With its 99 miles of breathtaking
Pacific Ocean coastline,
California’s Monterey Peninsula—just three hours south of San Francisco—offers
honeymooners an unbeatable combination of awesome natural beauty, fascinating
history, and a top-notch menu of recreational activities and cultural events.
Thanks to mild
year-round temperatures, Monterey is a great destination at any time (and if you’re honeymooning in late September, you’ll be
able to take in the renowned Monterey Jazz Festival). But no matter when you
visit,
there’s never any end of wonderful things to see and do in the area.
Begin a perfect day with a
ranger-led tour of Monterey
State Historic Park. You'll visit the town's earliest buildings,
including the 1827 Custom House, the first theater in California (1846), homes dating back to the 1830s, and a mid-1800s whaling station. A big treat
is discovering the beautiful old gardens tucked away in the area, with
fountains, arbors, an old well, and abalone or whalebone decorations.
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Viewing Jellyfish at Monterey
Bay Aquarium
From there, amble or drive along the waterfront to the
internationally-renowned Monterey Bay Aquarium. Built on the site of a former
sardine factory, it’s an engineering marvel in which 2000 gallons of
seawater per minute are pumped through 100+ aquarium tanks. The
Aquarium's most
talked-about permanent exhibit is a three-story kelp forest, where mysteries of the deep
can be observed through the world’s
largest window (54’x15’). Plan to be mesmerized by ferocious sharks, neon
jellyfish, and giant ocean sunfish.
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When you leave, be sure to wander through the aquarium’s famous
neighborhood: Cannery Row, whose warehouses and
sardine canning factories were
immortalized long ago by novelist John Steinbeck. The Row overlooks McAbee
Beach, which has its own colorful history; for about 50 years following the
Gold Rush, harpooned whales were towed to shore here and cut up for their
blubber—a practice that stopped when kerosene replaced whale oil in lamps.
These days the colorful old buildings shelter thriving shops,
restaurants, inns, and art galleries.
Now it’s time for an auto excursion—one you’ll remember forever. Drive north a few miles along the Pacific Coast Highway
(perhaps stopping for some
tide-pooling at gorgeous Point Lobos,
called "the greatest meeting of land and water in the world" by early
California painter Francis McComas). Take the turn for the incomparable 17-mile
drive.
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While meandering along this gently winding road, you’ll marvel over
breathtaking seascapes, sensational mega-million-dollar homes, and the
haunting sight of the gnarled, wind-beaten Lone Pine Cypress—thought to be
the most photographed tree in the world. Pause at Shepherd’s Knoll for the
panoramic view of Monterey Bay; or at Bird Rock, where thousands of seabirds,
seals, and sea lions exist happily together.
Afterward, stroll around beautiful Carmel, a picturesque seaside village
(Clint Eastwood was once the mayor). If you’re golfers, check out Pebble
Beach, the
world’s most famous golf course. And for shoppers this area offers something in every price range—from
upscale stores on Carmel's Ocean Avenue to Outlet bargains at Pacific Grove's American Tin Cannery,
with dozens of small
boutiques, antique shops, and art galleries along the way.
The fitting end to such a day? Head back to Monterey's Fisherman’s Wharf, with
its numerous seafood restaurants. Chances are that, as you watch the sun
slowly set on the horizon while dining on the day’s fresh catch, you’ll be
making plans to celebrate an upcoming anniversary here.
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