers and venues

Annual events and festivals

Sports venues

Outdoors

Big Sur coastline along the Pacific Ocean in southern Monterey County Central Californian Coastline, Big Sur - May 2013.jpg
Big Sur coastline along the Pacific Ocean in southern Monterey County
The Salinas Valley, an agricultural region in Monterey County that is home to Salinas, California, the birthplace of John Steinbeck and home of the National Steinbeck Center. Several of Steinbeck's novels were set in locations across Monterey County. Greenfield California.JPG
The Salinas Valley, an agricultural region in Monterey County that is home to Salinas, California, the birthplace of John Steinbeck and home of the National Steinbeck Center. Several of Steinbeck's novels were set in locations across Monterey County.

Regions

Trails

Regional parks and lakes

Reserves, preserves, and refuges

State parks

National parks

National forests

Scenic drives

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Monterey, California</span> City in California, United States

Monterey is a city in Monterey County on the southern edge of Monterey Bay on the U.S. state of California's Central Coast. Founded on June 3, 1770, it functioned as the capital of Alta California under both Spain (1804–1821) and Mexico (1822–1846). During this period, Monterey hosted California's first theater, public building, public library, publicly funded school, printing press, and newspaper. It was originally the only port of entry for all taxable goods in California. In 1846, during the Mexican–American War of 1846–1848, the United States Flag was raised over the Customs House. After Mexico ceded California to the U.S. at the end of the war, Monterey hosted California's first constitutional convention in 1849.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Monterey County, California</span> County in California, United States

Monterey County, officially the County of Monterey, is a county located on the Pacific coast in the U.S. state of California. As of the 2020 census, its population was 439,035. The county's largest city and county seat is Salinas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Monterey Bay</span> Large salt water bay in California, United States

Monterey Bay is a bay of the Pacific Ocean located on the coast of the U.S. state of California, south of the San Francisco Bay Area. San Francisco itself is further north along the coast, by about 75 miles, accessible via CA 1 and US 101.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pacific Grove, California</span> City in California, United States

Pacific Grove is a coastal city in Monterey County, California, in the United States. The population at the 2020 census was 15,090. Pacific Grove is located between Point Pinos and Monterey.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Central Coast (California)</span> Region of California in the United States

The Central Coast is an area of California, roughly spanning the coastal region between Point Mugu and Monterey Bay. It lies northwest of Los Angeles and south of the San Francisco Bay Area, and includes the rugged, rural, and sparsely populated stretch of coastline known as Big Sur.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Asilomar State Beach</span> State park in California

Asilomar State Beach, officially Asilomar State Beach and Conference Grounds State Park, is a state park unit of California, United States. It provides public access to rocky coast and dune habitat on the Monterey Peninsula. The property includes the Asilomar Conference Grounds, a conference center built by the YWCA in 1913 that is now a National Historic Landmark. The 107-acre (43 ha) site is located in Pacific Grove and offers overnight lodging and views of the forest, surf and sand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pebble Beach, California</span> Unincorporated community in California, United States

Pebble Beach is an unincorporated community on the Monterey Peninsula in Monterey County, California, United States. The small coastal residential community of mostly single-family homes is also notable as a resort destination, and the home of the golf courses of Cypress Point Club, Monterey Peninsula Country Club, and Pebble Beach Golf Links. Nonresidents are charged a toll to use 17-Mile Drive, the main road through Pebble Beach, making it a de-facto gated community.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">17-Mile Drive</span> Scenic road

17-Mile Drive is a scenic road through Pebble Beach and Pacific Grove on the Monterey Peninsula in California, much of which hugs the Pacific coastline and passes famous golf courses, mansions and scenic attractions, including the Lone Cypress, Bird Rock and the 5,300-acre Del Monte Forest of Monterey Cypress trees.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary</span> Marine protected area in California, U.S.

The Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary (MBNMS) is a federally protected marine area offshore of California's Big Sur and central coast in the United States. It is the largest US national marine sanctuary and has a shoreline length of 276 miles (444 km) stretching from just north of the Golden Gate Bridge at San Francisco to Cambria in San Luis Obispo County. Supporting one of the world's most diverse marine ecosystems, it is home to numerous mammals, seabirds, fishes, invertebrates and plants in a remarkably productive coastal environment. The MBNMS was established in 1992 for the purpose of resource protection, research, education, and public use.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">California State Route 68</span> Highway in California

State Route 68 is a state highway in the U.S. state of California, located entirely in Monterey County. It runs from Asilomar State Beach in Pacific Grove to U.S. Route 101 in Salinas. The approximately 20-mile (32 km) long highway serves as a major route between the Monterey Peninsula and Salinas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Asilomar State Marine Reserve</span> Marine protected area in California

Asilomar State Marine Reserve (SMR) is one of four small marine protected areas (MPAs) located near the cities of Monterey and Pacific Grove, at the southern end of Monterey Bay on California’s central coast. The four MPAs together encompass 2.96 square miles (7.7 km2). The SMR protects all marine life within its boundaries. Fishing and take of all living marine resources is prohibited.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lovers Point State Marine Reserve</span> Marine protected area

Lovers Point State Marine Reserve (SMR) is one of four small marine protected areas located near the cities of Monterey and Pacific Grove, at the southern end of Monterey Bay on California’s central coast. The four MPAs together encompass 2.96 square miles (7.7 km2). The SMR protects all marine life within its boundaries. Fishing and take of all living marine resources is prohibited.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Monterey Peninsula</span> Peninsula in California, USA

The Monterey Peninsula anchors the northern portion on the Central Coast of California and comprises the cities of Monterey, Carmel, and Pacific Grove, and the resort and community of Pebble Beach.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hotel Del Monte</span> Former hotel; current site of the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School

The Hotel Del Monte was a large resort hotel in Monterey, California, from its opening in 1880 until 1942. It was one of the finest luxury hotels in North America. During World War II, it closed and the building was leased to the United States Navy. It first was used by the Navy as a school where enlisted men spent the second, third, and fourth months of an 11-month course being trained as electronic technicians. Later the Hotel Del Monte became the Naval Postgraduate School. Today, the building is named Herrmann Hall. It contains school administrative offices and the Navy Gateway Inns and Suites, a hotel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Samuel Bolton Colburn</span>

Samuel Bolton Colburn was an experimental artist, evolving a modernist approach to landscape and genre scenes during the Depression era. In the 1930s California became known nationally for its Regionalist painters like Colburn, who depicted urban and rural views of native life. These artists’ preferred medium was watercolor and they worked quickly outdoors on location developing a painting style that was spontaneous, gestural and raw.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thomas Albert Work</span> American businessman and banker

Thomas Albert Work was an American businessman and banker of Pacific Grove, California, known around Monterey as T. A. Work. He was owner of the T. A. Work company that made him the single largest business property owner on the Monterey Peninsula. He owned several banks, including the First National Bank of Monterey, Bank of Pacific Grove, Salinas, and the Bank of Carmel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Monterey Peninsula Regional Park District</span>

The Monterey Peninsula Regional Park District is an independent special recreation district with offices in Carmel, Monterey County, California. It was formed in 1972 and serves much of northern Monterey County. For the benefit of the general public, it serves to safeguard and preserve parks and open space. The District has preserved more than 20,000 acres (8,100 ha) of park and open space on the Monterey Peninsula. It is not an agency of Monterey County or of any of the local municipalities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Lodge at Pebble Beach</span> Historic building in California, U.S.

The Lodge at Pebble Beach is a historic American hotel and clubhouse overlooking the Carmel Bay in Pebble Beach, California. Opened in 1919, the property, operated by Pebble Beach Resorts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Neponset, California</span> Unincorporated community in California, United States

Neponset is an unincorporated community in Monterey County, California. It is located along the Southern Pacific Railroad and California State Route 1 between Marina, California and Castroville, California, and 8.5 miles (14 km) northwest of Salinas, California, at an elevation of 23 feet.

References

  1. ↑ "US Census Bureau QuickFacts: Monterey County". United States Census Bureau Website. Archived from the original on 26 June 2022.
  2. ↑ Margolin, Malcolm (1978). The Ohlone Way: Indian Life in the San Francisco-Monterey Bay Area. Berkeley, California: Heyday Books. ISBN   978-0930588014.
  3. ↑ For origin, arrival and displacement based on "linguistic evidence" in 500 CE per Levy, 1978:486, also Bean, 1994:xxi (cites Levy 1978). For Shell Mound dating, F.M. Stanger 1968:4.
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