Monterey and Monterey Bay Aquarium

Monterey is a coastal city on the Monterey Peninsula in California, about 120 miles (193 km) south of San Francisco, and its Monterey Bay Aquarium at 886 Cannery Row is one of the best-known aquariums in the United States. The drive takes roughly 2 to 2.5 hours via US-101 or Highway 1, which makes it a long day trip; Amtrak and bus connections are slow, so most visitors drive or join a guided coach tour costing about 150 to 250 dollars per person. Aquarium admission is about 50 to 60 dollars per adult.

The aquarium occupies a converted sardine cannery on Cannery Row, made famous by John Steinbeck, and displays the marine life of Monterey Bay. Highlights include the Kelp Forest, a towering living kelp tank, the Open Sea exhibit with tuna and sharks, the sea otter habitat and the jellyfish galleries. Outside, Cannery Row has shops and restaurants, and the Monterey Bay Coastal Recreation Trail runs along the shoreline for walking or cycling. Historic Old Fisherman's Wharf and Monterey State Historic Park, with adobe buildings from the Mexican and Spanish periods, are a short distance away. The scenic 17-Mile Drive through Pebble Beach and Point Lobos State Natural Reserve to the south are popular additions for those with time.

A workable day arc leaves San Francisco very early, around 6:30 to 7 a.m., to reach the aquarium at opening time, spend three to four hours inside, then take lunch on Cannery Row or the wharf. The afternoon suits a shoreline walk and a short visit to downtown Monterey before the long return drive. Because the round trip alone is four to five hours, many visitors consider overnighting on the peninsula instead.

Spring and fall bring lighter crowds, and weekdays outside school holidays are the easiest. Advance timed tickets are strongly advised.