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Boat cruise on Monterey Bay – Take a 45 min. cruise around the bay to see marine life
in the "wild." At you pass out of the marina, kids will see scads
of sea lions lolling on the rocks, flippers poking in the air for warmth.
The highlight of the cruise is the kelp beds, where you're sure to see
a sea otter gently sleeping with a circle of kelp tucked around him, or
a mom with a baby curled on her tummy. Pick up the boat at Baywatch Cruises
on Old Fisherman's Wharf. |
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Whale watching cruise – For a longer boat
trip (3 hours), go on a whale watching cruise. December – April
you'll look for the migrating gray whales. May – November, humpback
and blue whales hang out in outer Monterey Bay. Also look for dolphins,
porpoises, sea lions, sea otters, and the occasional killer whale. Whale
watching cruises are available at Old Fisherman's Wharf. |
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Monterey State Historic Park – In the Monterey State
Historic Park, soak up a little of the atmosphere of "Alta California"
and the days of sailing ships. |
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 Maritime
Museum of Monterey –When you walk into this museum, you
can almost feel the wind in the sails of a ship heading to China. Your first
stop – a giant rotating lens from the Point Sur Lighthouse.
Exhibits have model ships galore – sloops of war, battleships,
clipper ships, Spanish caravels, frigates and fishing boats, plus ancient
maps and globes, navigation instruments. Don't miss the whimsical scrimshaw,
whale teeth carved by sailors on their long whaling voyages, or ships in
a bottle. |
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Custom
House – Poke your nose into the Custom House, and imagine
the bustle along the wharf in the early 19th century. Built in 1827, the
United States flag was first flown over the Custom House on July 7, 1846,
claiming the western territories for the U.S. Inside the custom house, you'll
find a huge green parrot in a cage, and typical goods transported by the
sailing ships. |
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Lake El Estero and Dennis The Menace Park – Expend some excess energy zipping around the lake on pedal
boats, or just run around looking at the ducks and other water fowl.
Dennis The Menace Park is a fantastic children's playground, with
lots of play structures, a rope bridge, a hedge maze, old steam locomotive
to climb on, sand and grassy areas – toddlers won't want to
leave. |
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Beaches – Spend an afternoon playing on the beach. The flat sand beach
at Monterey Bay Park goes on and on (you can pick up sand toys at
the shops on Old Fisherman's Wharf). Careful about wading and pay attention
to the signs posted at the beaches. |
