Over four million people visit Monterey each year. Is there any reason you shouldn’t be among them? I’d wager a guess that it’s been a long time since you played tourist in our backyard and probably even longer since you’ve taken a day or two to enjoy some alone time. It’s easy to take the natural beauty, fun attractions, and great dining of our community for granted, so it’s time to plan a hometown stay!
I did just that recently when I checked into the Portola Hotel in downtown Monterey on a Thursday, staying through Saturday. I made a short list of “things to do” that I could enjoy within walking distance of the hotel and, in the process, checked a few things off my “get to eventually” list.
The Portola Hotel is a gem–recently renovated and centrally located, it’s been voted among the Top Twenty Hotels in Northern California by Condé Nast Traveler’s readers. It’s an excellent choice for a solo stay, a couples’ or friends’ weekend, or a family getaway offering amenities to suit each category. There are two restaurants on-site and various dining options steps away in Monterey and at Old Fisherman’s Wharf. It’s easy enough to take an Uber over or have your spouse or a friend drop you off since you can walk to dozens of activities and save on parking.
After checking in on Thursday afternoon, I enjoyed a few hours wandering around downtown Monterey, visiting stores I had never been to, having a cookie and coffee at Alta, and visiting Colton Hall (nope, I’d never been inside!). Open Thursday-Sunday, Colton Hall is considered one of the most historic buildings in California and is the birthplace of the State of California. You can see original documents, artifacts, and even walk on the same floor as the delegates. The museum is located upstairs with an ADA-accessible elevator.
After my history lesson, I headed to the wharf for an early dinner, where I decided to go all in on playing tourist and try one of the “stroll and eat” options. I settled on clam chowder and a salad from Domenico’s on the Wharf and found a spot outside to people-watch. The clam chowder was delicious and perfect to offset the slight evening chill. I had room left for a funnel cake and a scoop of ice cream from Monterey Bay Creamery. My evening ended with a glass of wine in the Portola lobby, followed by a good night’s sleep.
On Friday, I met a friend in the morning for some hiking in Big Sur. The weather was perfect, and she had heard about a new-to-us hiking trail near Big Sur River Inn that looked promising. We parked near the inn, found the trail, and hiked about three miles in and back. The day had gotten warm, but the towering redwoods made it comfortable, and the views were, well, Big Sur gorgeous. We finished up with a leisurely lunch at the Inn.
Late Friday afternoon, I treated myself to a visit to Spa on the Plaza. With steam rooms, a pool, a jacuzzi, and numerous indulgent spa treatments, it’s my idea of heaven. I booked a facial, which turned out to be excellent, and I enjoyed a very relaxing two hours. One note: the pool is surrounded by a large wall that blocks out the wind, so on a sunny day, it’s a great spot to soak up the rays.
I got up before sunrise on Saturday and headed for a walk along the coastal path to enjoy the dawn–something I’ve meant to do for years. The wharf was mostly peaceful, with several whale-watching boats loading up, a few fishing charters heading out, and the restaurants starting to receive their daily deliveries. I headed out on the path towards Cannery Row and didn’t get far before stunning views over the bay stopped me. I took dozens of photos as pelicans, seagulls, and otters mingled offshore. After thirty minutes I continued, enjoying the four-mile roundtrip stroll to Pacific Grove. I was back at the hotel by 9:00 am, just in time for a big breakfast at Jack’s Monterey in the Portola lobby. With that, my break had come to an end and it was time to pack up my little bag and head home.
Giving myself a little break close to home was a great way to take full advantage of the short time I had available. Without travel time (and costs!), I could soak up every moment, and I felt quite peaceful and renewed by check-out time.
WHAT TO DO IN DOWNTOWN MONTEREY
- Investigate the “Monterey Walking Path of History.” It’s a two-mile path throughout the historic district. A good place to start is at the Pacific House (200-222 Calle Principal at Scott Street), which the Monterey State Historic Park administers as a visitor center and museum. Noteworthy stops include Old Custom House (115 Alvarado Street); Cooper-Molera Adobe (508 Munras Avenue); Colton Hall (570 Pacific Street); and Larkin House (510 Calle Principal).
- Wander Old Fisherman’s Wharf. A great choice for dining options, you can also catch a whale watching tour, watch the sea lions play, or just grab a seat for some people watching.
- Walk the Monterey Bay Coastal Trail. The trail runs for 18 miles, from Castroville in the north to Pacific Grove in the south. Built along the old tracks of the Southern Pacific Railway, you can pick up the trail at Fisherman’s Wharf, and walk to its southern end in Pacific Grove and back, about 4 miles.
- Visit a museum. The Monterey Museum of Art is located on Pacific Street, across from historic Colton Hall in Old Monterey, and is open Thursday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monterey History & Art at Stanton Center in Custom House Plaza is open 10am – 5pm, closed Fridays.
- Do a little shopping. There are a few boutique stores in downtown Monterey that are fun to browse. Cannery Row offers some unique shops and the Cannery Row Antique Mall is within walking distance.
Andrea Breznay is the publisher of Monterey Bay Parent and frequently contributes travel articles. She received a bronze award from Parenting Media Association for her travel article about Sausalito.