subject: The Hotel Monterey California [print this page] What can you say about the Golden State? California seems to be a land forever struggling with its polar desires. At one pole, it wants to be the land of milk and honey -- the veritable golden land of opportunity and adventure. At the other, it wants to be a land where history is a mere footnote: something that only needs to be as deep as the back story of a faded John Wayne western. To be sure, they both serve the greater notion of California as a virgin land, but they both miss the mark and do a great disservice to its rich history. From any room in any hotel Monterey California looks out on a California that once was and forever will be.
The history of California begins with Monterey. The 101 highway bisects a town that the Spanish first established six years before the birth of the United States. It was the seat of Spanish power until the California territories were taken by the States. From a colonial capital to the capital of maritime fishing to an aquatic research capital, Monterey has traveled a long way with bare feet.
It's the coastline that sets this city apart from the two poles of Californian life. It is certainly not SoCal and not NorCal. It is central. Every year thousands of visitors make the journey to enjoy the scenic beauty and abundant marine wildlife teaming around it. Sea lions, dolphins, and whales -- oh, my! The sea is the life-blood of the city -- it always has been.
While San Francisco has cornered the market on Fisherman Wharves, Monterey does lay claim to one of the oldest and once-flourishing wharves on the West Coast. From the Wharf to Cannery Row, this town never seems too far gone from its maritime history and heritage. Of course, this heritage is reflected in the unprecedented number of well-preserved Spanish colonial homes and buildings.
Of course, when visiting, you'll naturally be looking for accommodations you can afford. From the generic Super 8's and Holiday Inns to boutique hotels like the Casa Munras, you'll find something that fits your family and your budget. Once settled, lock your valuables in the hotel safe, bring a wind breaker and camera, and start soaking up the local scene.
