Monterey County

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Top 10 attractions in Monterey County

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CA-1
2026 Americas 50 - Night Attractions

CA-1

6.7
4.8/5
499 reviews
CA-1 is a highly iconic coastal self-drive route on the West Coast of the United States, stretching over 1,000 km along the Pacific coastline and connecting coastal towns from the San Francisco Bay Area, Monterey, Big Sur, San Simeon, and Morro Bay all the way to Los Angeles. Its highlight is concentrated in the Big Sur section between Monterey, Carmel-by-the-Sea, and San Simeon: the road winds along steep cliffs, with the surging Pacific Ocean on one side and mountains and redwood forests on the other. There are many scenic parking areas along the way where you can pull over at any time to enjoy the sea breeze and watch the waves crash against the cliffs. There are several highly recognizable scenes along this section: the Bixby Bridge, which spans the canyon, is an elegantly designed concrete arch bridge, and there are almost always vehicles parked at the bridgehead for photos; McWay Falls in Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park drops directly from the cliff top onto the beach in the cove, making it a rare beach waterfall in California; the sand at Pfeiffer Beach has a faint purple hue due to the weathering of manganese garnet in the cliffs; further south in the San Simeon area, groups of northern elephant seals can be seen sunbathing on the beach year-round, and you can also visit Hearst Castle on the mountain nearby. The Old Fisherman's Wharf in Monterey at the northern end and the town of Carmel-By-The-Sea also have their own unique charm.Monterey County · 61.3km from downtown
17 Mile Dr
No. 11 of Fall Viewing Attractions in California

17 Mile Dr

5.8
4.4/5
291 reviews
17 Mile Dr is a coastal scenic road that runs through the private coastal community of Pebble Beach, named for its total length of approx. 17 miles. On one side of the road are the rolling pine forests and Monterey cypress of the Del Monte Forest, and on the other is the rocky coastline of the Pacific Ocean, with over 10 viewpoints along the way. The iconic view of this scenic route is The Lone Cypress, a Monterey cypress that has grown alone on a granite rock for approx. two and a half centuries. It has long been considered the symbol of Pebble Beach and is a highly popular photo spot along the entire route. Bird Rock is home to flocks of seabirds, sea lions, and harbor seals all year round. The rocks are stained white by years of bird droppings, making it a lively place. In the Seal Rock area, you can often see seals lazily basking in the sun. Spanish Bay features an open beach, a rarity along the route, where visitors stack smooth pebbles into small towers. At sunset, a bagpiper plays by the sea, a tradition that has continued for decades. China Rock holds the history of Chinese fishermen who sought shelter and settled there, while Ghost Tree has become a unique photography subject with its twisted, bleached trunk. There are many attractions along the way. The scenic route also passes through several championship-level golf courses, including the prestigious Pebble Beach Golf Links.Del Monte Forest · 1.9km from downtown
Monterey Bay Aquarium
No. 15 of Family-friendly Attractions in California

Monterey Bay Aquarium

5.5
4.5/5
203 reviews
Monterey Bay Aquarium is built on the site of a former sardine cannery on the shores of Monterey Bay and has focused on the marine ecology of this bay since it opened. What makes it special is that the water for the exhibit tanks is pumped directly from the bay, bringing many fish, shellfish, and seaweed into the aquarium along with the seawater. The creatures in the exhibits live in the actual seawater of the bay, so what you see is not just a generic collection of marine animals, but the ecological landscape of the bay itself outside the window. Several permanent exhibits in the aquarium each have their signature highlights: in the three-story Kelp Forest, giant kelp grows at a rate visible to the naked eye, and schools of fish weave through the swaying kelp; the Open Sea exhibit holds over a million gallons of water, where green sea turtles, hammerhead sharks, schools of Pacific sardines, and round, stout ocean sunfish cruise through the large blue tank;Monterey BayHabitats exhibit recreates different environments such as sandy sea floors, shale reefs, and wharf pilings, where sevengill sharks, rays, and giant sea bass appear, while the nearby touch pools, surge channels, and walk-through aviary are especially suitable for family-friendly experiences. The Sea Otter exhibit is home to southern sea otters that were rescued and could not be released back into the wild; they also take on the task of caring for stranded pups, and the feeding and training demonstration sessions are very popular, with viewing windows on the first floor where you can see them rolling flexibly underwater. The deep-sea exhibit relies on the adjacent Monterey Canyon to bring rarely seen deep-sea creatures into the aquarium, with giant isopods, Japanese spider crabs, and iridescent comb jellies as residents; jellyfish husbandry is also a traditional strength of this aquarium. The seaside deck faces the bay, offering opportunities to encounter wild sea otters and seals.Monterey · 812m from downtown

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Experiences you can't miss in Monterey County

Featured Day tours in Monterey County

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BEST of Monterey Peninsula & Carmel-by-the-Sea Small Group Tour
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FromCAD 164.86
Monterey Peninsula 17-Mile Drive Day Tour | 12-Person Small Group & Carmel
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FromCAD 212.15
From San Francisco: Classic Highway 1 Tour | Stanford, Carmel & Big Sur
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5.0/5
· 1 review
Duration: 11.1 hrs
English
Free cancellation
FromCAD 210.04
Highway 1, Bixby Bridge, Stanford & Apple Park Day Tour from San Francisco
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FromCAD 214.53
1-day tour of CA-1, Pigeon Point Lighthouse and Roaring Camp in San Francisco
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FromCAD 189.04
CA-1 | 17-mile drive coastal highlights check in 1-day tour
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Duration: 12 hrs
English
Free cancellation
FromCAD 246.80

Featured Outdoor & sports in Monterey County

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1-day tour of CA-1, 17 Mile Dr and Carmel Beach in San Francisco
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FromCAD 189.04
1-day tour to Monterey Peninsula in small group
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FromCAD 200.71
Monterey: Catamaran Sailing Cruise
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5.0/5
· 2 reviews
Duration: 75 mins
Free cancellation
Book now for tomorrow
5% off
Limited-time sale
FromCAD 86.30CAD 90.85
Whale Watching Tour Monterey California
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Duration: 3 hrs
Free cancellation
Book now for tomorrow
FromCAD 86.62
Monterey: 17-Mile Drive Guided E-Bike Tour
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5.0/5
· 9 reviews
Duration: 3 hrs
Free cancellation
Book now for tomorrow
5% off
Limited-time sale
FromCAD 104.90CAD 110.43

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Monterey County Today's weatherMostly cloudy 10-22℃
Monterey County weather for the next 2 days11/4: 8-20℃, 11/5: 7-22℃

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What travellers say about Monterey County

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YoYo_1I8Q7O5O1 May 2026
5.0
Driving along California's Highway 1, my hands were aching from gripping the wheel for so long. The coastal section was winding and twisting, with waves crashing white against the cliffs below. I stopped by the roadside to watch the seals; those lazy guys just rolled on their backs, not moving an inch. The Big Sur Bridge was quite photogenic, but I was too busy watching the road to cross it. We kept stopping and starting, turning into every viewpoint we saw to enjoy the breeze. Just as the gas tank was almost empty, we arrived in town; a burger and a Coke were the perfect comfort food.

CA-1

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Apple17 July 2025
5.0
The 17-mile toll road is highly recommended. It costs about $12 and includes Bird Rock, a stunning private residence, a golf course, and a sapphire blue coastline. Every time you visit a photo spot, you will be amazed.

17 Mile Dr

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_TI***vd9 March 2024
5.0
First purchase on here and the ticket sounded almost too good to be true. Took my chance on them, and they worked without issue. Got scanned into the aquarium and had a blast with the kiddo. Took a family of 5 for the price of 2 people. Very good deal. Will buy from again.

Monterey Bay Aquarium

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DEAR张小球23 April 2020
5.0
This is a famous scenic spot located 17 kilometers from Highway 1. There are many places to play around. The beach is very beautiful. Many people play in the water and sunbathe here. Although the sun is a little strong, the scenery is very good.

Pebble Beach

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sculptor2 May 2022
4.0
大瑟尔是美国西海岸加利福尼亚中央海岸崎岖多山的地区,位于卡梅尔和圣西蒙之间,圣卢西亚山脉从太平洋陡然升起,这里是美国西海岸风景最漂亮的海岸线。

Big Sur

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zhulei83123029 June 2020
3.0
This place makes people feel relaxed and happy, mainly because there are relatively few people, and the entire pier is filled with all kinds of small boats, which makes people feel comfortable and relaxed. If you are interested, you can charter a boat to go out to sea.

Old Fisherman's Wharf

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Hello! Happy Time2 January 2023
5.0
Beautiful beach, peaceful town and cute houses. Suitable for relaxation. Beautiful nature.

Monterey Bay

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亮亮7 February 2020
4.0
There is a huge visual difference between the excitement of chasing whales in the sea and the sea lions living comfortably on the shore. Their laziness makes you feel as if time is about to stop and does not make you feel excited.

Discovery Whale Watch

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coo***an7 December 2019
5.0
Beautiful spot to sit and look at the ocean. Maybe we missed another exit, but the stairs had been closed off for renovations to put in the air conditioner. We looked at a few boards to climb over and then access the stairs, but with small children this was not an option. There were people right on the beach, so they got there somehow. Still, worth the stop for the view.

McWay Falls

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Frequently asked questions

What are the must-do things in Monterey County?

Don't miss these attractions in Monterey County: CA-1, 17 Mile Dr, and Monterey Bay Aquarium. If you like Day tours, try BEST of Monterey Peninsula & Carmel-by-the-Sea Small Group Tour. If you enjoy Outdoor & sports, try 1-day tour of CA-1, 17 Mile Dr and Carmel Beach in San Francisco.

When choosing a tour, start with how much time you have and the kind of experience you're looking for. Trending options right now include BEST of Monterey Peninsula & Carmel-by-the-Sea Small Group Tour, Monterey Peninsula 17-Mile Drive Day Tour | 12-Person Small Group & Carmel, and 1-day tour of the 17-Mile Drive scenic route on the Monterey Peninsula from San Francisco [Lone Cypress/Pebble Beach]. Check the real-time availability and itinerary before you book.

As of 3 November 2026, the reference price for day tours and activities in Monterey County is around CAD 164.86 – CAD 246.8. Rates vary by duration, group size, transport, tickets, meals, and any special admission requirements. Before you book, please confirm the billing currency and whether the price is quoted per person or per group.

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