There’s always something new to learn.
Monterey has always felt older than time in the best way. Once the capital of Alta California, today it’s an introspective seaside escape where marine life mingles with literary legends. Cannery Row may have ditched the sardines, but the soul of Steinbeck still lingers in the salt air. Tide pools glisten, Spanish tiles crackle in the breeze, and otters float belly-up like they own the place (because they kind of do).
This is coastal California without the chaos — just character.
Let’s see what we discover.
Things you didn’t know about Monterey.
5. Monterey was once the capital of California.
Before Sacramento took the title, Monterey was the original capital under both Spanish and Mexican rule.
4. It’s home to the oldest government building in California.
The Custom House, built in the 1820s, still stands at the waterfront and played a pivotal role in the U.S. annexation of California.
3. You can dive into a kelp forest taller than redwoods.
Monterey Bay’s underwater forests can stretch over 100 feet high — and yes, you can scuba right through them.
2. Cannery Row used to be the sardine capital of the world.
Long before the tourists came, this strip powered the global sardine industry — until overfishing led to its collapse in the 1950s.
1. The bay is a protected marine sanctuary.
One of the largest in the world, the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary spans over 6,000 square miles, safeguarding everything from whales to coral reefs.
Bottom line.
Monterey doesn’t ask for your attention — it captures it quietly.
It’s where fog rolls in with stories, and sea lions bark at the moon.
You don’t just visit Monterey — you wander into it.
And chances are, a piece of you stays behind.
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