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Monterey(English) Monte r ey listen)) is a city in California, USA. It stands on the shores of Monterey Bay of the Pacific Ocean. Located 80 km (as the crow flies) south of San Jose, from which pass road No. 17 leads through the mountain range to Monterey, which approximately halfway - after Santa Cruz - turns into the old Spanish coastal road No. 1, running along the coast of the Pacific Ocean along South and North America.

Story

Monterey was founded by the Spanish in 1770. At that time, California was part of New Spain. From 1775 to 1849, the city was the first capital of California. In 2005 its population was 30,641.

Monterey has many attractions - one of the best aquariums in the USA, ancient port facilities, the first Californian cultural institutions - a theater, library, etc. (the buildings have been preserved).

Just a few kilometers from the city at the bottom of Monterey Bay there is a unique underwater canyon - Monterey Canyon. Its presence, as well as the presence of other underwater canyons nearby, has caused a huge diversity of animal and plant marine life in a relatively small area of ​​​​the ocean in the immediate vicinity of the coast, so this bay attracts the attention of biologists, geologists and other scientists from all over the world.

The extremely beautiful and very winding “17 Mile Road” departs from the city. This private but public toll road runs along the small Monterey Peninsula jutting out into the ocean between the towns of Monterey (to the north) and Carmel (to the south). The road runs along the Pacific coast between beaches and cliffs, periodically diving into forests and groves in the depths of the peninsula, where some of the most expensive mansions in California are located.

Until the 1960s, the city was famous for its fishing. The city has hosted a famous jazz festival every year since 1958. Monterey Jazz Festival. Every April since 1991, a cycling festival has been held on the race track and in its surroundings. Sea Otter Classic. Currently, the city is one of the places of relaxation, located near Silicon Valley - no more than two hours by car.

Twin Cities

Notable natives and residents

• Rachel Roy (born 1974) is an American fashion designer.
• Allison Scagliotti (born 1990) is an American actress.

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Excerpt describing Monterey (California)

Pierre, having unexpectedly become a rich man and Count Bezukhy, after recent loneliness and carelessness, felt so surrounded and busy that he could only be left alone with himself in bed. He had to sign papers, deal with government offices, the meaning of which he had no clear idea of, ask the chief manager about something, go to an estate near Moscow and receive many people who previously did not want to know about his existence, but now would offended and upset if he didn’t want to see them. All these various persons - businessmen, relatives, acquaintances - were all equally well disposed towards the young heir; all of them, obviously and undoubtedly, were convinced of the high merits of Pierre. He constantly heard the words: “With your extraordinary kindness,” or “with your wonderful heart,” or “you yourself are so pure, Count...” or “if only he were as smart as you,” etc., so he He sincerely began to believe in his extraordinary kindness and his extraordinary mind, especially since it always seemed to him, deep down in his soul, that he was really very kind and very smart. Even people who had previously been angry and obviously hostile became tender and loving towards him. Such an angry eldest of the princesses, with a long waist, with hair smoothed like a doll’s, came to Pierre’s room after the funeral. Lowering her eyes and constantly flushing, she told him that she was very sorry for the misunderstandings that had happened between them and that now she felt she had no right to ask for anything, except permission, after the blow that had befallen her, to stay for a few weeks in the house that she loved so much and where made so many sacrifices. She couldn't help but cry at these words. Touched that this statue-like princess could change so much, Pierre took her hand and asked for an apology, without knowing why. From that day on, the princess began to knit a striped scarf for Pierre and completely changed towards him.
– Do it for her, mon cher; “All the same, she suffered a lot from the dead man,” Prince Vasily told him, letting him sign some kind of paper in favor of the princess.
Prince Vasily decided that this bone, a bill of 30 thousand, had to be thrown to the poor princess so that it would not occur to her to talk about Prince Vasily’s participation in the mosaic portfolio business. Pierre signed the bill, and from then on the princess became even kinder. The younger sisters also became affectionate towards him, especially the youngest, pretty, with a mole, often embarrassed Pierre with her smiles and embarrassment at the sight of him.
It seemed so natural to Pierre that everyone loved him, it would seem so unnatural if someone did not love him, that he could not help but believe in the sincerity of the people around him. Moreover, he did not have time to ask himself about the sincerity or insincerity of these people. He constantly had no time, he constantly felt in a state of meek and cheerful intoxication. He felt like the center of some important general movement; felt that something was constantly expected of him; that if he didn’t do this, he would upset many and deprive them of what they expected, but if he did this and that, everything would be fine - and he did what was required of him, but something good remained ahead.
More than anyone else at this first time, Prince Vasily took possession of both Pierre’s affairs and himself. Since the death of Count Bezukhy, he has not let Pierre out of his hands. Prince Vasily had the appearance of a man weighed down by affairs, tired, exhausted, but out of compassion, unable to finally abandon this helpless young man, the son of his friend, to the mercy of fate and the swindlers, apres tout, [in the end,] and with such a huge fortune. In those few days that he stayed in Moscow after the death of Count Bezukhy, he called Pierre to himself or came to him himself and prescribed to him what needed to be done, in such a tone of fatigue and confidence, as if he was saying every time:
“Vous savez, que je suis accable d"affaires et que ce n"est que par pure charite, que je m"occupe de vous, et puis vous savez bien, que ce que je vous propose est la seule chose faisable." [ You know, I am swamped with business; but it would be merciless to leave you like this; of course, what I am telling you is the only possible one.]
“Well, my friend, tomorrow we’re going, finally,” he told him one day, closing his eyes, moving his fingers on his elbow and in such a tone, as if what he was saying had been decided a long time ago between them and could not be decided otherwise.

The small Californian city of Monterey can easily be confused by its name with the Mexican Monterrey, "Sultan of the North". And this will be a big mistake. Monterey, near San Jose, is an old Spanish city that was founded in the second half of the 18th century and was the capital of California until the mid-19th century. And now it is a charming and enchanted city by the sea with low-rise buildings of small whitewashed houses. But at the same time - with the best aquarium in the country, the best jazz festival in the country and almost the best bay with a sea canyon. Simply put, one of the most beautiful coastal cities in California.

Perhaps the city's most famous attraction is one of the world's best marine aquariums, Monterey Bay. It was founded in 1984 and occupies the site of a former sardine cannery. Today, the aquarium attracts almost 2 million visitors annually.

How to get to Monterey

The most logical thing to do is to visit Monterey for a couple of days in your own car from Santa Cruz, San Jose or San Francisco, heading, for example, to Santa Maria, Santa Barbara or Los Angeles. The coastal routes are very beautiful. But you can, of course, go by train to Salinos or by bus from San Jose. And Monterey Airport receives regular flights from San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Denver and Las Vegas.

Search flights to Monterey

A little history

In 1846, California became part of the United States after the end of the Mexican-American War, and the Union Jack flew from the Monterey Customs House. After this, the city invariably attracted creative people - artists and writers, who settled here in search of silence and solitude on the beautiful Pacific coast.

Popular hotels in Monterey

Entertainment and attractions in Monterey

Perhaps the city's most famous attraction is one of the world's best marine aquariums, Monterey Bay. It was founded in 1984 and occupies the site of a former sardine cannery. Today, the aquarium attracts almost 2 million visitors annually. Here you can see thousands of plants and animals of more than 600 species - stingrays, jellyfish, sea otters (the only mammals in the aquarium), and many fish. This is one of the few places in the world where you can admire live bluefin and yellowfin tuna. Fresh ocean water is continuously supplied directly from the bay using a system of pipes and pumps. The crown jewel of the aquarium is the Ocean Edge Wing, a huge 8.5m high tank filled with coastal creatures. It was in this aquarium that the Californian giant kelp was grown for the first time in the world.

4 things to do in Monterey:

1. Take a trip to coastal Pacific Grove, the “city of butterflies”, famous for its beautiful Victorian buildings and the fact that it is home to the annual migration of monarch butterflies.
2. Walk around the harbor and admire the many yachts in the marina - not as luxurious as in Portofino, but no less picturesque.
3. Grab oysters at Fisherman's Wharf as fast food and eat them on the go.
4. Attend the Thursday Night Party at the Pacific Street Museum of Art, which hosts a buffet with snacks, drinks, and free gallery admission once a month.

One of the city's most famous streets is the coastal Cannery Row, "Cannery Row", whose name refers to the street's historical purpose: it is still lined with canned sardine factories. The factories are not operating today; the last one closed in 1973. But the name of the street, which was formerly called Ocean View Avenue, was officially established in 1958 thanks to the light hand of John Steinbeck and his novel of the same name. Edward Ricketts' biological laboratory still stands on the street, and opposite it is a Chinese store, both mentioned in Steinbeck's novels. In addition, there are many restaurants and hotels located here, some in former factory buildings. Plus, from here there is access to the beaches of MacAbi and San Carlos, popular places for diving, kayaking and fishing.

“Cannery Row in Monterey, California, is a poem, a rattle and a stench, its own color, harmony and character, a nostalgic vision, a dream,” Steinbeck described the street.

Another notable place in Monterey is the fishing yard. In the 60s last century there was a noisy and lively fish market here, although today the shipyard has become more of a tourist attraction, since after the Second World War the sardine population in the surrounding waters was destroyed - there was nothing left to catch and preserve. But even today, Fisherman's Wharf is home to the city's best fish restaurants, open-plan bars, jewelry stores, art galleries, sweets and souvenir shops. Whale excursions start from here, and sea lions can often be seen right in the harbor: they sleep on pylons, buoys or overturned boats.

Monterey Jazz Festival

At the entrance to Fisherman's Wharf is the Custom House Plaza, the historic heart of the city. Here stands the Customs House, the first administrative building in California and the very place where the transfer of Monterey from Mexico to the United States was formalized in 1846. The Maritime Museum is also located in this building, and in it you can get acquainted with both the maritime and cultural life of bygone times in the city. There are many other ancient buildings on the square. In addition, here you can see the last whale bone sidewalk in the United States. It is located right in front of the Old Whale Station.

Artichokes and a special type of Pacific flounder are considered local delicacies. The former can be found in almost any restaurant - fried, stewed, boiled, grilled, in soup, pizza, etc. Nearby Castroville is proud of the title of “artichoke center of the world.” The second is caught only on this section of the coast, so this type of flounder can only be tried in the vicinity of Monterey and San Francisco. It is most often served fried.

In the Old Town of Monterey - downtown - quite a few centuries-old buildings have been preserved. Following the signs on the yellow tiles, you can follow the History Trail to admire the city's most famous buildings. Information posters are placed at each stop. Enter the city's art museum: it occupies two buildings - one on Pacific Street, across from Colton Hall, with eight galleries. The second is the La Mirada building, one of the testimonies of the city's Mexican past, with four galleries and excellent views of the bay. Culture lovers should also definitely check out the city's historic Wharf Theater and the restored Golden State Theater, if not for the performances, then at least for the ornate interior.

The 27-mile Monterey Bay Coastal Trail offers great cycling opportunities. Bicycles can be rented at several places along the trail, with multi-passenger bikes being especially popular. The kayaking office on Del Monte Avenue offers rental equipment, classes and guided tours. Stunning views of the bay and Carmel can be seen at Jack's Peak State Park, the highest point on the Monterey Point, where there are surprisingly few tourists.

Monterey Events

The nationally famous Monterey Jazz Festival has been held in the city every year since 1958. This is one of the jazz festivals with the longest history, as the tradition of its holding has not been interrupted for a year. The festival usually takes place on the third weekend of September, starting on Friday, and hosts over 500 world-class jazz performers. About 50 concerts are held at 9 venues, and workshops, exhibitions, discussions, attractions and food courts are also held here. Since 1992, Clint Eastwood has served on the festival's board.

Monterey area

Monterey Bay is home to a unique geographic formation - the Monterey Canyon. There are several other rather deep depressions nearby, so the marine flora and fauna here are amazingly diverse. Scientists find endless work to do, and divers find heavenly underwater gardens to admire.

The road from Monterey to Carmel is very picturesque and attractive. It is privately owned and there is a fee to travel through it. But this attraction is worth the money: a track about 25 km long winds along the ocean shore, surrounded by rocky cliffs and wooded plateaus, past the most luxurious private homes in the state and beautiful beaches.

If you are going to visit Monterey and don’t know how to usefully spend your free time, then below is a list of the main Monterey attractions(California) will be useful to you.

Monterey Bay Aquarium in Monterey

One of California's most popular attractions, the Monterey Bay Aquarium, or MBA, is located on the site of a former cannery on the Pacific coast. The aquarium was opened in 1984. About 1.8 million people attend the MBA each year. The aquarium contains 623 species of various plants and animals. Among the numerous aquariums, the most attention should be paid to the central aquarium Ocean's Edge Wing (aquarium height 10 meters, volume 1300 thousand liters). It was in this aquarium that giant kelp forests appeared in an artificial environment for the first time in the world. In the aquarium you can see an exhibition of sharks, stingrays, jellyfish, penguins, sea otters, and many other animals that can be seen both above and below the waterline.Also on the grounds of the aquarium, there is a special flamingo exhibit, opened in 2010.

The aquarium is open all year round, except for Christmas. It is best to purchase tickets to the Aquarium on the spot.

Cannery Row in Monterey

One of the embankments and most famous streets of Monterey, Cannery Row, gained its fame thanks to a number of canneries located on its territory. Until 1958, the street was called Ocean View Avenue and was renamed in honor of John Steinbeck and his famous novel "Cannery Row". The last cannery on Cannery Row closed in 1973, but the street retains its name. Today Cannery Row is one of the city's main attractions. The Edward F. Ricketts Marine Sanctuary is located on the territory of the former plant, and many hotels, restaurants and shops are located in the premises of the former plants.

Walk between the Wharf and Cannery Row in Monterey

One of the best ways to relax and enjoy the ocean scenery in Monterey is to visit Fisherman's Wharf and stroll along Cannery Row. Near the pier you can see sea lions, seals and sea otters, colonies of which live on the coastal cliffs.

Fisherman's Wharf in Monterey

Fisherman's Wharf is one of Monterey's most popular tourist spots. The area around the pier is home to dozens of restaurants and souvenir shops. At the end of the pier there is an observation deck that offers beautiful views of the bay. Here you can also take a boat tour for whale watching, on board a glass-bottomed ship.

Monterey Maritime Museum

The Monterey Maritime and History Museum features a wide-ranging exhibit that explores the history of Monterey and the surrounding area through the lens of its proximity to the ocean. The exhibition includes thousands of artifacts, including permanent exhibitions dedicated to the disaster of the USS Macon airship in Point Sur; tribes of Ohlone and Rumsien Indians; history of Spanish colonization and exploration of California. The museum was opened in 1971. The museum is open to the public from 10.00 to 17.00, closed on Mondays. Entrance to the museum is free.

Monterey State Historic Park

Monterey State Historic Park includes the historical part of the city dating back to the founding of Monterey and is one of the US national monuments. The total area of ​​the park is 32.5 hectares. The park contains 17 buildings, including the First Theater (built in 1846-1847 and originally used as a boarding house), the Custom House (built in 1821, the first brick house in California (built in 1847), the first Monterey City Hall Colton Hall, Stevenson Mansion (the building of a former French hotel, in one of the rooms of which lived the famous British writer Robert Louis Stevenson).

Monterey Harbor Cruise

One of the best ways to get up close and personal with the marine life that lives in Monterey Harbor is on a cruise ship. A cruise won't take much time, but will be one of the best ways to spend your time. Pleasure boats depart from the pier every 30 minutes.

Insufferable Denis Park in Monterey

One of the most famous amusement parks for children, Dennis the Menace Park, was founded in 1956 by the famous cartoonist and creator of the famous comic strip “Horrible Denis” Hank Kutch. The park complex occupies an area of ​​45 acres in a multi-use recreation area in the heart of downtown Monterey. In the park area there is a dance studio, a youth center, multi-sports fields, and a skate park (Monterey Skate Park). The park is open to the public in summer every day except Tuesdays from 10.00.

The city, about which information is presented in this article, was founded by the Spaniards back in 1770. It is this locality that holds the title of the former capital of one of the US states - California.

The city of Monterey (California) has a rather interesting centuries-old history of its development.

Charming and small, but very cute and cozy town. After reading this article, you will be able to learn more about this amazingly beautiful historical place.

Monterey (California): photo, location

One of the favorite places for tourists to visit in the US state of California is Monterey. This picturesque, sunny town is located on the very shore of the Monterey Bay (Pacific Ocean) between Los Angeles and the beautiful city of San Francisco.

It occupies a rather honorable place in the centuries-old history of North America. This is a real piece of paradise, an oasis for entertainment and wonderful relaxation. More than 2 million tourists visit it every year for the purpose of relaxation and exploring its magnificent natural and historical attractions. This is one of the most beautiful places in California, representing the western coast of the state.

Monterey (California) is located 80 kilometers south of the city of San Jose, from which road No. 17 (passage) goes to it, which turns almost in the middle of the road (from Santa Cruz) to the old coastal Spanish road No. 1. The latter extends along the shores of the Pacific Ocean (North and South America).

In 2005, the city's population was just over 30.5 thousand people.

A little bit of history

Monterey (California), like the entire state, was originally (in the 1770s) part of New Spain. Moreover, from 1775 to 1849 this city was the first capital of the state.

The state was in the possession of Mexico until 1846, but after the Mexican-American War it was hung over the trading house of the city of Monterey. This marked the annexation of California to the States of America. At that time, this event did not turn out to be anything particularly remarkable for the residents of this locality.

Subsequently, Monterey, gradually losing its status as the state capital, began to turn into a place where mass industrial fishing began. Several canned sardine factories have opened along the coast here.

About the fishing industry

The bay is home to a huge number of sardines, making Monterey a fishing town with a fishing shipyard and many fish processing plants. However, by the middle of the 20th century, due to its excessive fishing, the bay's resources were depleted. As a result, I was completely ruined here.

The buildings of those factories have survived to this day, and represent one of the main city attractions. Many buildings are used for the best hotels and fish restaurants, souvenir shops and shops. Among other things, since the end of the last century, one of the most unique marine aquariums has been opened in one of the former factories. It contains approximately 35,000 species of a wide variety of inhabitants of the deep sea.

Tourists visiting the city of Monterey (California) can see a lot of interesting things.

Attractions

Monterey has many attractions: an oceanarium, ancient port buildings, a library, a theater, etc.

The atmosphere and surroundings of the city give it an irresistible charm. Most of the houses are built in Victorian style. There is even a two-story building preserved here with a fireplace in it from the time of the Spanish discoverers - Larkin House. The centuries-old buildings, which now house a library, a theater, as well as the Custom House building (customs), have also been preserved intact.

Both the Chapel of St. Presidio and Colton Hall (an old school) are also interesting. In addition, this town also preserves the only (last) sidewalk in the United States made of whale bones. It is located near the Old Whale Station.

Monterey (California) is equally famous for its main street, Cannery Row. Today, the city's main entertainment venues are located here.

Since 1958, the famous Monterey Jazz Festival has been held annually. And since 1991 - a bicycle festival. Now the city is a great place for a relaxing holiday in numerous coastal hotels.

Oceanarium

Monterey is home to one of the most unique and best aquariums in the world - Monterey Bay, which was mentioned above. It contains the best marine animals and plants.

The water in the aquarium provides a natural habitat for marine exhibits, as it comes directly from the ocean. The establishment itself is located in the building of an old factory located on the shore. On the ocean side, the aquarium has a unique observation deck with a unique stunning view of the emerald endless expanses of the great Pacific Ocean.

Marine life

Monterey Bay (California) contains water that provides an excellent breeding ground for all the underwater vegetation that exists in it. These places are rich in numerous and diverse representatives of fauna and flora: vast areas with seaweed, rookeries and seals, numerous species of fish, etc. All this together attracts the attention of divers and scientists: geologists, biologists, etc.

Vessels periodically sail from the pier to observe gray whales, as well as sperm whales (though rarely). They sail without fear to the shores in search of food, and tourists, observing all this with their own eyes, are indescribably delighted. Whales, accustomed to the presence of people, even allow you to touch them.

An unusual and amazing sight is the 3-6-meter algae stretching to the surface of the water from the very bottom of the ocean.

Nature

Near the city, at the very bottom of Monterey Bay (California), as noted above, there is a unique underwater deep canyon. The presence of it and other smaller underwater canyons led to the formation of such a diverse flora and fauna of the marine world in a relatively small area of ​​​​the ocean close to the coast.

The landscapes of the coastal areas of the city are also remarkable, strewn with a fantastically beautiful carpet of pink lavender. The beaches covered with snow-white sand with picturesque landscapes against the backdrop of amazing reefs and rocks also look great.

That same amazingly beautiful winding road (No. 17) runs along the ocean coast between majestic cliffs and snow-white beaches, periodically diving into groves and forests growing in the very depths of the peninsula, where the most beautiful and expensive mansions in the state of California are located.

Weather

The weather in these places is also great. Monterey (California) attracts many tourists from around the world with its warm and sunny atmosphere.

The climate in the city is moderately warm. In winter there is much more rainfall here than in summer. In total, approximately 424 mm of precipitation falls per year. The average annual temperature is +13.2°C.

Conclusion

Along the Pacific coast of California there are numerous cities, each with its own characteristics and attractions. But it is Monterey that has rightfully earned the title of one of the best places for entertainment and recreation for travelers and tourists.

Are you already missing stories about the sunny land of California? Today we will drive along Highway No. 1 and get to the fabulous town of Monterrey, located on the very ocean coast. Despite the warm weather, the water is quite cool.

Approaching the city of Monterrey, new beautiful landscapes open up with every kilometer.

But Monterrey resembles the south of Spain, with sunny weather and snow-white walls of houses and tile roofs.

But it’s worth going outside to understand that we are not in Spain, but in America, the country of cars, big and powerful.

Well, and motorcycles, of course. What American city would be complete without chrome-plated choppers? The finish line of the old timer rally was awaited in the town, in honor of which finish flags were hung to welcome the participants.

The town is like a toy town.

Monterrey once marked the border between the United States and Mexico. One of the oldest Customs buildings still remains. After the annexation of these lands to the United States, the building lost its use as a customs point, but acquired historical significance that remains to this day. Unfortunately, I didn’t have a photograph of the building; I still haven’t figured it out why. I probably just forgot to take a photo, walking enchanted through the city in which I wanted to spend the rest of my life.

It’s probably great to go out to sea after dark in order to bring fish to numerous restaurants on the coast early in the morning.

The city of Monterrey is a city of yachts. There are almost no expensive cruise ships here like in Monaco, but in the port waters you can find several dozen, and maybe hundreds of small yachts and pleasure boats.

Due to the characteristics of the coast and sea tides, or perhaps to preserve the ecology of the coast, where sea lions come to bask in the sun, as well as otters and pelicans, there are no berths for yachts. The ships are anchored, and the owners have to get to their watercraft in small boats tied to the piers.

The entire space of the pier is filled with souvenir shops, pastry shops and cafes, and, of course, many restaurants offering all the joys of the local marine fauna. Oyster lovers will appreciate this place without a doubt: at every step, passers-by are offered an oyster “shot”, on the fly and for a completely ridiculous price.

We didn’t want to leave the city at all, but San Francisco was waiting ahead of us, where we had to get there before dark, and it’s quite difficult to do this driving along Highway No. 1 - at every turn you want to stop and enjoy the surrounding views.

If you look closely, you can clearly see Highway 1 running along the coast. The bridge in the vicinity of which the previous photograph was taken is also visible.

And here are the sea lions mentioned above, who came to bask on the coast. In general, the entire coast is inhabited by these animals, and in some places they feel completely safe. Feeding the animals is prohibited, and for the convenience of travelers there are many observation platforms, to which lions are completely indifferent.

We stopped at a small village along the road, the name of which I didn’t remember, but I simply couldn’t miss such a house.

And in one of the following posts, I will definitely tell you about the city of San Francisco, one of the most beautiful metropolises in the world, with its unique roller coasters and nimble trams, straight from the frames of numerous films.