Day Itinerary
9 Activities
Day 2
58 mi0.6 mi
Santa Cruz to Monterey, Carmel and San Juan Bautista
From Santa Cruz, follow the reverse C-shape of Monterey Bay to the towns of Monterey and Pacific Grove. Pacific Grove is home to an over-wintering site of monarch butterflies. There is an amazing exhibit of their living habitat at the pacific Grove Museum of Natural History. Not far away, the entrance to a 17-mile scenic drive which curves around a small peninsula brings you past the famous "Lone Cypress" (easy to see when it is not foggy, impossible when it is foggy) and drops you into Pebble Beach, before arriving at the sweet and very walkable town of Carmel.
1.2 mi
5 min
09:0030 min
11th Hour Coffee
Santa Cruz is stacked with coffee houses (this is a college town, after all) but I like 11th Hour because you can always find a seat, outside and inside. The Honey Bee Latte is not too sweet and the scratch biscuits are worth the trip. Grab some road food because you are on your way to Monterey.
43.7 mi
1 hr
10:302 hrs 30 min
Monterey Bay Aquarium
The aquarium that brought you Seafood Watch (helping you make seafood choices that support healthy and sustainable oceans) is known for its exhibits that focus on local ecology (did you know about the importance of kelp forests?). Be sure to spend a few minutes at the Sea Otters, popular subjects of Instagram photos. But the newest exhibit, "Into the Deep," takes you into the abyss — the inky, murky bottom layer of the ocean where creatures carry around their own lights, a region humans know more about now because of innovative robotic technologies.
0.6 mi
15 min
13:151 hr
Schooners Monterey
Parking in Monterey is tough. If you already found a spot for visiting the aquarium, don't move the car. Walk to the Monterey Plaza Hotel. Inside is a restaurant and bar with views across Monterey Bay, Schooners. Ask for a seat on the deck. The ahi tuna poke tacos or one of the seafood towers with a glass of a fresh juice is the go-to order.
0.6 mi
5 min
14:3030 min
Presidio of Monterey Museum
Take a few minutes to explore Monterey's history as a fort in a small museum next to the historic downtown area.
3.9 mi
15 min
15:1530 min
Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary
You won't need long to understand the necessity of preserving spaces where migrating butterflies over-winter, gathering strength for the next stretch of their journey. The sanctuary is a part of the Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History so if the butterflies have, shall we say, fled the coop, videos and artifacts related to the butterflies are at hand.
2.1 mi
10 min
16:0030 min
17-Mile Drive
Just south of the butterfly grove is the entrance to the Monterey Peninsula 17-Mile Drive. It's hard to know if it will be foggy and wind-swept or gorgeous and sunny as the weather here can change quickly, but it is a beautiful coastal drive along the region's dunes. It can feel eerie if the fog is in, and hard to see the Lone Cypress, which is closer to Pebble Beach between Cypress Point Club and the Pebble Beach Golf Links. There is a sign and plenty of tourists to help you figure it out.
3.8 mi
15 min
17:0030 min
The Bench
If you've got a thing for enjoying a perfectly crafted beverage while sitting outside by a roaring fire overlooking immaculately tended greens that give way to views of sea cliffs and the Pacific, then stop here for a Pebble Beach Manhattan.
2.4 mi
10 min
18:001 hr
Carmel-by-the-Sea
Strolling the cobbled streets of Carmel, ogling the thatched cottages and multi-million dollar homes, is akin to walking through a real-life Disneyland. It doesn't really seem to make sense that this place exists. But there are enough shops laden with sunglasses and T-shirts to remember that the town hosts its share of tourists. Walk down a few side streets to discover little alleyways that host petite shops — that's where the treasures lie.
0.3 mi
5 min
19:301 hr 30 min
La Balena
Have you ever marveled at the fresh fare of an Italian trattoria, where the style is deceptively straight-forward yet the flavors knock your socks off? That's what it's like at La Balena. Homey, comfortable, fresh, and no frills, yet somehow, the team here delivers exceptional meals in a comfortable setting.