Monterey Attractions
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Monterey Bay Aquarium
The Monterey Bay Aquarium provides a close up look at various forms of marine life, but particularly that of the Monterey Bay. The facility holds some 300,000 specimens in over 200 pools and galleries.
California's First Theatre (closed)
This old adobe was built in 1843 as a saloon and apartment house. Ninety years later the building again became the setting for theatrical productions. The building is undergoing renovation and restoration, it is open on a limited basis.
Colton Hall Museum
Built in 1849, Colton Hall includes a school, museum and the Old Monterey Jail.
Colton Hall Museum
City Hall
Monterey, CA 93940
United States
City Hall
Monterey, CA 93940
United States
Phone 1 (831) 646-5640
Fax 1 (831) 646-3917
Hours
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 |
| Close | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 |
Always closed on:
New Year's Day (January 1)
Thanksgiving - USA (4th Thursday, November )
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Thanksgiving - USA (4th Thursday, November )
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Guides
Guided tour included with admission.
Dennis the Menace Playground
Based upon the comic book character, The Dennis The Menace Playground offers slides, a maze, a railroad switch engine and a lion-shaped drinking fountain for children.
Hours
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 |
| Close | Sunset | Sunset | Sunset | Sunset | Sunset | Sunset | Sunset |
MY Museum
MY Museum is a hands-on museum with exhibits that include a theater, medical office, media center, fingerpainting, water blocks and a magnet table.
Monterey County Youth Museum
425 Washington Street
Monterey, CA 93940
United States
425 Washington Street
Monterey, CA 93940
United States
Phone 1 (831) 649-6444
Fax 1 (831) 649-1304
Hours
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 10:00 | 10:00 | Closed | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 12:00 |
| Close | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 |
Parking
Pay
Monterey History and Maritime Museum
Monterey possesses the Allen Knight Maritime Museum, displaying material relating to the history of ships in the region.
Monterey Path of History
The Monterey Path of History provides house tours of historic adobe buildings, including the interiors.
Monterey Parks and Recreation
20 Custom House Plaza
Monterey, CA 93940-2430
United States
20 Custom House Plaza
Monterey, CA 93940-2430
United States
Phone 1 (831) 649-7118
Fax 1 (831) 647-6236
Royal Presidio Chapel
Presidio of Monterey, now the home of the Defense Language Institute, has artifacts and dioramas on the history of Presidio Hill from the times of the Indians, Mexicans, Spaniards and Americans.
The Royal Presidio Chapel is the only one still in existence in California, and in continuous use since 1795. Note the richly-decorated façade
The Royal Presidio Chapel is the only one still in existence in California, and in continuous use since 1795. Note the richly-decorated façade
San Carlos Cathedral
San Carlos Cathedral was established in 1770 for the mission but instead became the church of Spanish soldiers and settlers when the mission was moved to Carmel the following year. Also known as the Royal Presidio Chapel, the present church has been used continuously since 1795.
San Carlos Cathedral
550 Church Street
Monterey, CA 93940-3209
United States
550 Church Street
Monterey, CA 93940-3209
United States
Phone 1 (831) 373-2628
Fax 1 (831) 373-0518
Monterey Surroundings
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17 Mile Drive
17 Mile Drive is a scenic route running along the coast of the Monterey Peninsula.
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Big Sur, California
Big Sur is a scenic stretch of coastline and forest in northern California, which has long attracted artists and nature lovers.
King City, California
King City (pop 7,634) is located 90mi/145km southeast of San Jose. It was incorporated in 1911 and is known for its agriculture, ranging from broccoli to beets.
Mission San Antonio de Padua
This mission fell into decay so quickly after being secularized in 1834 that no buyer could be found for it when it was advertised for sale eleven years later. Everything that was not nailed or screwed down was stolen, and the interior demolished. It was 1907 before a start was made on restoration, especially of the church and the inner courtyard, and this was not completed until the fifties. A small museum houses some interesting artifacts from long ago. The rural character of the isolated valley gives the mission its special charm.
Location
Situated near the village of Jolon, about 40mi/66km south of Soledad and 36mi/58km north of San Miquel; turn off the 101 Jolon Road or Fort Hunter Ligett Military Reservation.
(Near Monterey)
HistoryThis mission fell into decay so quickly after being secularized in 1834 that no buyer could be found for it when it was advertised for sale eleven years later. Everything that was not nailed or screwed down was stolen, and the interior demolished. It was 1907 before a start was made on restoration, especially of the church and the inner courtyard, and this was not completed until the fifties. A small museum houses some interesting artifacts from long ago. The rural character of the isolated valley gives the mission its special charm.
Location
Situated near the village of Jolon, about 40mi/66km south of Soledad and 36mi/58km north of San Miquel; turn off the 101 Jolon Road or Fort Hunter Ligett Military Reservation.
Mission San Antonio de Padua
Jolon Road
King City, CA 93930
United States
Jolon Road
King City, CA 93930
United States
Phone 1 (831) 385-4478
Fax 1 (831) 386-9332
Hours
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 11:00 |
| Close | 16:30 | 16:30 | 16:30 | 16:30 | 16:30 | 16:30 | 17:00 |
Facilities
Gift shop
King City - Monterey County Agricultural and Rural Life Museum
(In King City, California)
The Monterey County Agricultural and Rural Life Museum has a barn with exhibits that display the history of agriculture in the region.
Monterey County Agricultural Rural Life Museum
1160 Broadway Street
King City, CA 93930-3600
United States
1160 Broadway Street
King City, CA 93930-3600
United States
Phone 1 (831) 385-8020
Fax 1 (831) 386-0178
Hours
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | Closed | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 12:00 | 11:00 | 11:00 |
| Close | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 |
Always closed on:
New Year's Day (January 1)
Thanksgiving - USA (4th Thursday, November )
New Year's Eve (December 31)
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Christmas Eve - Christian (December 24)
Thanksgiving - USA (4th Thursday, November )
New Year's Eve (December 31)
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Christmas Eve - Christian (December 24)
Parking
Pay
Soledad, California
Soledad is accessible to the Pinnacles National Monument, boating activities on Naciemento and San Antonio Lakes, the Arroyo Seco Wilderness Area, the Monterey Peninsula beaches and the coastline of Big Sur.
Mission Nuestra Senora de la Soledad
Little remains of the Nuestra Senora de la Soledad mission. Its Spanish name means "Our Lady of Solitude". The Franciscan Fathers thought they recognized the Spanish "soledad" in the name the Indians had given it.
One is still haunted today by this feeling of solitude, and can well understand why the Fathers tried to flee from this oppressive isolation. In scarcely four and a half decades 30 Fathers took on the leadership. Epidemics and floods occurred frequently; in 1831 the church collapsed, and a storehouse had to be converted quickly into a chapel. Secularization did the rest. Only this chapel and a wing of the inner courtyard have been restored.
Location
Fort Romie Road, about 3mi/5km northwest of Soledad, the site of a state prison, not far from the U.S. 101.
(Near Monterey)
HistoryLittle remains of the Nuestra Senora de la Soledad mission. Its Spanish name means "Our Lady of Solitude". The Franciscan Fathers thought they recognized the Spanish "soledad" in the name the Indians had given it.
One is still haunted today by this feeling of solitude, and can well understand why the Fathers tried to flee from this oppressive isolation. In scarcely four and a half decades 30 Fathers took on the leadership. Epidemics and floods occurred frequently; in 1831 the church collapsed, and a storehouse had to be converted quickly into a chapel. Secularization did the rest. Only this chapel and a wing of the inner courtyard have been restored.
Location
Fort Romie Road, about 3mi/5km northwest of Soledad, the site of a state prison, not far from the U.S. 101.
Hours
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 |
| Close | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 |
Always closed on:
New Year's Day (January 1)
American Independance Day (July 4)
Thanksgiving - USA (4th Thursday, November )
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Easter - Christian (Apr 08)
American Independance Day (July 4)
Thanksgiving - USA (4th Thursday, November )
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Easter - Christian (Apr 08)
Pinnacles National Monument
An ancient volcano once stood here, but has eroded away over millions of years, leaving a landscape of rock spires and pinnacles. Wildlife and wildflowers are common in spring. Pinnacles National Monument is a release site for the endangered California condor, which can sometimes be seen soaring overhead from the hiking trails on the east side. The park is most popular in spring and fall, when temperatures are mild.
All values are in United States Dollars
(Near Monterey)
This national monument, created by the federal government in 1908, lies in the Gabilan Mountains southeast of Salinas.An ancient volcano once stood here, but has eroded away over millions of years, leaving a landscape of rock spires and pinnacles. Wildlife and wildflowers are common in spring. Pinnacles National Monument is a release site for the endangered California condor, which can sometimes be seen soaring overhead from the hiking trails on the east side. The park is most popular in spring and fall, when temperatures are mild.
Pinnacles National Monument
5000 Highway 146
Paicines, CA 95043
United States
5000 Highway 146
Paicines, CA 95043
United States
Phone 1 (831) 389-4485
Fax 1 (831) 389-4489
| Vehicle plus all occupants | $ 5.00 |
| Admission Cost | $ 3.00 |
| Child 16 & under | FREE |
Admission is good for 7 days.
East entrance is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
West entrance is open from 7:30 am - 8:00 pm during daylight savings time, and 7:30 am - 6:00 pm during standard time.
The west entrance leads via Soledad to the US 101 and the east entrance via the CA 25.
Pets nor bicycles are allowed on trails. Bicycles and vehicles may be used only on paved roads within the Monument.
Parking areas fill up quickly in spring.
When hiking, always carry plenty of water and wear sturdy, comfortable footwear.
Attractions in Other Popular Destinations
More California Resources
- Monterey day trips by Viator
