Monterey: So Much to Discover

Monterey County highlights everything that's best about California. From Monterey's hotels and seaside restaurants to the Salinas Valley's hillside vineyards, from Big Sur's redwood groves to Pebble Beach's perfectly groomed golf courses, from Salinas' old-fashioned rodeo to Carmel-by-the-Sea's elite music and art festivals, Monterey has a feast of fun just waiting to be sampled.

See Monterey

Monterey offers iconic California experiences. Experience the top road trip in the United States as you wind along the breathtaking Big Sur coastline on Highway One. Book a Monterey hotel on the beach, then explore the shops and attractions of iconic Cannery Row. Sip handcrafted wines at tucked-away tasting rooms where the winemaker might just be the person pouring. Take a surfing lesson and catch a glimpse of a barefoot beach wedding as you ride your board to shore. Play 18 holes at legendary golf courses, or just hang out at the 19th hole and watch the pros practice. Monterey County has a little something special for everyone.

Monterey County's Destinations

Visit Monterey and see the amazing Monterey Bay Aquarium, as well as Fisherman's Wharf and Cannery Row, made famous by Nobel Prize-winning Salinas writer John Steinbeck. Experience the legendary golf courses of Pebble Beach. Take a California wine country vacation in Carmel Valley, Soledad or Salinas Valley, or go art gallery hopping in beautiful Carmel-by-the-Sea or buzzing Sand City. For an outdoor experience, hike the wild trails of Big Sur, go surfing in Moss Landing, or watch the hang gliders in Marina and Seaside. Dine in centrally located Del Rey Oaks, and relax in an old-fashioned, seaside home town among the Victorian cottages and Monarch butterflies of Pacific Grove. Monterey County is your destination for a perfect California vacation.

Monterey County In the Media

A special congratulations to the Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa. TripAdvisor travelers have spoken and have chosen the luxurious accommodation as one of the Top 25 Hotels in the United States!

Once again, Monterey County was highly recognized on the Condé Nast Traveler Gold List. Congratulations to Post Ranch Inn, Ventana Inn & Spa, The Inn at Spanish Bay, and The Lodge at Pebble Beach for their inclusion on this elite list! All these 2012 Gold List properties were also given the Condé Nast Platinum Circle Award, which recognizes their appearance on the Condé Nast Gold List for five or more consecutive years.

Pick up the January 2012 issue of Travel + Leisure to see which Monterey County hotels ranked among the “World’s Best.” A special congratulations to Carmel’s L’Auberge Carmel, Carmel Valley’s Bernardus Lodge, Big Sur’s Post Ranch Inn and Ventana Inn & Spa and Pebble Beach’s The Lodge at Pebble Beach and The Inn at Spanish Bay for making the cut!

For more recent awards, see the Monterey County Press Accolades page.

Meet in Monterey

Monterey is the perfect place for your next meeting or conference. The Monterey Conference Center, with its three adjoining major hotels and 58,000 feet of flexible space, is the largest facility of its kind on the coast between Los Angeles and San Francisco. Other venues in Monterey County have meeting capacities ranging from 40 people to 2,000 or more. For more information on meeting in Monterey, see our Meeting Planners section.

Book Your Monterey Hotel and Plan Your Monterey Trip

The resources on this site make planning your trip a snap. Book a  hotel instantly, or book an all-in-one travel package that showcases the best of Monterey County. Sample itineraries on the website offer ideas on how to spend a family-friendly vacation, a romantic Monterey getaway and other options. Order a Monterey visitors guide, or browse the online version. Keep up with the latest news, events and specials with Monterey County’s monthly eNewsletter. And Monterey’s Facebook page, Twitter, YouTube channel, and blog all ensure that, wherever you are, you can find out about us. 

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