Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
42
Cannery Row Antique Mall
B2
44
Old Capitol Books
C6
45
Wharf Marketplace
C5
Working-class Monterey is all about the sea. What draws many visitors is a world-class
aquarium overlooking
Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary
, which protects dense
kelp forests and a sublime variety of marine life, including seals and sea lions, dolphins
and whales. The city itself possesses the best-preserved historical evidence of California's
Spanish and Mexican periods, with many restored adobe buildings. An afternoon's wander
through downtown's historic quarter promises to be more edifying than time spent in the
tourist ghettos of Fisherman's Wharf and Cannery Row.
Sights
Monterey Bay Aquarium
AQUARIUM
www.montereybayaquarium.org
; 886 Cannery Row; adult/child 3-12yr/youth 13-17yr $40/25/30;
9:30am-6pm daily Jun, 9:30am-6pm Mon-Fri, to 8pm Sat & Sun Jul-Aug, 10am-5pm or 6pm daily Sep-
May; )
Monterey's most mesmerizing experience is its enormous aquarium, built on the former
site of the city's largest sardine cannery. All kinds of aquatic creatures are featured, from
kid-tolerant sea stars and slimy sea slugs to animated sea otters and surprisingly nimble
800lb tuna. The aquarium is much more than an impressive collection of glass tanks -
thoughtful placards underscore the bay's cultural and historical contexts.
Every minute, up to 2000 gallons of seawater is pumped into the three-story
kelp forest
,
re-creating as closely as possible the natural conditions you see out the windows to the
east. The large fish of prey are at their charismatic best during mealtimes; divers hand-feed
at 11:30am and 4pm. More entertaining are the sea otters, which may be seen basking in
