Sights in Monterey Bay
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University of California at Santa Cruz
In the hills above town, the University of California at Santa Cruz has 13,000 liberal-leaning students, a redwood-studded campus, architecturally interesting buildings – many of recycled materials – two top-notch galleries and a beautiful arboretum (831-427-2998).
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Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk dates from 1907 and is the oldest beachfront amusement park on the West Coast. The boardwalk has a glorious old-school Americana vibe, with the smell of cotton candy permeating the salt air, punctuated by the distant squeals of kids hanging upside down on carnival rides. Its most famous rides include the half-mile-long Giant Dipper, a vintage-1924 wooden roller coaster, and the 1911 Looff carousel – both National Historic Landmarks. For kids, the Cave Train is unexpectedly fun for its portrayal of cavemen in modern times. But the thing that’s so great is its proximity to the beach, where parents can wait while teens explore. On Friday nights…
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National Steinbeck Center
The National Steinbeck Center will enthrall even those who don't know a lick about Salinas' Nobel Prize-winning native son. John Steinbeck (1902-68) called Salinas Valley 'the valley of the world', a reference to the workers from all over creation who came to scrape out a living from the earth, and his literary explorations were influenced and inspired by the people who settled here. The interactive, kid-accessible exhibits chronicle the writer's life and works in an engaging way. The other side of the center is taken up with the Rabobank Agricultural Museum, which takes you on a journey through the modern-day agriculture industry, from water to pesticides to transportati…
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Monterey Bay Aquarium
Monterey Bay Aquarium - we dare you not to be mesmerized and enriched by this ecoconscious aquarium. Give yourself at least half a day to watch sharks and sardines play hide-and-seek in fast-growing kelp forests, observe the antics of frisky otters, meditate upon ethereal jellyfish and get touchy-feely with sea cucumbers, bat rays and other tide-pool creatures. Feeding times are best, especially for watching the penguins. To avoid the worst crowds, get tickets in advance, be there when doors open and stick around during lunchtime.
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Dennis The Menace Park
A must for fans of kick-ass playgrounds, Dennis The Menace Park was the brainchild of Hank Ketcham, the creator of the classic comic strip, who lived in Pebble Beach until his death in 2004. This ain't your standard dumbed-down playground, suffocated by Big Brother safety regulations. With lightning-fast slides and towering climbing structures, even adults can't resist its charms.
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Mystery Spot
A kitschy, old-fashioned tourist trap, the Mystery Spot has scarcely changed since 1940. On a steeply sloping hillside, compasses seem to point crazily, mysterious forces push you around and buildings lean at silly angles. Make reservations, or risk getting stuck waiting. It's 3 miles north of town. Parking costs $5. Don't forget your bumper sticker!
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Tor House
Even if you've never heard of 20th-century poet Robinson Jeffers, a pilgrimage to Tor House, which was built with his own hands, offers fascinating insights into bohemian Old Carmel. A porthole in the Celtic-inspired Hawk Tower reputedly came from the wrecked ship that carried Napoleon from Elba. Make reservations for tours (no children under 12).
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Oceanview Blvd
Appropriately named Oceanview Blvd affords fine views from Lover's Point west to Point Pinos. Here the road becomes the again appropriately named Sunset Dr with numerous turn-outs where you can enjoy the pounding surf, rocky outcrops and teaming tidal pools. The entire route is great for walking or cycling and many think it surpasses the 17-Mile Drive for beauty.
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Point Lobos State Reserve
They bark, they bray, they bathe and they're fun to watch - sea lions are the stars of Point Lobos State Reserve, 4 miles south of Carmel. Its dramatically rocky coastline offers excellent tide-pooling. The full perimeter hike is 6 miles, but even short walks take in Bird Island and Whalers Cove. Arrive early on weekends; parking is limited.
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Monarch Sanctuary
If you're in town during monarch season (roughly October to March), the best place to see them cluster by the millions is at the Monarch Sanctuary, a grove of pines on Ridge Rd off Lighthouse Ave (follow the signs). Note that one of the trees fell in 2004 crushing a tourist and the entire grove has become a center of controversy.
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Surfing Museum
- Santa Cruz, USA
- Sights › Other
About 1.5 miles west along the coast road, the tiny Surfing Museum, which is inside the old lighthouse, is packed with memorabilia, including vintage redwood boards. The museum overlooks experts-only Steamers Lane andbeginners' Cowells, both popular surf breaks.
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Point Pinos Lighthouse
At the northwestern end of Lighthouse Ave, on the tip of the Monterey Peninsula, you'll find Point Pinos Lighthouse, the oldest continuously operating lighthouse on the West Coast. It's been warning ships off this hazardous point since 1855. Inside are exhibits on its history and its failures: local shipwrecks.
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San Carlos Borroméo de Carmelo Mission
A mile south of downtown, gorgeous San Carlos Borroméo de Carmelo Mission is an oasis of calm and solemnity, ensconced in flowering gardens. Its stone basilica is filled with original art, while a separate chapel holds the memorial tomb of founder Junípero Serra.
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Carmel Valley
Go about two miles inland on Carmel Valley Rd and you'll hit sun almost every time. This Mediterranean-feeling valley is home to organic farms, upscale gated communities and posh garden shops. Scenic mountain roads lead over the hills to the Salinas Valley.
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Natural Bridges State Beach
Natural Bridges State Beach bookends the scenic drive, about 3.5 miles from the wharf. There are tide pools for exploring and leafy trees in which monarch butterflies hibernate from mid-October to late February.
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Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- Santa Cruz, USA
- Sights › Other
A 45-minute drive north of Santa Cruz into the mountains via Hwys 9 and 236, Big Basin Redwoods State Park protects 20,000 acres of redwood forest and 80 miles of trails, one of which drops to the Pacific.
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Blue Ball Park
Local moms and dads call Blue Ball Park, north of Soquel Dr, the area's best playground, so named not for the husbands of breast-feeding mothers, but for several giant blue balls that appear to be rolling uphill.
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Maritime Museum
The Maritime Museum illuminates Monterey's salty past, including the roller-coaster-like rise and fall of the local sardine business. Gems include a ship-in-a-bottle collection and the historic.
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Museum of Natural History
Fronted by a sculpture of a gray whale, the Museum of Natural History has some old-fashioned exhibits about Big Sur, sea otters and the omnipresent monarch butterflies.
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Pacific House Museum
Pick up maps and find out what's open inside the Pacific House Museum, which has in-depth period exhibits on California's multinational history.
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Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
- Santa Cruz, USA
- Sights › Other
TheHenry Cowell Redwoods State Park has riverside trails through old-growth redwood forests.
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Seymour Center at Long Marine Lab
Seymour Center at Long Marine Lab has cool interactive exhibits for kids.
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Carmel Beach
If you're afraid of sunburn, you'll love the Carmel Beach, a nice crescent of white sand.
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