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Monterey travel guide: Coastal Recreation Trail, Cannery Row and Pacific Grove

Curving around the southern edge of Monterey Bay, Monterey and neighboring Pacific Grove are linked by the paved shoreline path of the Monterey Bay Coastal Recreation Trail, connecting Old Fisherman's Wharf, San Carlos Beach Park, and Cannery Row with granite tide-pool coves at Lovers Point Park and Asilomar State Beach.

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  1. Monterey, California (Approximate city location)

Location coordinates: Monterey, California.

Arrival and getting around in Monterey, California

Monterey Regional Airport (MRY) sits just four miles southeast of Downtown along Highway 68 (a 10-minute taxi or MST bus ride). From San Jose (SJC, 75 minutes) or San Francisco (SFO, two hours), Groome Transportation runs hourly scheduled airport shuttles directly to downtown Monterey.

  • Between late May and Labor Day (plus weekends nicely supported by Monterey-Salinas Transit), the free MST Trolley loops between Downtown Monterey, Old Fisherman's Wharf, and Cannery Row.
  • The flat, car-free Monterey Bay Coastal Recreation Trail lets you walk or rent a bicycle to travel continuously from Old Fisherman's Wharf through San Carlos Beach Park and Cannery Row out to Lovers Point Park.
  • A car is helpful if you want to continue around the tip of the peninsula to Asilomar State Beach, 17-Mile Drive in Pebble Beach, or Point Lobos State Natural Reserve south of Carmel.

Sources: See Monterey, outdoor itinerary and coastal trail, See Monterey, Monterey waterfront map

Where to stay in Monterey, California

Deciding between Monterey's historic waterfront and neighboring Pacific Grove comes down to whether you prefer busy harbour piers and dining or quiet Victorian bed-and-breakfast inns above rocky coves.

  • Old Monterey and Cannery Row Waterfront: puts Old Fisherman's Wharf, San Carlos Beach Park, and the Monterey Bay Aquarium right outside your door along the Coastal Recreation Trail.
  • Pacific Grove (Lovers Point to Asilomar): just two miles west along the coast path, offering peaceful Victorian inns, crashing surf along Ocean View Boulevard, and sunset boardwalks at Asilomar State Beach.
  • Avoid relying on hourly street meters along Cannery Row during weekend afternoons; stay within walking distance of the Coastal Recreation Trail or park once at the Downtown garages and ride the free MST Trolley.

Sources: See Monterey, Monterey waterfront map, See Monterey, Pacific Grove

Two-day route for Monterey, California

Trace the protected inner bay from the historic wharf to Cannery Row on day one, then follow the open granite headland through Pacific Grove to the dunes of Asilomar on day two.

  • Day 1: Start early at Old Fisherman's Wharf and the adjacent adobe landmarks of Monterey State Historic Park (including the Custom House), walk west through grassy San Carlos Beach Park (watching sea lions and kelp beds by the Coast Guard Pier), and spend the afternoon exploring Cannery Row and the Monterey Bay Aquarium at the western end of the street.
  • Day 2: Follow the Monterey Bay Coastal Recreation Trail northwest from Cannery Row into Pacific Grove to watch harbor seals and kayakers at sheltered Lovers Point Park, continue past Point Pinos Lighthouse, and walk the quarter-mile wooden dune boardwalk and rocky tide pools of Asilomar State Beach before sunset.
  • South-coast extension: drive 15 minutes south on Highway 1 early in the morning (arriving before 08:30 when parking lots fill) to hike the cypress headlands of Point Lobos State Natural Reserve.

Sources: See Monterey, outdoor itinerary and coastal trail, See Monterey, Monterey waterfront map, See Monterey, Pacific Grove, California State Parks, Point Lobos features

Seasonal timing and practical rhythm

Cold Pacific upwelling keeps the Monterey Peninsula cool and temperate year-round, with coastal fog common on summer mornings (June through August) and the clearest, sunniest skies arriving in autumn (September to November) and spring.

  • September and October offer the warmest, clearest coastal light across Lovers Point Park and Asilomar State Beach, while November through February brings migrating monarch butterflies to Pacific Grove's eucalyptus groves.
  • Dress in warm windproof layers even in July and August, when afternoon temperatures along Cannery Row and Asilomar State Beach often hover around 16 to 19 degrees Celsius.

Sources