The mission of Monterey Museums & Cultural Arts is to share Monterey’s stories, serving as a place of learning, inspiration and engagement with our history and heritage. Take the virtual tour to explore the city. They offer insight into the collection of public art and cultural resources.
The City of Monterey has a Library & Museums department that includes the Monterey Public Library (California’s First Public Library), Bookmobile, California History Room, Presidio of Monterey Museum, Colton Hall, Old Jail, Pacific Biological Laboratories (Ricketts Lab), Cannery Row Worker Houses, artifacts and public art. We encourage you to book a private tour and find out more at monterey.org/museums.
Explore Monterey and learn about where to go and what to do.
Monterey, California, is a dream destination on the Central Coast, offering a unique blend of stunning natural beauty, rich history, and exciting activities. Whether you’re into exploring marine life, diving into California’s past, or simply soaking in scenic coastal views, Monterey has something to offer everyone. Here’s a guide to help you make the most of your time in this enchanting seaside town.
Monterey Bay Aquarium: Dive Into an Oceanic Wonderland
If there’s one place you must visit in Monterey, it’s the world-famous Monterey Bay Aquarium. Situated right on the edge of the Pacific Ocean, the aquarium is home to some of the most breathtaking marine exhibits you’ll ever see. From towering kelp forests to mesmerizing jellyfish and playful sea otters, the aquarium lets you experience marine life up close.
The aquarium’s dedication to marine conservation is evident in every display. Make sure to catch one of the daily feedings or educational talks—it’s both entertaining and informative for visitors of all ages.
Strolling Cannery Row: Where History Meets Charm
After visiting the aquarium, take a walk along Cannery Row, Monterey’s historic waterfront street. Once the heart of a booming sardine-packing industry, it’s now a bustling area full of unique shops, cozy cafes, and delicious seafood restaurants. Cannery Row has a unique blend of old-world charm and modern attractions, and you can still feel echoes of the past, especially if you’re familiar with John Steinbeck’s famous novel Cannery Row.
Old Fisherman’s Wharf: A Taste of Coastal Life
For a truly authentic Monterey experience, make your way to Old Fisherman’s Wharf. This historic wharf offers a mix of delicious seafood, local shops, and whale-watching tours. Stop by any restaurant for a bowl of award-winning clam chowder and enjoy the views of sea lions lounging near the docks.
We love exploring Steinbeck’s Monterey, CA. His literary masterpiece, Cannery Row, often refers to historic sites and characters based on real individuals.
The novel opens with incredible details of Steinbeck’s community. The first sentences begin with descriptive language regarding scent and sound about the scenery.
“Cannery Row in Monterey in California is a poem, a stink, a grating noise, a quality of light, a tone, a habit, a nostalgia, a dream. Cannery Row is the gathered and scattered, tin and iron and rust and splintered wood, chipped pavement and weedy lots and junk heaps, sardine canneries of corrugated iron, honky tonks, restaurants and whore houses, and little crowded groceries, and laboratories and flophouses.”
“Hazel’s mind was like wandering alone in a deserted museum. Hazel’s mind was choked with with uncatalogued exhibits. He never forgot anything but he never bothered to arrange his memories.”
–Cannery Row, John Steinbeck
