Arriving at Monterey Regional Airport in Monterey places you close to it all, with the Pacific coastline, Carmel, and Big Sur just a short drive away. Monterey wraps around a bay famous for sea otters, kelp forests, and Steinbeck stories. It feels like a working fishing town that grew into a relaxed beach destination without losing its character. Standout experiences around Monterey: - Spend a morning at the Monterey Bay Aquarium watching sea otters and the kelp forest tank - Walk Cannery Row and Fisherman's Wharf for clam chowder in a sourdough bowl - Bike the Monterey Peninsula Recreational Trail from downtown to Pacific Grove - Drive 17-Mile Drive past Pebble Beach and the Lone Cypress - Browse the fairy-tale cottages and galleries of Carmel-by-the-Sea - Hike the trails at Point Lobos State Natural Reserve above turquoise coves - Head south on Highway 1 to Bixby Bridge and the cliffs of Big Sur - Kayak among otters and harbor seals in Elkhorn Slough at Moss Landing - See the monarch butterflies overwintering in Pacific Grove each winter - Taste pinot noir and chardonnay along the Carmel Valley wine route The Monterey area is small enough that everything connects within an hour or so. Santa Cruz and its beachfront boardwalk sit about 50 minutes north, Salinas and the National Steinbeck Center are a half hour inland, and the artichoke fields of Castroville line the road between. Mornings often start under coastal fog that burns off by lunch, so plan the beach for afternoon and the aquarium for early.