subject: Hikes, Monterey Bay Hotels, And More [print this page] California is greatCalifornia is great. Everyone knows this. But, if you want to see what truly makes California - -specifically Northern California -- so great, you have to visit the Monterey area. Here, you'll find the best of NorCal, from the rocky coastlines to the verdant vineyard to the redwood forests. Big Sur, Pebble Beach, Carmel-by-the-Sea -- Monterey can suit any taste, from the refined to the rough and tumble.
To be sure, this isn't the California most modern Americans think of. That media-cultivated image involves surfboards, sand, and the Beach Boys. No, this is Northern California. This means San Francisco, Sacramento, and a two-fisted history that marks the capstone of the Wild West. Sorry, LA, but Billy the Kid and Jesse James didn't aspire to go surfing -- they aspired to make it to the Paris of the West, San Francisco.
Once in Monterey, you'll discover a host of family-friendly places and activities. You'll discover the Monterey Bay Aquarium, Cannery Row, and Fisherman's Wharf. You'll find a number of Monterey Bay hotels. You'll discover the serene beauty of Pebble Beach and be tempted to by a set of golf clubs that can accommodate this world-famous course. You'll follow Steinbeck's legacy and travel to Soledad, Salinas, and Carmel-by-the-Sea.
If the outdoors are more your thing, you can lace your boots and hike along the wild trails in and around Big Sur. If you want to thumb your nose at LA, you can surf at Moss Landing, or if you want to watch the more adventurous risk their lives, you can watch the hang-gliders around Seaside and Marina. Hungry yet? Good -- pick any restaurant in Del Rey Oaks and dig in. You can thank me later.
Not sure where to start? No worries -- just get online and map out a few itineraries. The world is your oyster and California is the pearl. Be sure you account for enough money to pay for all this fun in the northern sun. While California welcomes all types of people, it doesn't necessarily do it for free. Keep in mind, if you're visiting during peak seasons, namely the summer, you can expect to be paying more than you normally would in the spring or fall -- of course, we have no winters out here.
