Monterey and its surrounding seaside landscape is the perfect oasis of Northern California. Growing up in the Bay Area, I have so many beautiful memories visiting Monterey, Carmel, and Big Sur with family and friends. Each trip, I am reminded by how diverse the marine life is in the Northern Pacific and how lucky I am to be a two hour drive away from what feels like a far away escape from city life. Picture perfect viewpoints, crashing blue waves, and a visit with aquatic sea-life awaits!

Mode of Transportation

To get around anywhere in the oceanside area, a car is an absolute must to ensure you see everything mother nature has to offer. Make sure your car has a full tank of gas before embarking on your journey and an aux cord to jam out to your favorite tunes while driving along the pacific coast.

The Itinerary

Cannery Row

Downtown Monterey is home to gift shops, restaurants, local bars, and the famous Aquarium. During Labor Day weekend in 2017, I went on a girls trip with some of my closest friends. Pictured below is Danielle, Jackie, and Nicole. We had dinner at Sly McFly’s, where we enjoyed burgers and live music featuring classic American songs.

Monterey Bay Aquarium

Located on Cannery Row, one of my all time favorite places is the Monterey Bay Aquarium. I have made many visits to this special exhibit with my family, friends, and most recently with my boyfriend Trevor for my 27th birthday. I have been to several renowned aquariums, and Monterey still ranks as my favorite for so many reasons. The jellyfish exhibit is so mystical and enchanting. Seeing the jellies floating majestically in the blue ocean water really leaves you in awe at the wonders of the world.

My second favorite part of the aquarium is the opportunity to pet marine life, including the sting rays. They will come right up to the edge, providing visitors with the chance to feel their slimy and smooth surface. Make sure not to miss the otters and the kelp forest when visiting. They are native to the Monterey Bay!

Additionally, there is a cafe that offers tasty lunch and snack options, as well as an outdoor deck observatory to view the beautiful ocean. This spot is perfect for souvenir photos!

Bubba Gump

In close proximity to the aquarium is my favorite restaurant for shrimp. With a direct view of the ocean, I highly recommend eating here for lunch or dinner while the sun is setting. My favorite items to indulge on here include the coconut shrimp, cajun shrimp bucket, and a lava drink.

Old Fisherman’s Wharf

This historic wharf features gift shops, clam chowder, restaurants, and tourist attractions to explore. On my Labor Day weekend girls trip, we came here for an Italian dinner one evening and enjoyed wine and chicken parmesan.

Whale Watching Tour

One of the Old Fisherman’s Wharf attractions we found was a whale watching boat tour. Excited about the idea of potentially seeing whales, we immediately signed up. If you are prone to getting sea sick, I definitely recommend taking a dramamine 30 minutes before boarding.

Make sure to take a glance down at the ocean below as you make your way out to sea. Right at the surface, you will see thousands of the infamous orange jellyfish that are featured at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. It was so cool seeing them in their natural habitat!

To our incredible delight, we saw several humpback whales. Two of them surprised us by swimming underneath the boat and popping right up for us all to say hello. I was so happy to share this special moment with my best friends beside me. I cannot recommend this activity enough! It was the highlight of our trip.

17 Mile Drive

When visiting Carmel, this is a must do activity as these views are not to be missed. There is an entrance fee required before embarking on the drive, but every penny is worth what you will see. Make sure to grab a map brochure to get a layout of your drive. Start your journey at viewpoint 1, Spanish Bay. This spot has picnic tables and blue ocean waves you are sure to enjoy.

Along the drive, there are multiple areas to pull over, park, and go down and explore. Keep your eyes peeled for those crevices that catch your eye! It is such a romantic experience soaking in the California sun, sea-salt air, and colorful waves.

The very last stop of the 17 mile drive is a viewpoint featuring the famous cypress trees that are native to the land. There is an observatory deck that is perfect for capturing your photos of the deep blue sea.

If you stay long enough in Carmel, I recommend grabbing dinner at one of the nearby, highly rated hotels located in the range of the 17 mile drive. Following dinner, make your way back over to Spanish Bay and soak up the sunset. This pink, cotton candy sky was a view I will never forget with Trevor by my side.

Downtown Carmel

The downtown of Carmel feels cozy and inviting. It features boutiques, restaurants, and wine tasting activities. A winery I very much enjoyed with a group of my friends was Dawn’s Dream Winery. Make sure to take a photo in the iconic bathtub 🍷

I went on a weekend trip to Monterey in April of 2017 with a group of my friends to celebrate Elida’s birthday. Our itinerary included wine tasting, playing games at our Airbnb, dining at delicious restaurants, and spending quality time all together.

Big Sur Camping

A group of my closest friends made a weekend trip in January 2020 to celebrate Jackie’s 26th birthday. We rented out three cabins for an overnight stay in Big Sur at the Fernwood Campgrounds. Surrounded by tall redwood trees and a river, it was a gorgeous setting. In the evening, we lit a campfire and made a visit right up the road to the Fernwood Bar & Grill that had a pingpong table and strung lights for a cozy vibe.

After settling into our cabins, we went on an uphill hike. We witnessed banana slugs, stunning landscape views, and caught a golden sunset coming back down.

The view from our hike was one to remember. As the sun was setting, we paused to reflect on the new year and enjoyed the company we were in. Day quickly turned into night. We then headed to Nepanthe for a candle lit dinner surrounded by nature and the stars above in the darkness of the night.

Pacific Coast Highway Drive

The first time I visited Big Sur was with my family 💙  I was in absolute awe at the coastal drive we experienced together. An assortment of blue colored waves were hugged by the cliffside roads that we drove along. Simply driving the PCH is enough to leave a great impression of California.

Bixby Creek Bridge

If you have ever watched the HBO series Big Little Lies, you probably recognize this bridge featured many times in the show. You will cross the bridge at the beginning as you embark Big Sur. Make sure to stop at this viewpoint for photos and play the song Cold Little Heart to live out your TV dreams.

McWay Falls

Located in Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, it is the most iconic viewpoint of Big Sur. McWay Falls reminds me of Mermaid Lagoon in the Disney movie Peter Pan. This cove is not accessible to the public as it is a preserved and historic site. However, there is a very short and safe overlook trail to visit the cove.

Nepenthe

Following our scenic drive and stops, my family treated me to burgers and fries at the infamous Nepanthe, located on a cliffside offering stunning views. Our waiter shared a fun fact - we were seated at the actress Elizabeth Taylor’s preferred table whenever she came to visit Big Sur and this restaurant 🤩

Whether you are visiting Monterey to explore the aquarium, stopping along the oceanside viewpoints of Carmel by-the-sea, or camping in the redwoods of Big Sur, you are sure to experience the magic of Northern California’s coastal beauty.