Monterey
In May, 1770, when Spanish explorers reached Monterey, "thousands of sea lions were about, so close to one another that they looked like a pavement." Today Monterey Bay is a marine sanctuary, traveling with kids you'll see tons of barking sea lions, harbor seals lolling on the rocks, adorable sea otters swimming through the kelp beds though deep blue waters of the bay.
Read our blog post about a lovely Christmas tradition and living history event in December: Monterey Christmas in the Adobes.
Fun food
In June every year is the Artichoke Festival – family fun activities, amusement park rides, artichoke sculptures, live music and shows (dancing artichoke), try artichokes cupcakes, ravioli, and ice cream.
Summer is time for u-pick berries at Gizdich Ranch in Watsonville, just north of Monterey. There's nothing like fresh-picked strawberries, blackberries, boysenberries!
Here's our own Travel for Kids hand-picked list of family hotels and house rentals, all styles and price ranges, convenient to fun things to do with kids in Monterey:
Family vacation rentals in Pacific Grove, all styles and price range, walking distance to the beach, close to cafes, bakeries, markets.
