The small Californian city of Monterey is easily confused by the name with the Mexican Monterrey, the "Sultan of the North" . And it will be a big mistake . Monterey, near San Jose, is an old Spanish city that was founded in the second half of the 18th century and up until the middle of the 19th century was the capital of California . And now it is a charming and almost charmed city by the sea with a low-rise building of small white houses . But with the best aquarium in the country, the best jazz festival in the country and almost the best gulf with the sea canyon . P speaking - one of the most beautiful coastal cities in California .
How to get to Monterey
The logical thing to wrap in Monterey for a couple of days on your own car from Santa Cruz, San Jose or San Francisco, for example, Mary, Santa Barbara or Los Angeles. Coastal slopes are very beautiful. But you can, of course, go and train to Salinosa or a bus from San Jose. And the airport of Monterey takes regular flights from San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Danver and Las Vegas.
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A little bit of history
In 1846 California became part of the USA after the end American-Mexican War, and Union Jack climbed the Monterey customs house. After that, the city invariably attracted creative people - artists and writers who settled here in search of peace and seclusion on the beautiful Pacific coast.
Funerals, excursions and attractions Monterey
Probably the most famous city landmark is one of the best in the world marine aquariums Monterey Bay . It was founded in 1984 . and takes the place of the former sardine cannery . Today the aquarium is visited by almost 2 million visitors . Here you can see thousands of plants and animals more than 600 species - rays, jellyfish, sea otters (the only mammals in the aquarium), many fish . This is one of the few places in the world where you can admire the live blue and yellow tuna . Fresh ocean water is continuously fed directly from the bay with the help of a pipe and pump system . The pearl of the aquarium - Ocean Edge Wing, a huge 8,5 m high tank filled with coastal inhabitants . It was in this aquarium for the first time in the world that a California giant laminaria was grown .
- Go to the coastal Pacific City, the city of butterflies, famous for its beautiful Victorian architecture and the fact that annual migrations of the butterflies of the danad monarchs take place through it.
- Take a walk along the harbor and admire the many yachts in the marina - not as luxurious as in Portofino , but from this no less picturesque.
- Intercept Fischermans-Wharf oysters as fast food and eat right on the go.
- Get to the Thursday party at the Art Museum on Pacific Street: once a month there is a fourchette with snacks, drinks and free galleries.
About on the most famous streets of the city is the coastal Canneri Row, the "cannery", whose name refers to the historic designation of the street: it is still built up by plants for the production of canned sardines . Factories today do not operate, the latter closed in 1973 . @ But the name of the street that was formerly called Ocean View Avenue was fixed officially from 1958 . with the easy hand of John Steinbeck and his novel of the same name . The street still stands the biological laboratory of Edward Ricketts, and opposite it - the Chinese store , both options in Steinbeck's novels . In addition there are a lot of restaurants and hotels, some of them in former factory buildings . Plus there is an exit to the beaches of MacAbi and San Carlos, the most popular places for diving, kayaking and fishing @ .@@
Another remarkable place in Monterey is a fishing shipyard . In the 60s of last century . there was a noisy and lively fish market, although today the shipyard became more of a tourist attraction, as after the Second World War the population of sardines in the surrounding waters was destroyed - there was nothing to catch and cannibalize . @ But even today in Fisherman's Wharf concentration The best fish restaurants of the city, open-air bars, jewelry shops, art galleries, sweets and souvenir shops . From here sea whale excursions start, and sea lions often can be seen right in the harbor: they sleep on pylons, buoys or inverted boats @ .@@ Monterey Jazz Festival
Here is the customs building, the first administrative building in California and the place where in 1846 . . the transfer of the Monterey from Mexico USA . The Maritime Museum is also located in this building and it is possible to get acquainted with the marine and cultural life of the old days in the city . There are many other old buildings on the square . In addition, you can here see the last sidewalk of whale bones in the United States . It is located directly in front of the Old Cetacean Station .
In the Old City of Monterey - downtown - there are quite a few centuries old buildings . Following the signs on the yellow tiles, you can go through the History Path to assess the most famous city buildings . At each stop posted information posters . Visit the City Art Museum: it occupies two buildings - one on Pacific Street, opposite Colton Hall, with eight galleries . The second is the building of La Mirada, one of the testimonies of the Mexican past of the city, with four galleries and an excellent view on bugs at . The connoisseurs of culture should also look, firstly, to the historic city theater Wharf, and secondly, to the restored Golden State Theater, if not for the sake of staging, then at least for the sake of richly decorated interior decorations .
47 km of the Monterey Bay Coastal Trail offers all the possibilities for cycling. Bicycles can be rented in several places on the trail, with a very popular multi-seat. The kayaking office on Del Monte's Avenue gives you the opportunity to rent everything you need, as well as conduct training classes and guided tours. Stunning views of the bay and Carmel can be seen in the Jax Peak Park - the highest point of Monterey Point where there are surprisingly few tourists.
Book popular Monterey hotels at the best prices
| Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel and Spa from 7 756 rub Monterey 1 Old Golf Course Road | Portola Hotel & Spa from 9,788 rubles Monterey Two Portola Plaza | InterContinental The Clement Monterey from 9,418 rubles Monterey 750 Cannery Row |
| Monterey Beach Resort from 8,556 rubles Monterey 2600 Sand Dunes Dr | Stage Coach Lodge from 4,001 rubles Monterey 1111 Tenth Street | Best Western Plus Victorian Inn from 8,556 rubles Monterey 487 Foam Street |
| Inn By the Bay Monterey from 3 017 rubles Monterey 936 Munras Avenue | Bayside Inn @ from 2 155 rubles Monterey 2055 Fremont St reet | Lone Oak Lodge from 3 940 rubles Monterey 2221 North Fremont Street |
Monterey Events
The famous jazz festival in Monterey is held in the city every year since 1958. This is one from jazz festivals with the longest history, as the tradition of its holding was not interrupted for a year. The festival is usually held on the third weekend of September, starting from Friday, and hosts more than 500 world-class jazz performers. About 50 concerts are held at 9 venues, and workshops, exhibitions, discussions, and rides and food courts are held here. Since 1992, Clint Eastwood has been on the board of the festival.
Monterey Surroundings
In Monterey Bay there is a unique geographic formation - the Monterey Canyon. Nearby there are several other deep enough depressions, because here the marine flora and fauna are stunningly diverse. Scientists find an endless amount of work, and divers - paradise underwater gardens for admiration.
The road from Monterey to Carmel is very picturesque and attractive. It is privately owned and paid for. But this attraction is worth its money: a route about 25 km long winds along the ocean coast, surrounded by rocky cliffs, wooded plateaus, past the most luxurious private houses in the state and beautiful beaches.