MONTEREY BAY REGION

From the waves crashing into Big Sur’s towering cliffs to Morgan Hill on the edge of Silicon Valley, the Monterey Bay Region offers an endless assortment of California experiences. The northernmost region on “The Original Road Trip” encompasses fog-cloaked redwood forests but also historic inland towns such as Hollister near Mission San Juan Bautista and Gilroy—home to a world-famous garlic festival. Newly designated Fort Ord National Monument is a haven of shifting sand dunes, while the volcanic formations at Pinnacles National Monument east of Salinas Valley form a sanctuary for rare California condors. Even the communities along Monterey Bay all have their own distinct identities. Arty Carmel has held onto its village atmosphere while Monterey preserves remnants of the colorful waterfront life that John Steinbeck vividly portrayed in Cannery Row. Along Cannery Row, world-renowned Monterey Bay Aquarium celebrates the incomparable marine life of its namesake bay. Farther north, Santa Cruz is famous for its progressive ways, a vintage seaside amusement park, and as California’s birthplace of surfing.

• Things to do in the Monterey Bay Region
• Wine & Food in the Monterey Bay Region
• Places to stay in the Monterey Bay Region
• Deals in the Monterey Bay Region

VISITOR SERVICES FOR THE MONTEREY BAY REGION

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