Monterey California trip
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Forum Name: Out of Bounds (Off-Topic)
Forum Description: Posts that are not about fish, aquariums, corals, WMAS, etc.
URL: http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=75939
Printed Date: May 17 2025 at 5:44am
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Topic: Monterey California trip
Posted By: bstuver
Subject: Monterey California trip
Date Posted: May 04 2015 at 5:25pm
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Hey guys we are going to take a trip for our anniversary in September to Monterey to go see the coast and go to the Monterey Bay Aquarium. I am wondering if anyone has stayed in Monterey and can recommend a hotel. I'm tired of reading reviews and am just getting frustrated:) ------------- Jackie Stuver "wait these aren't the happy Hawaiians oompa doompa godly heaven on your face zoas? I dont want them then. lol!" Ksmart |
Replies:
Posted By: jbuck13
Date Posted: May 04 2015 at 9:56pm
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I slept at The Ghirardelli chocalote factory it was amazing, nom, nom,nom oh wait sorry that was just a dream. Seriously though any of the Inns in town are fine, you'll spend most of your time at the Aquarium.
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Posted By: Hogie
Date Posted: May 04 2015 at 11:32pm
| When I went, we stayed in sanfrancisco and drove down. Not too long of a drive and it's super pretty. |
Posted By: bstuver
Date Posted: May 05 2015 at 1:07am
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We are flying into San Francisco as I have always wanted to go there then we are driving to Monterey to stay for the majority of our stay. We will spend the day we fly in or the day we fly out in San Francisco exploring the city but I really want to stay in Monterey. Josh were most of the places pretty decent looking? I'm a huge chicken so I don't want to end up staying somewhere that I'm going to worry about my safety  ------------- Jackie Stuver "wait these aren't the happy Hawaiians oompa doompa godly heaven on your face zoas? I dont want them then. lol!" Ksmart |
Posted By: akv123
Date Posted: May 05 2015 at 2:04am
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Merritt House Inn. One of the the better places I have ever paid to stayed at. Its not too expensive, but not cheap either. I think we paid 127$ a night. Its historic but not rundown, its in town and by a lot of stuff but not where all the tourists are. I would stay there again in a heartbeat and my girlfriend loved it so much that she wasn't happy when we had to leave. http://www.merritthouseinn.com/ So, don't know if you have ever been to Monterrey bay before, but here are a few things. The fisherman's wharf is lame, mostly crumby rundown restaurants and pushy maitre des trying to get you to eat there. Definit tourist trap. Best places to eat are back by the Merritt, in town. The aquarium is ....ok..... I had overblown expectations. It was nice, fun, and cool, but it was march too, and kinda cold so the outdoor stuff wasn't happening. I guess what I'm saying is, you will probably love it, just don't make the whole trip about the aquarium, its not that great. Do go out on the balcony behind the aquarium and watch the sea otters in the ocean tho. that was neat. Canery Row was nice, a bunch of places to eat too, but probably tourist traps as well. Go whale watching, Duh! We had a humpback come right up to the boat and just hang out under us for about 15 minutes. it was AMAZING! Go on the walking tour of Monterrey bay old town if you will be there more than one night. Go to the harbor and see the seals and stuff. I do have to say that the beaches there are not what I was expecting. I didnt try them all tho, but you will probably have to go to santa cruze if you want that. Pebble Beach golf course is there too, if you are in to that. Best advice I have... #1 Stay at the Merritt inn. Your significant other will thank you. #2, go exploring, best decision we made on the whole trip was to head south from san fran with no plans and no reservations. The PCH is amazing! don't just stay in one town. Hopefully you have 5 days or so, but whatever time you have, just take off and go exploring!
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Posted By: sleepingdeep
Date Posted: May 05 2015 at 8:20am
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^^ Fishermans wharf was super lame.. so i'd skip it unless you enjoy the tourist trap, like akv124 mentioned I personally loved the aquarium and could have spent much more time there than i was allowed. I would love to go back as well. I guess you'll have to judge for yourself what you think about the aquarium. I would also recommend driving down to carmel/big sur and take the PCH1 all the way down. it was a ton of fun and a beautiful drive.
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Posted By: Hogie
Date Posted: May 05 2015 at 10:13am
| I too liked the aquarium! |
Posted By: jbuck13
Date Posted: May 05 2015 at 5:20pm
| Jackie my wife and I enjoyed backpacking Big Sur, probably not any good after the big fire a few years back, If you have never seen Giant Sequoia, redwoods. I would head North First hit Muir woods stay in Larkspur its on the North side of the Golden Gate Bridge. There is so much to see in San Fran, but Carmel is Beautiful the Pch is A blast stop and check out Tidepools all along, we've seen all kinds of fun stuff. Really sky is the Limit. |
Posted By: Hogie
Date Posted: May 05 2015 at 6:13pm
| Muir Woods is awesome, but don't go on the weekend!!!!!! |
Posted By: bstuver
Date Posted: May 05 2015 at 6:24pm
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We are actually flying in on a Monday and leaving Thursday so we are avoiding the weekend ------------- Jackie Stuver "wait these aren't the happy Hawaiians oompa doompa godly heaven on your face zoas? I dont want them then. lol!" Ksmart |
Posted By: PharmaSki
Date Posted: May 05 2015 at 9:14pm
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Last time my wife and I were there we stayed at the Inn By the Bay. http://innbythebaymonterey.com/ It is definitely not the most elegant hotel but if you are looking for cheap then this is a great place. I never felt like safety was an issue at all. Also, if you like seafood then don't miss Monterey's Fish House. The food is fantastic and a fraction of the price compared to other restaurants in the area. It can be a busy place though so call ahead before you go. |
Posted By: bstuver
Date Posted: May 06 2015 at 4:12pm
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We aren't going until September but I booked it all last night and I am so excited lol!! ------------- Jackie Stuver "wait these aren't the happy Hawaiians oompa doompa godly heaven on your face zoas? I dont want them then. lol!" Ksmart |
Posted By: Mark Peterson
Date Posted: May 07 2015 at 7:20am
Cool.  I had the opportunity to spend some free time at the Monterey Bay Aquarium many years ago while on a business trip. I was so engrossed in the displays and everything that when I realized I probably should exit and get on with my work, it had been three hours. Yet if you had asked me before I looked at my watch, I would have told you that it seemed like I had been there just one hour. I agree with spending time on the PCH (Pacific Coast Highway 1) and stopping to look at tidepools, viewing sunsets over the ocean from the cliffs of Monterey and eating at small local eclectic restaurants along the way. Take a day to explore southwest of Monterey. Drive up to La Honda Road along the ridge, the beautiful hills among the massive Sequoia trees and have http://www.alicesrestaurant.com/" rel="nofollow - lunch at Alices Restaurant . Donna and I loved their Roasted Red Pepper Soup.  Aloha, Mark  ------------- Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks: www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member 
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