The former pride of Spanish-Mexican California is also known for its marine life
A picturesque seaside village that is the one of the first signs of civilization after you've driven through Big Sur, Monterey has a lot more to offer than just the tourist traps of Fisherman's Wharf and Cannery Row. The Cooper-Molera Adobe, Royal Presidio Chapel, and the Custom House are only a few of the historic buildings that hint at Monterey's Hispanic legacy. But Monterey is a town that lives and breathes by the water. Once known for whaling, Monterey became the sardine capital of the Western hemisphere in the early 1900's, until overfishing weakened the industry. Nobel Prize-winning author John Steinbeck even chronicled the era in his book, "Cannery Row." Though Monterey is more dependent on tourism today than it is on fishing, wander along the bay and you're likely to find flocks of otters and sea lions. And of course, a visit to the world-famous Monterey Bay Aquarium will satisfy anyone's craving for marine life.
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