Enjoying a day in Monterey and Pacific Grove
It’s Monday morning, time to enjoy some gorgeous travel photography and inspiration from around the world. Let’s banish those Monday blues by sharing gorgeous imagery and story telling. You can also check us out on Twitter for Travel Photo Mondays at #tpMondays for more updates and submissions for the day.
Spending a day along Cannery Row in Monterey and Pacific Grove, it’s a wonderful way to enjoy the history and natural beauty of Monterey Bay. Monterey attractions typically center toward the waterfront area with the Monterey Fisherman’s Wharf, Cannery Row and Pacific Grove lined up one right next to the other. It’s actually a pleasant walk starting at Fisherman’s Wharf enjoying the various shopping venues, tasting some of the best local seafood or even taking a cruise around the bay to see some wildlife along the coastal areas of the bay. On the way to Cannery row is San Carlos Beach – a mecca for scuba divers getting into the bay and a nice spot for a break and watch the divers go through their maneuvers.
Monterey Bay and an old Cannery converted to shops
Exploring Monterey Bay and Cannery Row
Cannery row has been revitalized from former canneries into restaurants, shops and entertainment venues. The back streets have a series of art galleries and antique stores for those interested in looking for some local art work or treasures. Towards the end of Cannery Row is the famous Monterey Bay Aquarium housing many special and permanent exhibits on sea life from Monterey Bay and beyond. if you haven’t seen my post yet on the new Tentacles exhibit at the aquarium, you can check it out here.
Monterey Bay and antique shopping
Monterey Bay and the antique shopping mall
Enjoying the outdoors and coastal areas of Monterey
Continuing on the Monterey Bay Coastal trail is the quiet community of Pacific Grove with its secluded coves protected to shelter various sea life like seals that birth and protect their young in these beaches. The trail leads all the way to Lovers Point, which actually referred to lovers of Jesus Christ, when the area was a Methodist retreat. Now the area is a popular haven for kayaking, scuba diving, swimming and a variety of water related sports.
Pacific Grove secluded coves restricted to wildlife
Monterey Bay Research Institute
Pacific Grove looking out to Lovers Point
Nature and the coastal areas of Monterey
A very popular for Monarch butterflies en-route to the Monarch Grove Sanctuary where they flock to the Eucalyptus trees and habitat for shelter. October is a great time to see them visiting this habitat.
The Monterey Bay Coastal Recreation Trail runs past this entire area starting from Castroville all the way down to Pacific Grove. It is 18 miles of trails that used to be the route for the Southern Pacific railways and is now a wonderful coastal trail to use for hiking, biking or just enjoying a short walk or vista of Monterey Bay.
Sea rock hangout at Monterey Bay
What to see more of Monterey and Carmel?
Weekend getaway to Carmel by the Sea
Exploring Moss Landing in Monterey
Did you enjoy visiting Monterey and Pacific Grove for Travel Photo Mondays? Thank you for visiting us today, please do check out these other bloggers below by clicking on their links.
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Hi there, constantly i used to check weblog posts here early in the daylight, since i like to learn more and
more.
You did a really nice job of showing the beauty of the Monterey area. I love that cypress tree in the photo of the coast and research institute–shows the effect of wind on those trees over time.
Gorgeous, I look forward to exploring the Monterey coast one day!
Of course I am able to relate to this post more than usual Noel simply because we had an amazing time on the Monterey Peninsula in July 2013. The 17 Mile Drive is awesome and I just wish we had more time to explore there. Your pictures are awesome as always and really inviting the reader to explore the region for themselves.
Dreamlike. Gorgeous images, Noel.
Moody IS the word for your work. Stunning color, including shares of grey.
I love all the natural beauty you show in this area. Walking along Pacific Grove to Lovers Point (what a story behind that name) would be a wonderful way to spend the day. Getting to see Monarch butterflies or sea lions would be icing on the cake. Thanks for hosting this Link Up each week.
Pacific Grove is the bargain side of Monterey, and the quiet side. But I’ve done more blogging about Monterey, http://weekendadventuresupdate.blogspot.com/search/label/Monterey
That penultimate photo is the pick of the bunch for me, with the beautiful colours in the foreground and the view behind. Stunning! I have never been to this area before but it looks and sounds like a beautiful place.
Wonderful photos. Especially love all the Pacific Grove shots. Several years ago we made this drive and stopped to watch the seals in Monterey Bay. My kids got quite an eyeful.
I’ve been lucky enough to visit the Monterey/Pacific Grove area several times over the years, most recently last summer. Beautiful sights and lots to do as seen here in your post. It’s a wonderful area to visit any time of year, but I love it when those ice plants and other flora are in bloom along the coast.
Such stunning coastal scenery. It looks a great place to explore and a great subject for your camera, especially the dramatic rocks and wind swept trees
Fantastic pictures – love the rocks and sea lions!! Amazing place!
As always fabulous pictures Noel. I remember visiting Monterey in the late 1990s at a time when the sea lions were very prevalent. Great to see the place is a wonderful as ever.
Noel, your photos are wonderful as always. Some years ago, we drove down the coast from San Francisco to Cambria. Pacific Grove was one of our stops. I remember the sea lions. It was a lovely trip.
Some lovely shots here. I love the one of the flowers in the protected cove, nice contrast. 🙂
What a gorgeous landscape! Thank you for this little escape to Monterey 🙂
Great (y) It’s really amazing & lovely photography. I love photography in fact I’m learning photography in my part time & I have great desire Toward photography ! I just become fan of these ultimate photos. My favorite one photo is “Sea rock hangout at Monterey Bay “Sea rock hangout at Monterey Bay” I wish to see more ultimate & superb photography in future too 🙂
I love the photo of the seals!!! All of your photos are wonderful. I really, really like the water, rocks, and flowers together, but the seals – oh my! Thanks for sharing
Monterey was our favorite place in California. We watched the sea otters play in the water while we ate lunch. It was great. It’s the one place to which I’d like to return.
Your photos are lovely and make me want to visit the California coast again. I especially enjoyed the photo of Pacific Grove with the wildflowers in the foreground. Beautiful!
We lived in northern California – bay area – for over 30 years and spent many days playing on the Monterrey Peninsula. Your photos – as always are lovely – but you’ve really captured the heart of the area in this group of photos.
Such moody pictures – love how well they came across despite the bleak day!! I would not have guessed it was Cali – such a variety of places to see
I love the shot of the water and rocks with the flowers. And of course the sea lions!
Noel, I love your photos this week, all that vintage stuff…but my absolute favorite is the view of Lover’s Point…gorgeous!
Noel, thanks for sharing these beautiful impressions of Monterey and the coastline. I like especially the ruggedness of the shore with its camouflaged seals, hanging out on the beach or the rocks. By the way, should this be Monday #43?
Looks beautiful – especially the wild flowers. The beaches look so wild and windswept – not what I imagined California to look like!
Thanks for sharing these beautiful captures – love the close up of the sealions! What I like about the beaches in California is that there is so much life – never boring (next to all the beauty that can be seen there:)
Cute photos 🙂
I loved the views of those windswept beaches.
Wonderful pictures – love the views of the water and the flowers!
Looks great Noel. really different from what I imagined California to look like. Love the pics of the coastline, I would love to take a walk along the Monterey Bay Trail. Make sure you go back in October to see the butterflies, I would love to see your pictures of it!