The Best Things to do in Monterey with Kids
/This post is in partnership with See Monterey! All thoughts, writing, and photos are completely owned by me.
If you’re looking for what to do in Monterey with kids, you’ve made it to the right page. California offers so many diverse environments and activities, but only Monterey offers it all in one place. It’s time to write your family a permission slip and head over for the perfect weekend in Monterey county. Here you’ll find tide pooling, whale watching, diverse hiking, famous scenic drives, a golfing paradise, wine tasting and so much more. Whether you’re looking for the perfect family hikes in Monterey or the best place to have a family dinner — this blog will help you plan the perfect weekend in Monterey for families. So, grab a pen and your calendar - it’s time to schedule your next family adventure.
Garrapatta Stake Park is a great place for family hikes along the rocky sea
Monterey County was one of the first counties to be established in California. It spreads across 3,771 square miles, making it 1.5 times bigger than the state of Delaware. The population hovers around 420,000 with most of that lying in the coastal areas and in the city of Salinas. The county is rich in culture with a vast amount of agricultural land and historical coastal features such as Cannery Row and Old Fisherman’s Warf on the Monterey Bay. However, one of the most iconic spots in the county is the drive along Highway 1 in Big Sur. There are so many things to do in Monterey with kids, so I have broken it down and created itineraries to help you choose what to do in Monterey this weekend with your family!
No matter what your family is interested in, Monterey County is the perfect destination for families.
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Table of Contents
Click below to skip to any part of the blog:
The Perfect 4-Day Itinerary for Visiting Monterey
Tidepoooling
Monterey Bay Aquarium or Monterey Zoo
Drive or E-Bike along 17-Mile Drive OR Drive Big Sur
Go for a Hike (Click HERE for the Best Hikes in Monterey)
Go Whale Watching
Evening walk along the Coastal Path
Rent a Surry Bike OR Rent Kayaks Or Rent Paddle Boards
Hit the Golf Courses
Experience the Monterey Vineyards
How to Get to Monterey, California
There are two airports that service the Monterey area. The first is the Monterey Regional Airport (MRY) which is located in the heart of Monterey. The San Jose International Airport (SJC) is approximately 75 minutes driving to Monterey. Driving-wise, Highway 1 is the most scenic way to get to Monterey. This highway provides access to Monterey from both the South and North.
Monterey is only 2 hours from San Francisco and only 5 hours from Los Angeles.
Once you get to monterey, you won’t want to leave. here is where The relaxation spreads from the coast to the vineyards.
The Best Places to Stay in Monterey
Where to Stay in Monterey? This is Monterey Plaza Hotel and Spa
Hotels
Monterey Plaza Hotel and Spa: Perched dramatically on historic beachfront property above the crashing surf of the Pacific, Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa offers the classic California coastal experience. Here you’ll be welcomed with warm hospitality and elegantly-appointed guest rooms with thoughtful extras and luxury touches. Monterey Plaza is home to an oceanfront restaurant, award-winning rooftop luxury spa, and prime location steps from charming Cannery Row. This elegant oceanfront hotel is the centerpiece of Monterey Bay.
Monterey Plaza offers an incredible educational program called the Plaza Explorers Program. This school year, make Monterey your break from distance or virtual learning. Children staying at the Plaza receive complimentary enrollment in our Plaza Explorers Program. Each kid receives their very own discovery kit, equipped with an educational tide pool bingo card, binoculars, and exploration gear!. In my opinion, Monterey Plaza is the best place to stay in Monterey for families.
If you’re looking for a place to reconnect with your family, unplug from technology and find pure relaxation – this is it!
Enjoying the Spa Deck at the Monterey Plaza
Quail Lodge and Golf Club: This Carmel Valley, California hotel is the perfect place to indulge yourself with good times and leisurely outdoor exploration while spending the day experiencing all that Quail and the world-renowned Monterey Peninsula has to offer and the evenings winding down in the comforts of one of their large, naturally appealing guestrooms or suites! Quail Lodge & Golf Club offers a wide variety of recreational activities on-property. Whether it's a round of golf on their recently renovated championship golf course, a tennis match, an off-road driving lesson, a scenic hike, or to experience the best of the area, this Carmel Valley, California hotel and golf club can assist you in maximizing your experience. The only thing they don’t offer is a few more hours to the day. Fortunately, there is always tomorrow.
The Monterey Coast is absolutely stunning
Other hotel Options to stay in Monterey County - move the map around to see options to fit any family budget:
The Best Places to Eat in Monterey
There are so many wonderful places to eat in Monterey - These are some of the cocktails from The Fish Hopper in the Fisherman’s Warf
There are way too many restaurants in Monterey to list them all, so here are my absolute favorites.
Fish Hopper: This ocean view restaurant is sure to please everyone in the family. It’s been in business since 1950 and is committed to providing guests with fresh ingredients, exciting culinary experiences, and unmatched views of the bay. Fish Hopper is a proud member of Monterey Bay Aquariums Seafood Watch program; serving only sustainable, environmentally responsible seafood. My absolute favorite dish is a tie between the 22 ounce ribeye or the Ahi Tuna Nachos. Also - don’t miss their Watermelon Refresher drink!
Il Vecchio: If you’re looking for the best Italian food outside of Italy, head to Il Vecchio. You will thank me. The creator of il vecchio, Carl Alasko, lived in Rome between 1963 and 1974. During those eleven years Carl absorbed Italian culture and a taste for great Italian food. Before opening il vecchio, Carl's Italian daughter, Saroja, convinced the owner of Maccheroni to send his head chef to Pacific Grove to teach the staff at il vecchio how to achieve the precise timing and blending of ingredients that are at the core of traditional recipes. Every single dish is as authentic as eating in Italy. The staff is so friendly too, so this is one of the best places to eat in Monterey with kids!
Hands down the mushroom truffle pasta from il vecchio is the best thing on the menu
READ NEXT: Tips for Traveling with a Picky Eater
check 0ut this massive breakfast burrito from tidal coffee! SO delious!
Tidal Coffee: Tidal Coffee offers a cozy, communal space to get together over iced lattes, cappuccinos, and small bites. This popular spot serves artisanal crafted fare and thoughtfully sourced brews all while enjoying views of the majestic Monterey Bay. Take a moment to kick back, relax and indulge in one of their delicious fresh pastries paired with a warm cup of coffee. (The cappuccinos are delicious) Each dish and drink salutes the history and character of Cannery Row. For breakfast, don’t miss their massive and delicious breakfast burritos!
Compagnos Market: Compagnos is a true hidden gem inside of Monterey. It’s tucked away inside of a neighborhood and they are so low-key, they don’t even have a website. While you’re in Monterey, you can not miss a stop here. We stopped in and ordered 2 of their signature sandwiches and were blown away at how huge they are! Each sandwich could feed 2-3 people. Compagnos is a long-time friend of the military and their quirky shop is full of regalia. Don’t forget to add a piece of their massive cakes to your order! These sandwiches are life-changing, so take the time to make your way to Compagnos! This is the perfect place to grab food to take on a hike or a family beach trip!
Casa Sorrento Pizzeria: While you’re exploring the historic downtown Salinas, make lunch plans at Casa Sorrento Pizzeria. This locally-owned shop offers delicious pizza and so many other options, such as their gorgeous antipasta platter. The large cheese pizza fed 2 adults and 3 kids with some to spare, so be sure to go hungry!
the pizza from casa sorrento is absolutely huge and delicious
Earthbound Farms offers the perfect organic choices for a to-go lunch
Earthbound Farm Stand: There is nothing better than eating food fresh from the farm. Nestled in California’s Carmel Valley, just down the road from Earthbound Farm’s original 2½-acre farm, is the Earthbound Farm Stand. A cherished destination for organic food and gardens by locals and out-of-town visitors alike, the Farm Stand is a living celebration of Earthbound Farm’s mission to bring the benefits of organic to as many people as possible, in a most delicious and inspiring way. Don’t miss their Curry Cauliflower or the Organic Chicken Salad. Oh and their iced coffee is absolutely delicious!
Earthbound Farm Stand is one of the most fun things to do in Monterey with kids even if you don’t eat here! We have spent several days here at the farm. The staff took us in the back to show us how they prep and plant their farm, they have an awesome playground, and the whole farm is gorgeous! It’s a must do in Monterey!
The Perfect Itinerary for a Field Trip to Monterey
There are so many fun things to do in Monterey, but Monterey county is large and offers so many outdoor activities that I put it into an organized itinerary to make your time easier. Whether you’re visiting for a week or looking for what to do in Monterey this weekend, I have you covered. Every #montereyfieldtrip will be filled with relaxation, education and memories to last a lifetime. Below you will find the perfect itinerary for families in Monterey!
Day 1
Morning
Go Tide Pooling: Encompassing 6,094 square statute miles, Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary (MBNMS) is one of the richest, most diverse marine environments in the world; including lush kelp forests and one of the deepest underwater canyons in North America. But something extra special is the tide pools all along the coast. Start your morning watching the sunrise over the bay and be one of the first on the beach to find starfish, anemones, and hermit crabs. Bring some water shoes with good grips for climbing out over the rocks. My favorite place to tide pool is at Asilomar State Beach. Tide pooling is one of our favorite things to do in Monterey with kids! They absolutely love finding these natural treasures!
We’ve found starfish, anemonie and so many hermit crabs on our tidepooling missions
There are so many amazing spots to tidepool along the shores of the monterey bay and asilomar state park
Afternoon:
Monterey Bay Aquarium: The Monterey Bay Aquarium is one of the most iconic things to do in Monterey! Continue your seaward adventure with a visit to the aquarium! The Monterey Bay Aquarium is world renown for not only it’s diverse collection of sea creatures, but for its massive scale conservation efforts. The aquarium is home to 200 exhibits devoted to the diverse habitats of Monterey Bay. It hosts more than 80,000 animals and plants representing over 1,700 species of fishes, invertebrates, mammals, reptiles, birds, and plants found in Monterey Bay and other marine habitats worldwide. This is one of the most fun things to do in Monterey!
Currently, admission to the Monterey Bay Aquarium has special requirements. Please be sure to check their site to check requirements to see up-to-date things to do in the Monterey Bay Aquarium.
OR
The Monterey Zoo is a great place to introduce the kids to huge conservation efforts
Monterey Zoo: The Monterey Zoo is committed to conservation and education and is a perfect place to spend an afternoon with your family. The Zoo started as a rescue for animals taken from bad situations and has grown to become a place for visitors to learn about these exotic animals up close. With a passion to educate people about animals and how to preserve the places they call home, the Monterey Zoo is fun way to spend your afternoon Monterey Zoo was proudly accredited by the Zoological Assoc. of America in June of 2020.
Evening:
Be sure to make a stop at the iconic lone cypress tree located along the 17-mile drive
Scenic Drive & Sunset: There are two iconic scenic drives worth doing in Monterey.
17 -Mile Drive: The first is the famous 17-mile drive that takes riders along Pebble Beach and out to the Lone Cypress tree. This drive does cost riders a $10.50 entry fee, but offers many places to stop and watch the sunset over the coast.
Big Sur Coastal Drive: This drive is what many people think of when they think of what to do in Monterey, California! This drive follows along the rugged California Coast by taking riders along the Pacific Coast Highway, through a redwood forest, and across the iconic Bixby Creek Bridge. Stop at an overlook with a bottle of wine (or carafe of coffee) to watch the sunset over this rocky coastline. (Be sure to get gas before you get started because much of this drive is coastal with no services.)
The drive along big sur is incredible
Day 2
Morning
Get your morning started with a hike with the kids. The diverse landscape of Monterey County means you’ve got a lot of choices for the kind of hike you may want to take. Here are 5 suggestions for an easy, but scenic hike in Monterey County.
Garland Ranch Regional Park offers a great natuture trail and many miles of hiking through the carmel valley
Garapatta State Park: This coastal state park, located in Carmel just north of Big Sur, has a few easy and very rewarding hikes. We chose to do the Coastal Trail which takes you from the trailhead along the rocky coast. The trail is pretty level with options to trek closer to the water or stay up by the hill. Get here early because this is a popular spot!
Garland Ranch Regional Park: This park is located in the heart of Carmel Valley, and it is home to a variety of landscapes; from the willow covered banks of the Carmel River through the cottonwood-sycamore stands of the old floodplain. Atop the northern crest of the Santa Lucia Mountains, the trails encounter open oak savannas and spectacular vistas. We did the Buckeye Nature Trail and took a 0.1 additional Siesta Point trail to get up to an epic overlook. Bring your swimsuit if you’d like to take a dip in Garzas Creek which is along a peaceful, shaded trail that reaches a secluded side canyon of redwoods.
Point Lobos State Reserve: This park offers many easy hiking trails, all with rewarding views. Point Lobos is home to rare plant communities, endangered archeological sites, unique geological formations, and incredibly rich flora and fauna of both land and sea. We chose to do the Mound Meadow Trail over to the Shore Trail and followed that south to China Cove where we saw sea lions and had an epic view of Bird Island! (There is a $ 10-day pass fee for this park)
Pinnacles National Park: There are two sides to this park, but the West entrance is only about 90 minutes from Monterey Bay, but still in Monterey County. As a National Park, it boasts some incredible and unique hikes through chaparral, oak woodlands, and canyon bottoms. Hikers enter rare talus caves and emerge to towering rock spires teeming with life: prairie and peregrine falcons, golden eagles, and the inspiring California condor. Head to my Pinnacles National Park with Kids blog post for more information on this American gem.
Freemont Peak State Park: Located on the border of Monterey County, this unique state park is the perfect spot to hike to and watch the sunrise. Fremont Peak trail is an easy hike and is less than 2 miles round trip. On a clear morning, you can see all the way to Monterey Bay from the peak. Pack a lunch and have a picnic at the top! You can see a short video I created of this hike HERE.
Garapatta State park coastal trail
Point Lobos is home to many spectacular easy hikes
Hiking in pinnacles national park was so much fun and amazing to see this formation from millions of years ago
fremont peak offers an easy, but very rewarding hike with views reaching back to monterey bay
Afternoon
After you stretch your legs this morning, it’s time to take a break onboard one of Discovery Whale Watch’s boats. That’s right - you’re going whale watching. Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary is home to whales year-round, so no matter what season, you’ll see whales! In the summer expect to see humpback whales daily but we can also view blue whales, fin whales, gray whales (finishing migration), killer whales, and a variety of other dolphin species. In winter, it’s all about the Gray whale migration. Discovery Whale Watch offers daily whale watch trips narrated by a marine biologist or naturalist who provides educational and interesting information about whales, dolphins, and a wide variety of marine wildlife. They offer 9:00 AM and 1:30 PM trips & you can pre-register online.
Evening
It’s been a long day of adventuring, so take this evening to settle in for a slow walk along Cannery Row, dinner and a sunset on the beach.
Sunrise and sunset are unbelievable on the Monterey Bay!
Day 3
Morning
Rent a Surrey Bike to explore the Monterey Bay coastline!
Spend the morning with Adventures by the Sea. This is the premier recreational company on the Monterey Peninsula; providing visitors and locals the opportunity to discover Monterey by land and by sea! Whether you are seeking to spot otters or hit the recreational trails, our shops are truly in the best locations, so you don’t have to waste time getting there.
Rent a Surry Bike or E-Bike: Wake up to some fresh sea air as you bike along the Monterey Bay Coastal Recreation Trail on a family surry bike. Or, for the older family, rent an E-bike and adventure down the 17-mile drive trail. You can choose to ride on your own or with a guide. The trail stretches 18 miles from Lover’s Point all the way to Castroville. This is one of the best things to do in Monterey with kids! (my opinion obviously, wink)
OR
Rent Kayaks or Paddle Boards: If you’re wanting to get up close and personal with the sea life in Monterey, it’s time to rent a paddleboard or kayak. If you’re not ready to go it on your own, Adventures by the Sea also offers guided kayaking and paddleboard tours!
Afternoon/Evening:
quail lodge offers a 9-hole putting green that is maintained by the same staff maintaining their championship golf course
Book an afternoon tee-time at one of the 26 public and private courses (468 holes in all) including courses in sunny Carmel Valley, along scenic Highway 68, and, most famously, along the captivating Monterey Bay coastline. If you’re not sure which golf course is right for you, head to See Monterey and compare the courses side by side.
Day 4
All Day
The final day of your Monterey Field trip must be spent exploring the famous wine country on the River Road Wine Trail. The trail is an association of Monterey County winery tasting rooms, located primarily along the River Road / Foothill Road corridor, on the Santa Lucia Highlands bench above the Salinas Valley. The tasting rooms along the trail are charming and intimate. They specialize in limited release vintages and genuine hospitality. Often, visitors will be sampling with the actual winemaker.
On our tour, we first visited Wrath Wines. They have a great outdoor tasting room and a gorgeous property. Wrath produces site-driven Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Syrah, and Sauvignon Blanc from estate vineyards and respected properties in the Santa Lucia Highlands. The staff is so incredibly friendly and I highly suggest bringing home some of their canned chardonnay for your next beach or camping trip.
Our second stop was at Pessagno Winery. We were greeted by cheerful staff and a sweet fat farm cat. We sat outside in custom-made wine barrel chairs for our tasting while a staff member kept our kids busy feeding the turtles in their pond. This gorgeous vineyard is owned by Ray Franscioni, a third-generation Monterey County farmer who is committed to creating wines of distinct character and elegance. I highly recommend stopping in for a full tasting, especially their Central Avenue Pinot Noir or the Red Blend; we came home with a case of each!
Do not miss Monterey County’s River Road Wine Trail
Monterey is a fantastic place to bring the kids or getaway on a couples adventure. The dramatic coastlines will draw you in, but it’s the culture, diverse experiences, and rich history that will keep you coming back. From tide pools to uncrowded beaches, to locally grown wine, you will come back from your trip to Monterey feeling refreshed and reconnected. It’s time for you to give yourself a permission slip to enjoy all the best things to do in Monterey with kids!
To get prepared for your trip in an authentic way, pick up a copy of John Steinbeck’s Cannery Row or Grapes of Wrath; both of which were inspired by his time living in Monterey County.
Give yourself a permission slip to Start your next #montereyfieldtrip
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