Spring has sprung in Monterey; sunny days are longer, wildflowers are in bloom, whale watching is at its best, and abundant outdoor activities are in full swing. Inns of Monterey offer much more than just a good night’s rest. Each hotel immerses guests in Monterey’s rich history, shares a tale worth telling, and sets the stage for making memories. For a one-of-a-kind visit, Inns of Monterey feature special packages and discounts, and each boutique hotel offers a unique locale, theme, and décor to fit travelers’ styles. Active links are available to book instantly. Casa Munras Garden Hotel & Spa is the ideal home base for a family spring break. With the “Stay Longer and Save” package, guests who stay three nights will receive 15% off any room type that includes a flexible cancellation plan, and staying four nights saves 25% on any room type. The hotel features abundant gardens, hacienda-style buildings, and gracious guestrooms in Monterey’s Historic District. Home to award-winning Esteban Restaurant, Executive Chef Ben Hillan’s California-inspired Spanish cuisine is prepared with the finest and freshest local ingredients. Indoor and outdoor patio seating is available for dinner and weekend brunch. Amenities for the whole family abound, like the outdoor heated pool, pet-friendly accommodations, complimentary use of bicycles, fitness center, and DESUAR Spa which offers a variety of treatments. Signature amenities include convenient on-site parking, electric vehicle charging stations, and complimentary wifi. Casa Munras is at 700 Munras Avenue, Monterey, California 93940. (800) 222-2446. www.hotelcasamunras.com Book Now.
A Cheapskate in Monterey
20.03.2024 - 11:35 / nytimes.com / John Steinbeck
My first view of Monterey Bay on California’s Central Coast was thrilling — a raft of 40-something sea otters — and free. The next time I would get close to them, at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, it cost nearly $60. That split between free access to outdoor wonders and investment-grade attractions epitomized my experience in the area.
Like so much of coastal California, the Monterey Peninsula, home to famous Pebble Beach golf courses and exclusive towns like Carmel-by-the-Sea (known simply as Carmel), connotes wealth. It is encompassed by Monterey County, a roughly 3,300-square-mile area, which includes Big Sur, where accommodations at luxury resorts like the Post Ranch Inn start at around $1,500 a night.
With a budget of less than half of that for three days, I put Monterey — the town and the county — to the frugal test. In January, a quiet and thrifty time of year, I trusted parks and preserves, unsung hotels and small businesses to keep things economical, even if sampling the variety of Monterey — ranging from historic cities to redwood forests, tide pools and vineyards — required renting a car ($175).
My introduction to Monterey, John Steinbeck’s 1945 classic novel “Cannery Row,” describes its waterfront lined in sardine canneries as “a poem, a stink, a grating noise, a quality of light, a tone, a habit, a nostalgia, a dream.” It’s hard to find that gritty romance along today’s Cannery Row, which boomed in the 1930s and ’40s, before overfishing killed supply.
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Clean Energy, Cherished Waters and a Sacred California Rock Caught in the Middle
My paddle slips gently through calm ocean water as the kayak glides toward the mouth of Morro Bay Harbor. I approach a sandbar covered in resting cormorants, as sea otters float in nearby kelp, inky-eyed pups nestled on their mothers’ chests. On this windless morning, the marine layer paints the world in a gentle watercolor wash. In front of me, Morro Rock rises dramatically from the landscape.
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The Macallan X Bentley Motors: Celebrate Partnership At Monterey Car Week
Having taken place between August 11th through the 20th, this year’s Monterey Car Week turned out to be yet another successful iteration of the iconic California event. Coming from the hills of Speyside, Scotland, storied whisky brand The Macallan returned to the Monterey Car Week program. The Macallan has had a presence at the event for three years as a result of their partnership with Bentley Motors, but this was the first time guests were able to visit the House of The Macallan, bringing rare whisky into the automotive realm. The result was a perfectly paired match of the classic and the contemporary; in an event so saturated with style, craft, anticipation and aesthetic, The Macallan’s participation naturally became part of the fabric.
Aspen for Cheapskates
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California’s Central Coast: chatting with Cheryl Bagby
California’s Central Coast – threaded by the iconic Pacific Coast Highway – is made up of six counties: Ventura, Santa Barbara, Monterey, San Luis Obispo, San Benito and Santa Cruz. Epic oceanside views and the dramatic coastline of Big Sur, stellar wineries and cool galleries all find their home in the region, as does the University of California, with campuses at both Santa Barbara and Santa Cruz. This is “Hollywood’s Backyard”, coastal hotspots stretching from LA to San Fran. We spoke to Cheryl Bagby, VP Sales & Marketing for Visit Ventura, as well as the VP of the Central Coast Tourism Council, about how the region was coping with coronavirus, and what plans are in the area moving forwards.