General Visitor Information The best one-stop online review of the area’s attractions with extensive links is found here
Camping and Hiking
Camping and hiking options within 2 hours of Monterey are too numerous to list but Pinnacles National Monument, Yosemite National Park, Big Sur State Parks, and Santa Cruz State Parks are notable.
Most campgrounds require advance registration through www.recreation.gov, where you can search for a campground in the park or geographic area of interest to you.
Additional websites, specific to geographic areas listed include:
Fisherman’s Wharf and bayside trail Walkways just steps from our hotel provides visitors with sounds and sights of marine birds and mammals. Morning walkers during the Fall are often rewarded with humpback and blue whale sightings and sea lions, harbor seals, and pelicans are impossible to miss.
Elkhorn Slough Ecological Reserve Best viewed by kayak but also accessible by a walking boardwalk, Elkhorn Slough (pronounced "slew") harbors the largest tract of tidal salt marsh in California outside of San Francisco Bay. This ecological treasure at the center of the Monterey Bay coastline provides much-needed habitat for hundreds of species of plants and animals, including more than 340 species of birds. Go here for more information.
Pacific Grove While the “official” Monarch migration occurs from October to March, these iconic butterflies will start to fly in during our conference and a visit to their eucalyptus groves is a worthwhile excursion. The beaches near Asilomar and Lover’s Point also offer bay-front viewing places for the national marine sanctuary protected otters, sea-birds, sea lions, wading birds, and butterflies. Humpback and Blue whales and Bottlenose dolphins are also often seen just off the coast or in the Bay. Go here for more information about Pacific Grove.
Point Lobos State Reserve This Reserve has often been called "the crown jewel of the State Park System," and offers outstanding passive recreation values, such as sightseeing, photography, painting, nature study, picnicking, SCUBA diving, and jogging. In addition to the spectacular beauty, nearly every aspect of its resources is of scientific interest. There are rare plant communities, endangered archeological sites, unique geological formations, and incredibly rich flora and fauna of both land and sea. Go here for more information.
Big Sur The condor reintroduction program is just one of the conservation issues you can learn about during a visit to Big Sur. Enjoy the stupendous vistas and appreciate the complexities of Highway 1. Go here to learn more about visitor opportunities in seeing condors in the wild.
Hunting and Fishing
Hunting in California is regulated by the California Department of Fish and Game.
Out-of-State licenses for residents and non-residents are required. Details about limits, seasons, tags, and regulations can be found here
Fishing licenses are required for all anglers over the age of 16.
Get all the information you need by visiting http://dfg.ca.gov/fish/fishing/ and information about specific open fishing, partial and full closures can be found here
Scuba
Experience unparalleled diving in Monterey Bay or from the nearby coastal waters. Visit http://www.scubamonterey.com/info.html for extensive information on local dive shops, chartered dive trips, and general dive information including tide charts, sea conditions, and beach diving sites.
Cultural
The world-famous Monterey Jazz Festival is September 19 – 21 and features more than 500 top jazz artists performing throughout the weekend on 9 stages. This is a ticketed event and consistently sells out. Visit http://www.montereyjazzfestival.org for more information and to purchase tickets. Headliners include Wynton Marsalis, Pete Seeger, Dave Brubeck, and Chick Corea.
Museums
Maritime Museum, located directly behind our hote,l showcases a Fresnel lens among other relicts from Monterey’s maritime history.
National Steinbeck Center in nearby Salinas (30 minute drive) houses the Steinbeck Exhibition hall chronicling the life and works of this Nobel-prize winning author, as well as the Rabobank Agricultural Museum and Changing Exhibit Galleries that rotate through arts and culture exhibits.
Monterey Museum of Art is dubbed the “best small-town museum in the U.S.” and houses works by Henri Matisse, Pablo Picasso, and photographer Ansel Adams. This museum’s “Third Thursday” reception on September 17 offers free admission to the current exhibit along with light food and drinks.
Numerous art galleries are scattered about Monterey, Pacific Grove, and Carmel. Visit http://www.carmelart.org for specifics on Carmel’s oldest gallery.
The Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History has permanent and rotating exhibits highlighting marine and terrestrial birds and mammals, plants, geology, and aboriginal populations of Monterey County.
The Carmel Mission and Basilica offers the best glimpse into California mission life and offers guided and self-guided tours.
Last but not least, the Monterey Bay Aquarium is the best place to catch and up-close-and-personal view of everything from sea horses to river and sea otters to great white sharks and octopus. Purchasing advance tickets via their website will help you avoid the long ticket lines the day of your visit. Feeding and other interpretive talks are scheduled throughout the day. Allow a minimum of 3 hours or more to take in the whole aquarium.
Local Scientific Presentations (weekly) Moss Landing Seminar at 3 pm on Wednesday Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History TBA
Dining and Shopping
The Conference Center and Portola Hotel and Spa are located at one end of Monterey’s downtown shopping district, with boutiques, restaurants, café’s, theatres, and drug stores within easy walking distance. The Del Monte Shopping Mall is located on Munras Avenue at Hwy 1, just down the street from the Hyatt Regency and has many upscale shops and a 13-plex movie theatre. The American Tin Cannery outlet mall is located at the far end of Cannery Row and has several shops and a miniature golf course!
Cannery Row and Fisherman’s Wharf, both within walking distance of the conference center offer tourist attractions including boutiques, galleries, wine shops, and restaurants.
Farmer’s Markets
Not to be missed, as Monterey is in the “Salad Bowl of the World,” are the farmer’s markets in Pacific Grove, Carmel, and Old Monterey. Monday’s market is in Pacific Grove, from 3 pm to 7 pm on Lighthouse Avenue. Tuesday’s daytime market is in Carmel, at the Barnyard Shopping Center from 9 am to 1 pm. Tuesday’s afternoon market in Old Monterey starts immediately outside the conference center, on Alvarado and West Franklin Streets from 4 pm to 7 pm.
In addition to fresh fruits and vegetables, vendors sell food, crafts, and sustainable goods. You can even get a chair massage to re-charge!
Wine Tasting and Purchase
California wine is world-renowned and Monterey County offers over 85 excellent vintners and growers, many of which offer free tasting. Wine tours are also an option.
![hiking [photo credit fotolia]](images/hiking.jpg "hiking [photo credit fotolia]")
Camping and hiking options within 2 hours of Monterey are too numerous to list but Pinnacles National Monument, Yosemite National Park, Big Sur State Parks, and Santa Cruz State Parks are notable. ![humpback whale [photo courtesy of NPS.gov]](images/whale_lg.jpg "humpback whale [photo courtesy of NPS.gov]")
Fisherman’s Wharf and bayside trail![Pacific Grove [photo credit istockphotos.com]](images/pacific_grove.jpg "Pacific grove [photo credit istockphotos.com]")
While the “official” Monarch migration occurs from October to March, these iconic butterflies will start to fly in during our conference and a visit to their eucalyptus groves is a worthwhile excursion. The beaches near Asilomar and Lover’s Point also offer bay-front viewing places for the national marine sanctuary protected otters, sea-birds, sea lions, wading birds, and butterflies. Humpback and Blue whales and Bottlenose dolphins are also often seen just off the coast or in the Bay. Go ![hunting and fishing [photo credit fotolia]](images/fishing_lg.jpg "hunting and fishing [photo credit fotolia]")
Hunting in California is regulated by the California Department of Fish and Game.![steinbecks' house [photo credit istockphotos.com]](images/steinbeckhouse_lg.jpg "steinbeck's house [photo credit istockphotos.com]")
The Conference Center and Portola Hotel and Spa are located at one end of Monterey’s downtown shopping district, with boutiques, restaurants, café’s, theatres, and drug stores within easy walking distance. The Del Monte Shopping Mall is located on Munras Avenue at Hwy 1, just down the street from the Hyatt Regency and has many upscale shops and a 13-plex movie theatre. The American Tin Cannery outlet mall is located at the far end of Cannery Row and has several shops and a miniature golf course!![america's sallad bowl - salinas [photo credit fotolia]](images/lettuce_lg.jpg "america's sallad bowl - salinas [photo credit fotolia]")
Not to be missed, as Monterey is in the “Salad Bowl of the World,” are the farmer’s markets in Pacific Grove, Carmel, and Old Monterey. ![Wine tasting [photo credit fotolia]](images/wine.jpg "Wine tasting [photo credit fotolia]")
California wine is world-renowned and Monterey County offers over 85 excellent vintners and growers, many of which offer free tasting. Wine tours are also an option.