Sardines, Steinbeck and sea otters: TPG’s guide to exploring Monterey, California
Editor’s note: See Monterey provided the TPG team with accommodations for three nights at the Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel and Spa on Del Monte Golf Course, along with some activities and meals. However, the opinions expressed in this article are entirely those of the writer and were not subject to review by the destination or …
Editor’s note: See Monterey provided the TPG team with accommodations for three nights at the Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel and Spa on Del Monte Golf Course, along with some activities and meals. However, the opinions expressed in this article are entirely those of the writer and were not subject to review by the destination or any other entity.
Roughly 100 miles south of San Francisco, the seaside town of Monterey is tucked into the southern curve of the bay that shares its name. Once the center of California’s sardine-packing industry, Monterey is more likely to be recognized as the setting in John Steinbeck’s “Cannery Row,” Pixar’s “Finding Dory” or the HBO miniseries “Big Little Lies” these days
As those works of fiction prove, Monterey is a multifaceted setting with something to offer many different types of travelers, whether you venture here searching for history, marine wildlife or a luxurious getaway. TPG even combined some business and leisure for a team-building retreat there in 2024.
This guide will help you get to Monterey on points and miles, find places to stay and eat, and discover the best things to do there.
How to get to Monterey
Monterey Regional Airport (MRY) is just a short five-minute drive from downtown and has unique amenities like an outdoor courtyard to soak up some California sunshine before your flight departs. It has direct flights from the following airlines and cities:
- Alaska Airlines (San Diego and Seattle)
- Allegiant Air (Las Vegas)
- American Airlines (Dallas and Phoenix)
- Sun Country Airlines (Minneapolis, seasonal)
- United Airlines (Denver, Los Angeles and San Francisco)
- JSX (Burbank and Orange County, California, both seasonal)
It’s usually more affordable to fly into a larger airport like San Francisco International Airport (SFO) or San Jose Mineta International Airport (SJC) and rent a car to drive 1 1/2 to two hours down to Monterey. While Uber and Lyft are both available in Monterey — and many hotels provide shuttle service from MRY — having a rental car will make getting around and exploring greater Monterey County quite a bit easier, especially if you have plans to check out the alluring coastal town of Carmel (10 minutes away) and Big Sur (about 30 minutes away).
Where to stay in Monterey
For a town of just 30,000 people, Monterey has plenty of points hotels for loyal customers of the major brands. Here are some of the highlights.
Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel and Spa on Del Monte Golf Course
The Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel and Spa on Del Monte Golf Course offers resortlike amenities across 22 acres and is just five minutes from the airport and downtown. This is where the TPG team stayed at a recent off-site retreat, and our staffers enjoyed bonding over outdoor amenities like the two swimming pools, giant board games, fire pits, racquetball and a hammock garden in between meetings at its conference center.
Its 560 rooms and suites, last renovated in 2021, are decorated in spare shades of white and beige with photographs of local scenery providing pops of color. A Hyatt Category 5 property, Hyatt Regency room rates start at $209 or 17,000 World of Hyatt points per night.
Monterey Beach Hotel, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel
Built in 1967, the Monterey Beach Hotel reopened in 2024 following an extensive renovation. Now part of Marriott’s Tribute Portfolio, it is the only hotel in Monterey located directly on the beach. Its 192 guest rooms and suites have a laid-back beach vibe in muted shades of teal and white. Rates start at $212 or 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night.
Hilton Garden Inn Monterey
Hilton loyalists can check into the Hilton Garden Inn, last renovated in 2023. It has 205 rooms, all with balconies or walkout patios. Rates start at $144 or 51,000 Hilton Honors points per night.
Carmel Valley Ranch
Greater Monterey County also has several resorts for those looking to escape it all in a slightly more remote setting. Part of Hyatt’s Unbound Collection, Carmel Valley Ranch is an all-suite property set on more than 500 acres in the less foggy Carmel Valley, about a 20-minute drive from downtown Monterey.
Guests can partake in activities like falconry, pickleball mixers and even beekeeping.
“Donning bee suits and getting up close and personal with the hives offers a fun and immersive glimpse into the life of these vital, yet endangered, insects,” Senior Editor Lauren Wassum said of her visit last fall. “It’s a unique experience that not only educates but rewards you with the sweet taste of honey made by the very bees you come to appreciate.”
As a Hyatt Category 8 property, a night at Carmel Valley Ranch starts around $430 or 35,000 World of Hyatt points.
Where to eat and drink in Monterey
Monterey’s dining scene has everything from laid-back brewpubs to elegant establishments with white tablecloths. No matter the atmosphere, most restaurants serve a taste of the region’s bounty with fresh seafood from the bay and produce from the nearby Salinas Valley.
Wild Fish
Wild Fish in Pacific Grove works directly with local fishermen and farmers within miles of the restaurant to keep things as fresh and sustainable as possible. The menu changes with what’s in season, but two standouts I tasted during TPG’s retreat last October included the tempura-fried sablefish collars and a marine tonic cocktail made with kelp-infused gin.
Alvarado Street Brewery
For something more casual, Alvarado Street Brewery is in the heart of downtown Monterey and is open for lunch and dinner daily. Its award-winning tropical India pale ale, the Mai Tai P.A., has notes of passion fruit and guava that pair with the richness of its birria tacos. Or, go for the Monterey Beer, a crisp American lager that complements the spicy chicken adobo salad and chipotle-lime dressing. This is the original location, with additional outposts in Carmel and Salinas.
Craft beer fans will also want to add Other Brother Beer to their list. Located in the neighboring town of Seaside, a 10-minute drive northeast of downtown Monterey, this dog-friendly brewpub has an IPA-forward beer list and plenty of comfort food options like tater tots, pizza and smash burgers.
Montrio
For a fine-dining option downtown, head to Montrio, which serves American cuisine made with sustainable and organic ingredients for dinner seven nights a week inside a 1910 firehouse.
“The space is cozy and made a team dinner with colleagues feel intimate even though there were about 10 spread around a table,” Credit Cards Editor Daisy Hernandez said. “I had the duck, which was fantastic, and got to taste a scallop from someone else’s dish that was also delicious. If you enjoy a dirty martini, order one and be sure to get the blue cheese stuffed olives with it.”
Schooners
Just off Cannery Row, Schooners serves responsibly sourced seafood with waterfront views. Ask for a table on the heated terrace for the best views of Monterey Bay.
Flaherty’s Seafood Grill & Oyster Bar
If you need a quick bite in Carmel, Flaherty’s Seafood Grill & Oyster Bar is the place to go for a dozen (or two) oysters. While the menu focuses on classic American seafood dishes like clam chowder, tuna melts and lobster rolls, Copy Editor Will Gordon recommends branching out to try the local catch of the day served in a house-made curry with seasonal vegetables.
Things to do in Monterey
Known for its natural beauty, there are plenty of activities both outdoors and in to enjoy in Monterey — especially if you like being out on the water.
Kayaking and whale watching in Monterey Bay
Get up close and personal with marine life in the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary on a guided kayak or boat tour.
A group from TPG went on a guided tour with Monterey Bay Kayaks last October and spotted sea lions and otters.
“Over the course of 90 minutes, we got to see barking sea lions, frolicking harbor seals and plenty of coastal birds,” Director of Content Eric Rosen said. “But the main thrill of the experience was getting to watch playful sea otters grooming themselves on beds of kelp and generally having what looked like a great time splashing around in the water. I must have taken 200 photos.”
For those who prefer larger boats, Princess Monterey Whale Watching has two 100-foot-plus vessels, and its tours include guided narration by experienced marine biologists. The best time for spotting humpbacks, orcas and gray whales is spring, while blue whales may be seen between May and October, with July and August being peak season.
Cycling along 17-Mile Drive
Rent a bike or e-bike from Big Sur Adventures, which has rental shops near Cannery Row, 17-Mile Drive and Carmel. A small group of TPG staff took its guided 17-Mile Drive Tour along the scenic road that runs along the coast between Pacific Grove and the famed golf course at Pebble Beach.
“We rode along the waterfront all the way to the highlight of the tour for me, the iconic Pebble Beach. Along the way, we saw sea otters and other aquatic animals,” Associate Credit Cards Writer Chris Nelson said.
In addition to visiting sites like the Lone Cypress tree, Daisy said her favorite part of the guided ride was getting to experience the unbelievable beauty of the Pacific Coast.
“Touring with Big Sur Adventures provided us a close-up look at scenery right out of a nature documentary,” she said. “Our guide was knowledgeable and shared the history of each area we explored.”
Another great place for cycling is the Monterey Bay Coastal Recreation Trail, a repurposed section of the former Southern Pacific Railroad line. This two-lane protected path runs 18 miles from Castroville in the north to Pacific Grove in the south. Its most scenic portion runs along the waterfront of Monterey Bay and passes by landmarks like Fisherman’s Wharf, Cannery Row and the Monterey Bay Aquarium.
Hiking in Big Sur
Take California state Route 1 about 20 minutes south of Monterey to find those dramatic coastal views recognizable from the opening credits of “Big Little Lies.” During TPG’s retreat last October, guides from Big Sur Guides took us on a two-hour hike along the coastal paths and redwood groves of Garrapata State Park. Be sure to wear long pants since poison oak is endemic to this area.
For those with more time, it takes about an hour to drive to Big Sur’s most famous landmarks, like McWay Falls in Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park and Nepenthe restaurant, as well as hotels like Alila Ventana Big Sur and Post Ranch Inn. And while travelers from Monterey can still visit all of these sites via California state Route 1, road trips to or from Southern California aren’t possible at the moment due to the Regent’s Slide closure 40 miles south of Carmel.
Monterey Bay Aquarium
The world-renowned Monterey Bay Aquarium, situated on the site of a former sardine cannery on Cannery Row, first opened its doors in 1984. Over the past 41 years, it has become a leader among aquariums, housing more than 80,000 plants and animals. Its most popular permanent exhibits are the living kelp forest, timed sea otter feedings, the jellyfish tank and several touch pools designed for young children.
Cannery Row
Once a thriving sardine canning center immortalized in John Steinbeck’s book, Cannery Row fell into disrepair just after World War II. Revitalized in the 1970s and ’80s, it is now a tourism destination with dozens of restaurants, shops and kid- and adult-friendly activities like the aquarium, miniature golf and a new immersive attraction, Treasure Hunt: The Ride, which tells the story of the pirate Hippolyte Bouchard, who sacked Monterey in 1818.
Golfing
Thanks to its Pacific Ocean views and near-perfect weather all year, Monterey is a popular golf destination, with 26 public and private courses in the county.
“Pebble Beach is a venerated course that sits near the top of any golfer’s bucket list,” TPG’s Senior Editorial Director Nick Ewen said. “But Del Monte Golf Course also holds wide appeal, as the oldest continuously run course west of the Mississippi.”
Connected to the Hyatt Regency, Del Monte is also one of the area’s best values, with rates starting at $130 per round.
Wine tasting
Monterey County is one of the most underrated wine regions in the U.S., known mostly for the pinot noirs and chardonnays that thrive in the sunny but cool coastal climate of the Santa Lucia Highlands American Viticultural Area above the Salinas Valley. Schedule tastings at Wrath Wines in the Santa Lucia Highlands or Folktale Winery & Vineyards, in Carmel Valley.
Not far from Salinas, Rustique Wines is a family-owned and -operated winery that hosts special events open to the public, like watercolor workshops and seasonal markets with food trucks, live music and, of course, a wine bar serving its signature pinot noirs and chardonnays. It’s where the TPG team had our last-night banquet in a restored rustic barn looking out over the vines and the mountains.
Short on time? A Taste of Monterey is a self-described “wine lover’s museum” on Cannery Row that serves flights and wines by the glass from more than 75 local wineries paired with tasty bites and panoramic views of Monterey Bay.
Bottom line
A trip to Monterey and its surrounding natural wonders caters to many travelers, including hikers, bikers, kayakers, families and food and wine lovers. And, best of all, there are plenty of hotels and resorts where you can redeem your points.
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