Things to Do in Monterey, California with Kids

Looking for things to do in Monterey with kids? Look no further! Here are the top things that we have done with our family while there.

Monterey is a small fishing town along the Pacific Coast Highway in California. It is about 100 miles south from San Francisco by the Monterey Bay.

Due to its beautiful coastline, Monterey has always been attracting visitors and especially artists, but after the Monterey Bay Aquarium was opened it became a true tourist town.

Until the 1950’s Monterey was thriving from fishing but due to overfishing at the bay, the fishing industry collapsed. And ever since, the tourism has taken on a more important role.

Monterey has a population of about 30,000. Some of the most known people from Monterey are Clint Eastwood, Frank Zappa and Paul Anka. Last years hit series Big Little Lies was filmed in this area.

We have been to Monterey numerous times. It is just beautiful there, and I don’t think we can ever get bored of its scenery. There is so much to do around town for both adults and kids.

If you only have a day to spend there, I would recommend visiting the aquarium, having lunch and then driving 17 Mile Drive.

But if you really want to get the feel of coastal life, I recommend staying the night and checking out the list I put together of things you can do in Monterey.

THINGS TO DO IN MONTEREY WITH KIDS

Visit Monterey Bay Aquarium

Monterey Bay Aquarium is definitely that one thing that everyone should experience while visiting Monterey. The aquarium was opened in 1984 and it brings about two million visitors to the area every year. It is said to be the best aquarium in the state of California.

We have been to the Monterey Bay Aquarium several times and have enjoyed every single visit there. It is so much fun.

They have several areas for kids to play, but they also haven’t forgotten kids in the actual exhibition areas. There are many kid-size fish tanks, flaps to open, buttons to push and interactive things to do. Our kids’ favorites are the touch pools where they usually have sea weed, sea stars, crabs and string rays.

Not only is it fun for kids, but seeing all the sea creatures is also exciting for adults. In my opinion the most intriguing is the deep sea section. It has some beautiful jellyfish that glow in the dark and many other deep-sea animals that we had never seen before.

Read more about our visit to Monterey Bay Aquarium.

Stroll around Cannery Row

A walk on Monterey’s most known street, Cannery Row is always fun. They have many good restaurants, cafes, candy shops and street artists.

Cannery Row gets its name from the old sardine canning factories that used to be there. The buildings have now been renovated and most of them have restaurants and shops. Even the aquarium was built on the site of an old cannery.

Cannery Row is a waterfront street from which you can access a small beach as well. If you are lucky, you might see some of the California sea lions that live there, and even some sea otters.

Have a lunch in a sea food restaurant

If you love seafood like my family does, this is the place to be! There are so many great seafood restaurants in Monterey, along the coastline and at Cannery Row.

If you are not from California, you should at least try the local clam chowder which is served in a sour dough bread bowl. And don’t be afraid to try new things because everything here comes fresh from the local fishermen.

Restaurants–especially at Cannery Row–fill up quickly at lunch and dinner time. On the weekends it can be challenging to find a table. If you can be there a little bit early, it will definitely help.

On our last visit we went for lunch right when it started at 11 am. and there was no one in the restaurant when we came in. When we were done, it was already full.

We also found a great place that we really liked from outside of the downtown area, called Monterey’s Fish House. In 2019 it got a special mention in a Michelin Guide and it has become quite popular. I highly recommend this family restaurant if you like good food.

Experience 17 Mile Drive

We have taken almost all of our guests through 17 Mile Drive because it just shows perfectly how beautiful California is. It is for sure one of the most scenic drives on the coast.

It starts from Pacific Grove and goes through Spanish Bay, Pebble Beach and Carmel-by-the-Sea. You will be able to see beautiful mansions, some of the world’s top golf courses and amazing sea cliffs.

There are many places to stop along the road, but definitely at least stop by the Lone Cypress which has become the symbol of the route. It really reminded us of the Siwash Rock that also had a tree on top. It is located in Vancouver, Canada.

The road goes through a gated community and there is a small fee they collect at the gate. You can find a map and more information from the Pebble Beach website.

Enjoy the Beach

There are several beaches that you can go to while you are in Monterey. Although the water is usually cold and the currents can be dangerous, there is still plenty to do if you choose to go.

We usually go for a walk along the waterline and see what the ocean has washed up on shore. Then we play with some sand toys or climb on cliffs.

We have always seen many seabirds and sometimes even dolphins. Just being out there in the fresh air is so much fun for the kids. Many of the beaches also have great trails and tide pools.

Go Whale Watching

Monterey is the most popular whale watching area in California. There are several companies that take people out to the Pacific Ocean who are experienced in finding the whales.

Depending on the month, you can spot grey whales, orcas, humpbacks or blue whales. You might also be able see other sea animals on these trips such as dolphins and sea birds.

These trips are family friendly and usually last about three hours. The best time to go to the ocean is in the morning when the waters are typically calmer, but they also do tours in the afternoon.

We have done whale watching also in Hawaii and Iceland but Monterey was the best of them.

Visit a Lighthouse

Point Pinos Lighthouse is easily accessible and very close to downtown Monterey. The area is called Pacific Grove.

While we visited the light house it had just been under restoration and they didn’t let anyone into the building. But they plan to open it up for visitors again in the near future.

If you decide to do 17 Mile Drive you might as well also visit the lighthouse since it is very close to where it starts.

We love visiting old lighthouses and there are quite many along the Pacific Coast Highway in California. One of the best ones to visit are Point Arena Lighthouse, Point Cabrillo Light Station and Point Bonita Lighthouse in San Francisco.

Also the Point Reyes Lighthouse at the Point Reyes National Seashore is absolutely beautiful!

Where to Stay at Monterey

There are many places to choose from when looking for a hotel in Monterey. However, they often sell out early especially for the weekends.

Monterey is known for its adorable Inns and most of them are in a walking distance from the Cannery Row. If they are in your budget then I definitely recommend them. For example Victorian Inn and The Jabberwock Bed & Breakfast are great!

There are also some nice hotels that offer ocean views such as Monterey Bay Inn and Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa which even has a private beach.

Last time we booked our stay at last minute and ended up staying in Holiday Inn Express at Monterey Bay because everything in downtown Monterey was taken. Even though we got a great price for it and we were close to a beach, we struggled finding parking when we wanted to go to downtown.

🐚🐚🐚

Monterey is a great place to visit from San Francisco or to stop while driving along Pacific Coast Highway. And when you are done with Monterey, you can move to Carmel-by-the-Sea which is the next town south, and absolutely adorable!

So far I haven’t heard from anyone who didn’t like these areas. Have you been to Monterey? What is your favourite thing to do there?