During the holiday season historic adobes are decorated with festive lights. You can also walk on a sidewalk made of whalebone. The Old Monterey Market Place is still a draw on Tuesday afternoons, when it comes alive with music, food, arts and crafts, and stalls selling fresh produce and flowers. Some of the most popular times to visit Monterey are during its many festivals, including the annual Monterey Jazz Festival, held every September and the Monterey Wine Festival, which is one of the oldest wine festivals in the country, in March. Also the Laguna Seca Raceway, one of the most notorious automobile race tracks in the country, holds special races in August and September.
Summer can get cool and foggy, so bring warm clothes.
Monterey is 125 miles south of San Francisco. The most scenic route is to take State Highway 1 all the way from San Francisco. Or if you're coming from Los Angeles, you can also take Highway 1 all the way. Or take Highway 101 from either direction and cut over to Highway 1 in Salinas. If you'd like to make your travel plans now, please turn to our Reservations page.