You’ll see wildlife including harbour seals and sea otters just offshore, and can also head out on the water yourself by hiring a kayak from Adventures by the Sea at Lovers Point Park and Beach-one of the most popular spots for a photo op. The trail runs 18 miles along the shore north to Castroville, and Pacific Grove’s stretch may just be the prettiest part of the entire route. It borders the city of Monterey, and you can easily reach the world-famous Monterey Bay Aquarium and Cannery Row (both just across the city boundary) by walking or cycling from Pacific Grove along the Monterey Bay Coastal Recreation Trail. With an incomparable setting along the rocky, curving shores of Monterey Bay and narrow streets lined with 19th-century cottages, Pacific Grove is an unapologetically traditional small town.įounded in 1875, this Monterey County community always feels authentic, never touristy. Or hop onto a five-hour Wine Trolley tour from Monterey, where a vintage trolleybus takes you to wineries and provides lunch, as well as insider info about the area. Several of the tasting rooms, such as Joullian Vineyards and Holman Ranch, are close enough to each other for a DIY walking tour. Check out the wineries of nearby Carmel Valley, which lean heavily towards Cabernets and Merlots. You’ll also find opportunities for wine tasting in the surrounding area. And outdoor enthusiasts can bring tents or camper vans and stay at the park’s campsite, open between April and October, with views of the Salinas Valley. The surrounding recreation area has a rifle and pistol range, with 25 shooting stalls and trained staff on hand for beginners. Laguna Seca also offers activities away from the track. Or come in November for the family-focused turkey trot, when you can get a workout and support charities with your entry fee.
Monthly twilight bike rides, open to the public, allow cyclists to pedal the twists and turns, including a feature called the Corkscrew-a section of track that drops the equivalent of 5½ stories. And even casual athletes have opportunities to get onto the track. The Sea Otter Classic, held in April, is a huge festival for cyclists, hosting some 10,000 athletes and 70,000 fans. If you’re a Porsche lover, come in September for the Porsche Rennsport Reunion, billed as the world’s largest gathering of Porsche race cars.īut fast cars aren’t all you’ll find here. Many of them, not surprisingly, involve motor racing, like the SRO Intercontinental GT Challenge California-an eight-hour endurance race held in October.
This 11-turn, 2.23-mile-long track, originally part of the former Fort Ord military base, was created in 1957 and today hosts a variety of events. But usually, people come to experience the park’s main attraction: the WeatherTech Raceway. Some of its visitors come to cycle, others to camp. Just 10 miles from Monterey, the Laguna Seca Recreation Area features serene, undulating hills that harbour a surprising number of adrenaline-fuelled activities. Then come back to Carmel’s main village, with gallery-lined streets, cosy gastropubs, and even cosier inns. Venture into Carmel Valley for bright sun if (when) the foghorn starts blowing. Stroll the white sands of dog-friendly Carmel Beach, or explore a mosaic of meadows, wave-battered bluffs, and wind-twisted trees at nearby Point Lobos State Reserve. The Carmel Mission is one of the state’s most beautiful, and shady trails fan out from the site into lush Mission Trail Nature Preserve. On Monterey Peninsula’s south side, explore artsy Carmel-by-the-Sea (locals just call it Carmel), a town that deftly straddles the balance point of rich history and new wealth. Rent bikes to follow the coast south around the peninsula to Pacific Grove, Asilomar State Beach, and the sea-and-spray beauty (and gazillion-dollar homes and celebrated Pebble Beach golf courses) along the 17-Mile Drive. Step outside and find yourself among hotels, shops, and restaurants filling former fish-packing plants along Cannery Row, made famous by local author John Steinbeck. World-renowned Monterey Bay Aquarium, with its psychedelic jellies and bat-ray petting tanks is a must-visit, especially for families. Wrapped by the Pacific on three sides, the Monterey Peninsula at once offers wind-tossed beaches and quiet coves, fine dining and casual eats, early history and postmodern art.
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