Featured Events
May
24
2013

California Roots Music & Arts Festival
May. 24-May. 26
The 4th annual California Roots Music and Arts Festival is a three-day event packed…more
May
25
2013

2nd Annual Great Monterey Clam Chowder & Calamari Festival
May. 25-May. 27
This Memorial Day Weekend, May 25th, 26th and 27th, the Custom House Plaza at Old…more
Jun
2
2013

Cannery Row Block Party
Jun. 2
This annual event is a crowd-pleaser includes continuous live music, live animals,…more
Jun
7
2013

Monterey Wine Festival
Jun. 7-Jun. 8
With hundreds of wines offered for tasting, wine lovers will lfind an embarrassment…more
Jun
8
2013

Carmel Valley Art & Wine Celebration
Jun. 8
The Art & Wine Celebration will showcase over 60 artists, local wines and…more
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Monterey Highlights
Hiking
There's no better way to enjoy the beautiful scenery in Monterey, Big Sur, Carmel or anywhere else ... more
Biking
With miles upon miles of bike lanes, waterfront trails and off-road tracks, you can go exactly where ... more
Kayaking
A kayaking trip can give stories that last for years to come. Whether it's seeing wildlife up close ... more
Golfing
From the world-famous Pebble Beach Golf Links to one of the oldest golf courses, Monterey County ... more
Whale Watching
California is one of the only places in the world where visitors can see whales year-round, and ... more
Hang Gliding
Marina State Beach has steady winds that make it a popular place for surfing, kite flying and hang ... more
Animals & Wildlife
Scenic Monterey County is one of the richest ecological regions along California's central coast, as ... more
Pinnacles Natl. Monument
Pinnacles National Monument is a popular spot for outdoor activities ranging from hiking to ... more
Horseback Riding
Numerous equestrian trails meander through diverse landscapes, from rugged mountain terrain to sandy ... more
Hiking
One of the best ways to explore the scenic beauty that Monterey County has to offer is by hiking its ... more

Activities
May 14, 2013
- Jul 1, 2013

Surf and Turf Package
Tradewinds Carmel
Enjoy two relaxing nights in a Deluxe King or Queen/Queen room. Spend the Day…

Enjoy the Wonders of the Wharf VIP Card
Old Fisherman's Wharf Association
The “Enjoy the Wonders of the Wharf VIP Card and Special Offers Campaign…
Aug 31, 2012
- Aug 31, 2013

Monterey Movie Tours Special OFFER
Monterey Movie Tours
Special Offer: $10 OFF per passenger rate. Use Promo Code MCCVB when booking. No…
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Point Pinos Lighthouse, Pacific Grove

Point Pinos Lighthouse, Pacific Grove

Historic Attractions

The history of Monterey is part of its charm. Throughout the county, the story of Monterey's rich heritage is writ large in its adobes, gardens, mission bells, and lighthouses. Monterey is the most historic city in California, and the allure of the area continues to enthrall writers, artists and retreat seekers. You can explore the history of Monterey County through guided or self-guided tours.

Explore the Path of History, a two-mile, self-guided tour of Old Monterey. (Click here for a free walking map.) Marked by bright yellow tiles, the path leads through Monterey's quaint downtown, adobes, gardens, museums and other historic sites. Among other interesting stops is Colton Hall, where California's Constitution was developed and signed in 1849. Be sure to include both Old Fisherman's Wharf and Cannery Row on your historic trail to get a feel for the region's turn-of-the-century fishing history.

To complete your seaside tour, stop in Pacific Grove at Point Pinos Lighthouse to visit the oldest continuously operating lighthouse on the West Coast, or travel south on Highway 1 to visit its neighbor the Point Sur Lightstation.

A quest to discover historic Monterey County isn't complete without a visit to at least one of the three California missions established by Spanish missionaries in Carmel, Soledad and Jolon in the late 1700s. Or, get transported to the late 19th century with a tour of the Monterey County Agricultural & Rural Life Museum in the Salinas Valley. Its historic train depot, school, and farmhouse along with early cultivating and irrigation equipment paint a vibrant picture of California's early days. Pacific Grove's Museum of Natural History is a great place to capture information on local wildlife and early Native American culture.

Enjoy a blockbuster trip around the Monterey Peninsula on Monterey Movie Tours' Book It! luxury coach. Visit numerous movie set locations, along with must-see spots like 17-Mile Drive. Or take Tours Monterey's "Ghost Tour of Old Monterey" and learn about the ghosts that haunt Old Monterey's adobes.

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Colton Hall Museum & Old Jail

570 Pacific Street , Monterey, CA 93940
Phone  (831) 646-5648
Fax  (831) 646-3917
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The Old Monterey Jail was constructed in 1854 and served as the City Jail until 1956. The building is open to the public daily. more
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First Mayor's House of Salinas City

20 Station Place , Salinas, CA 93901
Phone  (831) 422-2884
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The First Mayors House was home to Isaac Julian Harvey. Today, it is one of only ten that still exist; it operates as a museum to interpret the early history of Salinas.  more
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Henry Miller Memorial Library

48603 Highway One , Big Sur, CA 93920
Phone  (831) 667-2574
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A non-profit organization championing the literary, artistic and cultural contributions of the late writer, artist and Big Sur resident Henry Miller. more
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Historic Casa Serrano Adobe

412 Pacific Street , Monterey, CA 93940
Phone  (831) 372-2608
Visit Website
Built 1843-Saved 1959. Open to the public on Saturdays from 2-4pm and also available for special event rental. Casa Serrano has lived many lives: home, schoolhouse, Italian restaurant! It has a... more
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Jose Eusebio Boronda Adobe

333 Boronda Rd , Salinas, CA 93907
Phone  (831) 757-8085
Fax  (831) 757-8086
Visit Website  |  Send Email
Nestled on 5 acres on the outskirts of Salinas surrounded by agriculture fields sits the 1844 Jose Eusebio Boronda Adobe listed on the National Register of Historic Places and built on 2,230 acre... more
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Mission Nuestra Señora de la Soledad

36641 Fort Romie Rd. , Soledad, CA 93960
Phone  (831) 678-2586

Email: mchs@redshift.com
Website: http://www.ci.soledad.ca.us/index.aspx?NID=328

Mission San Antonio de Padua

End of Mission Road , Fort Hunter Liggett, CA 93928
Phone  (831) 385-4478
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For those interested in the history and archeology of early-California and Native American cultures, the Mission offers the perfect venue to explore cultural past. more
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Mission San Carlos Borromeo del Río Carmelo

3080 Rio Road , Carmel, CA 93923
Phone  (831) 624-1271

Email: jdgriffin@carmelmission.org
Website: http://www.carmelmission.org/museum

Monterey County Agricultural and Rural Life Museum

1160 Broadway , King City, CA 93930
Phone  (831) 385-8020

Email: info@mcarlm.org
Website: http://www.mcarlm.org

Monterey State Historic Park

20 Custom House Plaza , Monterey, CA 93940
Phone  (831) 649-7118
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Pacific House Musem

10 Custom House Plaza , Monterey, CA 93940
Phone  (831) 649-7118
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A collection of historic houses and buildings interspersed throughout Old Monterey. The inside of many historic adobes can only be viewed with a State Park Guide.  more
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Point Pinos Lighthouse

Lighthouse & Asilomar Ave. , Pacific Grove, CA 93950
Phone  (831) 648-3176
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Oldest continuously-operating lighthouse on the west coast. Group reservations required. Voluntary fees of $2 for adults and $1 for youth are suggested. more
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Point Sur Lightstation

Highway 1
19 Miles South of Carmel , Big Sur, CA 93920
Phone  (831) 625-4419
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On the National Register of Historic Places and a California landmark, Point Sur can be visited by guided walking tours year round. more
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Robert Louis Stevenson House

530 Houston St. , Monterey, CA 93940
Phone  (831) 649-7118
Visit Website
A collection of historic houses and buildings interspersed throughout Old Monterey. The inside of many historic adobes can only be viewed with a State Park Guide.  more
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Robinson Jeffers Tor House

26304 Ocean View Avenue , Carmel, CA 93923
Phone  (831) 624-1813
Fax  (831) 624-3696
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Tour Tor House, climb Hawk Tour, reminiscent of ancient Irish stone towers. Stroll through an English cottage garden rich in color, texture and fragrance. Experience the atmosphere that inspired some... more
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