• Monterey Bay Aquarium, 886 Cannery Row, ph: 831-648-4888 (24 hour information), 831 648-4800 (switchboard) or 800-555-3656 (Spanish), [4]. This large aquarium specializes in exhibiting local sea life. The best exhibits include a large tank of silver anchovies that swim around and around your head and three sea otters raised in the aquarium and now too tame to live in the wild. Best of all, perhaps, are the tanks of large jellyfish lit up so that they fluoresce. Admission is $20 adults, $18 seniors, $16 students, $9 children and disabled. Open 9:30AM-6PM May 29-Sept 6 and all holidays, 10AM- 6PM at other times.

• Monterey County Fairgrounds, located at Fairgrounds Road, the fairgrounds hosts the annual Monterey Jazz Festival and hosted a one-time Monterey Pop Festival (in 1967). Other music festivals occur throughout the year, and the locally famous Monterey County Fair occurs every year in late August.

• The Carmel Mission, 3080 Rio Road, Carmel, [5]. One of the 21 Missions located along the California coast. Father Serra, the leader behind the greater Spanish mission to California, is buried along with his most faithful lieutenant at the front of the church. Self-guided tours take you through the remaining original buildings which now hold exhibits, a small museum, and a gift shop. Catholic Masses occur regularly.

• Dennis the Menace Park A giant kids park that includes a full sized train, numerous bridges, ducks and geese you can feed and paddle boat rentals. One of the better free municipal parks in Northern California. It is located within a 10 minute walk south of Fisherman's wharf.

• Watch the Sea Lions at Fisherman's Wharf Contrary to popular opinion the best place to watch the sea lions is not at the famous Fisherman's Wharf (with all the tourists) but instead on the more industrial wharf that is a short walk to the east of Fisherman's Wharf. This wharf has a small fishing warehouse that is still in operation and as such there are numerous sea lions that have made this wharf their home. Walk out all the way to the end of the wharf past all of the fishermen, look down below the wharf and you will see them.

• Play on the dunes and the shore at one of the city's five public beaches. Enjoy a romantic or family style Monterey bonfire on the beach.
• Walk or bike along part of the 29 mile-long (47 kilometer-long) Monterey Bay Coastal Trail. Bikes available for rent at several places along the path. Multi-passenger surrey bikes are particularly popular and available for rent [6].
• Explore the unique estuary environment of Elkhorn Slough [7], either on foot or by kayak. (Very nice trip, but not in Monterey, approximately 30 miles north on hwy 1 by car)
• Monterey Bay Kayaks, 693 Del Monte Avenue, [8] offers kayaking equipment rentals as well as guided kayaking tours, classes, and fishing trips.
• Catch a performance at the historic Wharf Theater [9]. Shows often include local interpretations of hit musicals.
• The recently refurbished Golden State Theatre [10] offers diverse, family-friendly shows centering around the themes of classic cinema and musical theater. It's worth a trip just to see the ornate interior of the theater.
• View the latest independent films at the Osio 6 Cinema [11]. The attached cafe makes a perfect stop before or after the show. The theater also offers occasional late-night screenings of classic films.
• Several companies [12] offer year-round whale watching boat tours, departing daily from Fisherman's Wharf. The area is particularly famous for sightings of gray whales as they travel to warmer waters during the winter and early spring.
• Guide yourself through Monterey's historical heritage by following the Path of History. Follow the yellow plaques in the sidewalk to take in some of the town's most intriguing buildings. Informational signs are posted at each stop. Maps can be found at the California State Parks office near Customs House Plaza. Guided tours are also available.
• Visit local museums. The Pacific House Museum offers detailed displays on local history and Native American life. The Maritime Museum showcases exhibits that revolve around Monterey's seaside location. The Monterey Museum of Art [13] houses a permanenet collection as well as rotating exhibits.
• Scuba Diving, see some of the west coasts most spectacular kelp forests.
• Get a panoramic view of the Monterey Bay (and Carmel to the south) from Jack's Peak County Park, the highest point on the Monterey Peninsula and amazingly free of crowds.
• Watch the hang gliders and paragliders at Marina beach (in the town of Marina about 10 miles north of Monterey)
• Laguna Seca Raceway, 1021 Monterey-Salinas Highway [14], in Salinas. Famous indy car and motorcycle race track.
• Golf

The area is notable for other seafood delicacies, including calamari and Dungeness crab.

The Italian restaurant at the very end of the wharf is priced reasonably and affords a great view of the Sea lions playing in the harbor.

• The Fishwife's Turtle Bay Taqueria, 431 Tyler Street, [19]. Creative Mexican dishes with Caribbean flair and a wide selection of salsas, served in a relaxed and colorful (literally) atmosphere. Claim your table with a number flag - stuck into the back of a rubber turtle.

• Epsilon, 422 Tyler Street, [20]. A truly charming restaurant - cozy, well-lit, hand-decorated, with superb Greek food and a passionate staff. The spanakopita with a Greek salad can make a meal on its own.

• Rosine's, 434 Alvarado Street, [21]. A downtown, family-friendly classic serving up wonderful portions of comfort food. Famous for its spectacular cakes - make sure you have someone to share with!

• India's Clay Oven, 150 Del Monte Avenue. The best Indian food in the area. Try the "naan burrito" - a perfect blend of Indian tradition and Monterey historical heritage!

• Morgan's Coffee & Tea, 498 Washington Street. The perfect place to spend a late evening soaking up some local bohemian atmosphere - keep an eye out for hacky-sacks, and the occasional poetry slam.

• Stokes Adobe, 500 Hartnell Street, (831) 373-1110, [22] offers the finest in California cuisine in, appropriately, a gorgeously restored adobe landmark.

• Tarpy's Roadhouse, 2999 Monterey-Salinas Highway, [23]. For a taste of Monterey history head to this historic former homestead, housed in a beautiful stone building nestled into a hillside. Classy atmosphere with classic California cuisine - accompany your meal with one of the many local wines on offer.

• Tabouli's Deli & Mid-Eastern, 309 Lighthouse Avenue. If you are looking for a relatively cheap (particularly for Monterey prices), but great meal, Tabouli's is a great place. Tabouli's has great food and great company. The owner and cook is friendly but not overbearing. Because he's the only one running the place usually, it's not place to go if you are in a hurry.