Itinerary: A Long Weekend in Monterey and Carmel
A long weekend escape to Monterey and nearby Carmel-by-the-Sea can include recreation and sightseeing along one of California’s most scenic coastlines, along with time exploring some of early California’s notable historic adobe building and cultural sites. It’s also worth making time to truly relax in the region.
Friday
After arriving in Monterey, check into your hotel. For bay views and an upscale perch at the start of Cannery Row, stay at the Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa. Want to be able to walk to downtown Monterey’s restaurants and bars? Consider Casa Munras Hotel & Spa.
Celebrate your arrival with a beer followed by a casual meal at Alvarado Street Brewery. Or, head over to Sovino Wine Bar & Merchant for a glass of a local wine and then have a sushi dinner at Sushi Kuma. Head back to your room and get a good night’s sleep for the next day of exploring the area.
Saturday
Wake up with a coffee and a baked good at Alta Bakery & Cafe, where you can walk about the historic garden of the Cooper-Molera Adobe. Afterward, walk down Alvarado Street until it runs into Custom House Plaza.
Walk past the plaza to Monterey Harbor then take a left on the Monterey Bay Coastal Recreation Trail, a paved coastside path that has great views of the water and marine life including harbor seals and sea otters. Detour off the trail two and a half blocks up to Lighthouse Avenue for a lunch of island-inspired food and a tiki drink at Hula’s Island Grill & Tiki Room, then wander into nearby Cannery Row.
Afternoons can be the best time to visit the Monterey Bay Aquarium, where it’s worth spending some time staring at the artfully illuminated jellyfish and the playful sea otters.
For dinner, stay in Cannery Row for a dinner at The Sardine Factory, where it’s recommended you ask for a tour of the wine cellar built into the rocks below the observatory dining room and lounge. Still feeling frisky? Enjoy a nightcap at The Crown & Anchor.
Sunday
Make the short drive to Carmel-by-the-Sea for brunch at Stationaery—the rotating potato pancake special is a winner. Walk off the calories by flipping off your shoes and making your way down on the soft white sand of Carmel Beach.
If you want more exercise, make the drive a few miles south to Point Lobos State Natural Reserve, where twisted cypress trees hug the coastline while surf crashes below. Or opt for a mellower afternoon by strolling Carmel’s Ocean Avenue and perusing the shops and galleries along the street. If you have a sweet tooth, duck into the Cottage of Sweets for something dipped in chocolate.
Before heading back to Monterey, enjoy a dinner of California-influenced French fare at La Bicyclette and a post-dinner cocktail at the wooden-walled Bud’s Bar inside La Playa. Make sure you have a dime or two in case of “Dime Time,” a 10-minute-long happy hour when drinks are only 10 cents.
Monday
Make your way to Monterey Bay Kayaks on Cannery Row before departing. Head out on a kayak or stand-up paddleboard to explore the bay. Right offshore from the Monterey Bay Kayaks’s location, it’s possible to view sea otters floating in the kelp forest.
Grab a coffee and a peanut butter ball from Captain + Stoker for the drive home.
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