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Destinations
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Monterey
- Hotels
- Things to Do
- Monterey County on a Budget
- Itinerary: Midweek Monterey Getaway
- Monterey Beaches
- Cannery Row
- Old Fisherman's Wharf
- Monterey Bay Aquarium
- WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca
- Monterey Bay Coastal Recreation Trail
- Historic Monterey
- Monterey Wine Tasting Rooms
- Monterey State Beach
- El Estero Park
- Jacks Peak Park
- Veterans Memorial Park
- Guided Tours
- Restaurants
- Shopping
- Travel Like a Monterey Expert
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Big Sur
- Travel Like a Big Sur Expert
- Hotels
- Camping & Hiking
- Big Sur Beaches
- Arts & Culture
- Bixby Bridge
- Big Sur Itinerary
- Big Sur Live Webcam
- Big Sur International Marathon
- Andrew Molera State Park
- Garrapata State Park
- Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park
- McWay Falls
- Limekiln State Park
- Los Padres National Forest
- Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park
- Point Sur Lightstation
- Restaurants
- Spas
- Pebble Beach
- Carmel-by-the-Sea
- Pacific Grove
- Carmel Valley
- Marina
- Seaside
- Salinas
- Moss Landing
- Sand City
- Castroville
- Spreckels
- South County
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Monterey
- Lodging
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Things to Do
- Free Things to Do in Monterey County
- Attractions
-
Itineraries
- Now is the Moment Itineraries
- Highlights Itinerary
- Outdoors Itinerary
- Family Itinerary
- Girlfriend Getaway Itinerary
- Golf Itinerary
- History and Heritage Itinerary
- Road Trip Itinerary
- Romantic Itinerary
- Shopping Itinerary
- Spa Itineraries
- Steinbeck Itinerary
- Wine and Dine Itinerary
- Three Days in Monterey Wine Country
- Outdoor Activities
- Animals and Wildlife
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Parks
- Top 10 Campsites
- Andrew Molera State Park
- Cachagua Community Park
- El Estero Park
- Elkhorn Slough
- Fort Ord National Monument
- Fremont Peak State Park
- Garland Ranch Regional Park
- Garrapata State Park
- Jacks Peak Park
- Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park
- Laguna Seca Recreation Area
- Lake San Antonio
- Limekiln State Park
- Locke-Paddon Community Park
- Los Padres National Forest
- Monarch Grove Butterfly Sanctuary
- Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary
- Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park
- Pinnacles National Park
- Point Lobos State Reserve
- Point Sur Lightstation
- Royal Oaks Park
- Salinas River National Wildlife Refuge
- San Lorenzo Park
- Toro Park
- Veterans Memorial Park
-
Beaches
- Undiscovered Beaches
- Asilomar State Beach
- Big Sur Beaches
- Carmel Beach
- Carmel River State Beach
- Fort Ord Dunes State Park
- Lovers Point Park and Beach
- Marina State Beach
- Monterey Beaches
- Monterey State Beach
- Moss Landing State Beach
- Pebble Beach Beaches
- Salinas River State Beach
- Zmudowski State Beach
- Arts and Culture
- Family Adventures
- Golf
- Guided Tours
- Literary Sites
- Romance
- Shopping
- Spas
- Nightlife and Entertainment
- Historic Attractions
-
Events
- This Weekend
- Annual Events
- Music Festivals
- Sporting Events
- Food & Drink Events
- Art Festivals
- Community Events
- Holiday Events
- Submit an Event
- Food & Drink
- Resources
Highway 1 into Northern Big Sur is Now Open
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Destinations
-
Monterey
- Hotels
- Things to Do
- Monterey County on a Budget
- Itinerary: Midweek Monterey Getaway
- Monterey Beaches
- Cannery Row
- Old Fisherman's Wharf
- Monterey Bay Aquarium
- WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca
- Monterey Bay Coastal Recreation Trail
- Historic Monterey
- Monterey Wine Tasting Rooms
- Monterey State Beach
- El Estero Park
- Jacks Peak Park
- Veterans Memorial Park
- Guided Tours
- Restaurants
- Shopping
- Travel Like a Monterey Expert
-
Big Sur
- Travel Like a Big Sur Expert
- Hotels
- Camping & Hiking
- Big Sur Beaches
- Arts & Culture
- Bixby Bridge
- Big Sur Itinerary
- Big Sur Live Webcam
- Big Sur International Marathon
- Andrew Molera State Park
- Garrapata State Park
- Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park
- McWay Falls
- Limekiln State Park
- Los Padres National Forest
- Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park
- Point Sur Lightstation
- Restaurants
- Spas
- Pebble Beach
- Carmel-by-the-Sea
- Pacific Grove
- Carmel Valley
- Marina
- Seaside
- Salinas
- Moss Landing
- Sand City
- Castroville
- Spreckels
- South County
-
Monterey
- Lodging
-
Things to Do
- Free Things to Do in Monterey County
- Attractions
-
Itineraries
- Now is the Moment Itineraries
- Highlights Itinerary
- Outdoors Itinerary
- Family Itinerary
- Girlfriend Getaway Itinerary
- Golf Itinerary
- History and Heritage Itinerary
- Road Trip Itinerary
- Romantic Itinerary
- Shopping Itinerary
- Spa Itineraries
- Steinbeck Itinerary
- Wine and Dine Itinerary
- Three Days in Monterey Wine Country
- Outdoor Activities
- Animals and Wildlife
-
Parks
- Top 10 Campsites
- Andrew Molera State Park
- Cachagua Community Park
- El Estero Park
- Elkhorn Slough
- Fort Ord National Monument
- Fremont Peak State Park
- Garland Ranch Regional Park
- Garrapata State Park
- Jacks Peak Park
- Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park
- Laguna Seca Recreation Area
- Lake San Antonio
- Limekiln State Park
- Locke-Paddon Community Park
- Los Padres National Forest
- Monarch Grove Butterfly Sanctuary
- Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary
- Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park
- Pinnacles National Park
- Point Lobos State Reserve
- Point Sur Lightstation
- Royal Oaks Park
- Salinas River National Wildlife Refuge
- San Lorenzo Park
- Toro Park
- Veterans Memorial Park
-
Beaches
- Undiscovered Beaches
- Asilomar State Beach
- Big Sur Beaches
- Carmel Beach
- Carmel River State Beach
- Fort Ord Dunes State Park
- Lovers Point Park and Beach
- Marina State Beach
- Monterey Beaches
- Monterey State Beach
- Moss Landing State Beach
- Pebble Beach Beaches
- Salinas River State Beach
- Zmudowski State Beach
- Arts and Culture
- Family Adventures
- Golf
- Guided Tours
- Literary Sites
- Romance
- Shopping
- Spas
- Nightlife and Entertainment
- Historic Attractions
-
Events
- This Weekend
- Annual Events
- Music Festivals
- Sporting Events
- Food & Drink Events
- Art Festivals
- Community Events
- Holiday Events
- Submit an Event
- Food & Drink
- Resources
Destinations
-
Monterey
- Hotels
- Things to Do
- Monterey County on a Budget
- Itinerary: Midweek Monterey Getaway
- Monterey Beaches
- Cannery Row
- Old Fisherman's Wharf
- Monterey Bay Aquarium
- WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca
- Monterey Bay Coastal Recreation Trail
- Historic Monterey
- Monterey Wine Tasting Rooms
- Monterey State Beach
- El Estero Park
- Jacks Peak Park
- Veterans Memorial Park
- Guided Tours
- Restaurants
- Shopping
- Travel Like a Monterey Expert
-
Big Sur
- Travel Like a Big Sur Expert
- Hotels
- Camping & Hiking
- Big Sur Beaches
- Arts & Culture
- Bixby Bridge
- Big Sur Itinerary
- Big Sur Live Webcam
- Big Sur International Marathon
- Andrew Molera State Park
- Garrapata State Park
- Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park
- McWay Falls
- Limekiln State Park
- Los Padres National Forest
- Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park
- Point Sur Lightstation
- Restaurants
- Spas
- Pebble Beach
- Carmel-by-the-Sea
- Pacific Grove
- Carmel Valley
- Marina
- Seaside
- Salinas
- Moss Landing
- Sand City
- Castroville
- Spreckels
- South County
Lodging
Things to Do
- Free Things to Do in Monterey County
- Attractions
-
Itineraries
- Now is the Moment Itineraries
- Highlights Itinerary
- Outdoors Itinerary
- Family Itinerary
- Girlfriend Getaway Itinerary
- Golf Itinerary
- History and Heritage Itinerary
- Road Trip Itinerary
- Romantic Itinerary
- Shopping Itinerary
- Spa Itineraries
- Steinbeck Itinerary
- Wine and Dine Itinerary
- Three Days in Monterey Wine Country
- Outdoor Activities
- Animals and Wildlife
-
Parks
- Top 10 Campsites
- Andrew Molera State Park
- Cachagua Community Park
- El Estero Park
- Elkhorn Slough
- Fort Ord National Monument
- Fremont Peak State Park
- Garland Ranch Regional Park
- Garrapata State Park
- Jacks Peak Park
- Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park
- Laguna Seca Recreation Area
- Lake San Antonio
- Limekiln State Park
- Locke-Paddon Community Park
- Los Padres National Forest
- Monarch Grove Butterfly Sanctuary
- Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary
- Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park
- Pinnacles National Park
- Point Lobos State Reserve
- Point Sur Lightstation
- Royal Oaks Park
- Salinas River National Wildlife Refuge
- San Lorenzo Park
- Toro Park
- Veterans Memorial Park
-
Beaches
- Undiscovered Beaches
- Asilomar State Beach
- Big Sur Beaches
- Carmel Beach
- Carmel River State Beach
- Fort Ord Dunes State Park
- Lovers Point Park and Beach
- Marina State Beach
- Monterey Beaches
- Monterey State Beach
- Moss Landing State Beach
- Pebble Beach Beaches
- Salinas River State Beach
- Zmudowski State Beach
- Arts and Culture
- Family Adventures
- Golf
- Guided Tours
- Literary Sites
- Romance
- Shopping
- Spas
- Nightlife and Entertainment
- Historic Attractions
Events
- This Weekend
- Annual Events
- Music Festivals
- Sporting Events
- Food & Drink Events
- Art Festivals
- Community Events
- Holiday Events
- Submit an Event
Top 5 Places to Spot Sea Otters in Monterey
If there is one furry animal that Monterey Bay is most known for, it is the sea otter. The climate and rocky shores along Monterey County's coastline are ideal for these critters, and the bountiful kelp forests are full of all of their favorite snacks. Here's our list of the top five places to spot Monterey County's favorite mascot.
1. Moss Landing
Moss Landing State Beach and the Elkhorn Slough in Moss Landing are almost always a sure bet to see these cuddly creatures. There is a protected cove in particular near the dunes on Moss Landing State Beach, where you can often find groups of bachelor otters huddled together in "rafts." A raft is a group of single sex sea otters, and they typically contain 2 to 100 of the furry little creatures! Otters in rafts often sleep side-by-side, wrapped up in strands of kelp, so that they don't drift far from each other.
The best place to encounter a sea otter in its natural habitat is out on the water! Rent a kayak or take an Elkhorn Slough Safari tour to observe these marvelous animals in action. You will most likely see more than one!
2. Fisherman's Wharf
Dine at one of the fabulous seafood restaurants along Old Fisherman's Wharf, and you might just spot an otter or two swimming beneath you. Sea otters also find this area as a great place to socialize, play and feed on fresh seafood, including clams, mussels, crab, squid, and urchins.
Visitors can also catch a glass bottom boat or whale watching tour from the wharf for an ocean excursion where sea otter sightings are always a possibility.
3. Cannery Row
Take a walk along the Monterey Bay Coastal Recreation Trail from Fisherman's Wharf to Cannery Row and keep your eyes open for sea otters twisting and turning near the shoreline; this is also a hot spot for lazy harbor seals.
Further down Cannery Row is A Taste of Monterey. This place offers incredible views of the Monterey Bay, and most of the time, you get to catch a glimpse of an otter in the ocean below; if not, the Monterey Bay Aquarium just down the street is a sure bet!
4. Lovers Point Park and Beach
Just a mile down from the Monterey Bay Aquarium is Lovers Point Park in Pacific Grove. Not only is this a great place for a picnic, but it's also a fun stop to check out some wildlife. The protected cove is loaded with kelp which otters love to roll up into while they use their tummies as plates while they eat.
Want to get a closer look? Rent a kayak or stand up paddle board from Adventures by the Sea at Lovers Point and search for otters, seals, and other marine animals. But please keep your distance and respect their space.
5. Point Lobos State Reserve
Further south from Lovers Point is Point Lobos State Reserve in Carmel. This animal sanctuary is a great place for hiking, scuba diving, birding and spotting sea otters, of course. You can often see them bobbing around near the rocky shores and protected coves. Be sure to check out Sand Hill Cove, Whalers Cove, and Cypress Cove in particular.
Bonus! Monterey Bay Aquarium
If all else fails, you can always stop in at the Monterey Bay Aquarium where you are guaranteed to see a handful of friendly sea otters. The two-story exhibit shows sea otters romp, tumble and wrestle above and below water. Be sure to check the daily schedule beforehand to view the sea otter feeding times held at various times throughout the day. Review Sea Otter Cam at the Monterey Bay Aquarium.
Enjoy the marine wildlife that call Monterey Bay home but remember to leave in your wake no trace that you were there, not even a moment of unnecessary swimming or stress. Learn why sea otters are sensitive to human disturbance and how you can help prevent it: www.seaottersavvy.org.
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