From Cannery Row to Bird Rock: A Monterey Day Trip Worth Remembering ππ«
Locations
π Monterey Bay Aquarium β 886 Cannery Row, Monterey, CA 93940
World-famous aquarium featuring marine life exhibits, research programs, and education initiatives. Advance reservations recommended.
π The Monterey Olive Bar β 645 Cannery Row Suite K, Monterey, CA 93940
A hidden gem on Cannery Row specializing in olive oils, balsamic vinegars, and stuffed olives. Free tastings with friendly service.
π The Power Plant Coffee β 7990 CA-1, Moss Landing, CA 95039
Cozy spot for coffee, sandwiches, and pastries. Their banana date smoothie is a must-try.
π 17 Mile Drive Entrance (Carmel Gate) β 2700 17 Mile Dr, Pebble Beach, CA 93953
Scenic toll road with coastal views, wildlife stops, and iconic landmarks. Entry is ~$12.25 per vehicle.
π Sea Otter Viewing Area β Moss Landing, CA 95039 (see location on map below)
Small public pull-off along Moss Landing Road. A great spot to quietly observe wild sea otters floating in the slough.
17 Mile Drive Scenic Stop Guide π
π Shepherdβs Knoll β Pebble Beach, CA 93953
One of the first scenic stops. A peaceful lookout over forested hills with glimpses of the coastline in the distance.
π Huckleberry Hill β Pebble Beach, CA 93953
Tucked among Monterey pines, this quiet stop offers views of both forest and sea.
π Spanish Bay β Pebble Beach, CA 93953
Stretch out on the boardwalk or walk the sand. Known for its turquoise water and windswept beauty.
π Point Joe β Pebble Beach, CA 93953
This rocky point has a shipwreck history and some of the most dramatic wave action on the drive.
π China Rock β Pebble Beach, CA 93953
A small but rewarding stop. Explore tide pools and watch for tiny crabs among the rocks.
π Bird Rock β Pebble Beach, CA 93953
A bustling wildlife hotspot. Home to sea lions, cormorants, pelicans, otters, and more. Youβll hear it before you see it.
π Seal Rock Picnic Area β Pebble Beach, CA 93953
Great for a snack break with ocean views. Thereβs easy access to walking trails along the shore.
π Fanshell Beach Overlook β Pebble Beach, CA 93953 (closed seasonally for harbor seal pupping)
Come in the right season and you might spot harbor seals resting on the sand below.
π Cypress Point Lookout β Pebble Beach, CA 93953
A stunning panoramic viewpoint. On a clear day, you might spot whales off the coast.
π Crocker Grove β Pebble Beach, CA 93953
A peaceful grove featuring some of the largest and oldest Monterey cypress trees in existence.
π The Lone Cypress β 17 Mile Dr, Pebble Beach, CA 93953
Perhaps the most photographed tree in the world. Standing alone on a rocky outcrop, itβs a symbol of the California coast.
π Pebble Beach Visitor Center & Gift Shop β 17 Mile Dr, Pebble Beach, CA 93953
End your visit with a souvenir stop, quick snack, or drink before you continue your drive.
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Blog
Continuing the Adventure - This Time, in Monterey
If youβve been keeping up with the latest posts, you already know we kicked off our anniversary week with a wildlife-packed tour of Elkhorn Slough - prime time for sea otter pups and harbor seal sightings. That unforgettable morning set the tone for the whole trip, and after a cozy reset back in Santa Cruz, we decided to keep the momentum going with a full day down the coast in Monterey.
What we didnβt know then? This week still had a few surprises left for us, including the once-in-a-lifetime sea otter birth I shared earlier. But before that jaw-dropping moment on Wednesday, Monday was all about Monterey - and it turned into one of my favorite day trips weβve taken in a while.
Kicking Off the Day With a Stop in Moss Landing
Before we even made it to Monterey, we kicked off the day with a quick stop in Moss Landing. We grabbed drinks at Power Plant Coffee (Iβm still dreaming about that banana date smoothie) and took a few minutes at the small sea otter viewing area nearby. We spotted one right away, floating near the shore - a good sign for the day ahead. From there, we hit the road and continued south toward Monterey.
The Day Didnβt Start How We Imagined - But It Led Us Somewhere Even Better
We rolled into Monterey around 11am, excited to finally visit Monterey Bay Aquarium, a place weβve both had on our list for years. Honestly, it was one of the biggest reasons we built this trip around the Central Coast. Unfortunately, we didnβt account for one tiny detail: spring break.
The place was packed. Wall-to-wall, shoulder-to-shoulder, canβt-even-see-the-exhibits kind of packed. Iβll be honest, it took the wind out of our sails. Iβve dreamed of becoming a member and spending slow days wandering those exhibits, but on this particular day, it just wasnβt meant to be.
Credit where creditβs due, though: the aquarium staff were amazing. They could tell how overwhelmed we were and offered to exchange our tickets for another day. They assured us itβs never normally like this, which honestly made me feel better. Lesson learned - avoid spring break if you can. Weβll definitely try again, justβ¦ not in April.
Wandering Cannery Row
After regrouping, we wandered along Cannery Row, letting the day unfold without much of a plan. Thatβs when we stumbled into one of our favorite finds of the whole trip: The Monterey Olive Bar.
The staff welcomed us with fresh bread and offered us samples of their incredible balsamic vinegars and olive oils. We left with a bottle of strawberry balsamic (my go-to for salads with fresh strawberries and goat cheese - highly recommend), Tuscan herb olive oil, and some stuffed olives for the road. Honestly, it turned the whole day around. If youβre ever in the area, stop by - you wonβt regret it.
17 Mile Drive: Worth Every Penny
Recharged and ready for a change of scenery, we headed toward 17 Mile Drive, entering from the Carmel side. For those unfamiliar, itβs a paid scenic route ($12.25 per vehicle, reimbursed if you spend $35+ at Pebble Beach restaurants), but itβs worth every cent.
We made it our mission to stop at every viewpoint, starting with Shepherdβs Knoll and winding our way toward the coast.
One of the Highlights? Spanish Bay
The first thing that caught my eye was the stretch of rounded stones lining the upper edge of the beach. Beyond that, the sand was perfectly clean and wide, like the ocean had just pressed reset. Not a footprint in sight.
And then there was the water. Unreal. That crisp, glassy turquoise you donβt usually expect to see under a gray, wind-whipped sky. Honestly, the only other place Iβve ever seen water like that was the Bahamas. But here, it was just a few hours from home.
I didnβt hesitate. I changed clothes, ran straight in, and let the freezing water wake me up. It was frigid and perfect. Iβve thought about it more than I care to admit. (I later found out that swimming at Spanish Bay isnβt technically recommended - strong currents, cold temperatures, and rip tides make it unsafe most days. I waded in without knowing, and while I was lucky, I wouldnβt advise doing the same without checking conditions first.)
Iβd love to come back and stay at the inn there someday, just to stretch that moment into a whole weekend.
China Rock: Tiny Crabs, Big Personality
We kept going, stopping at China Rock to explore the tidepools. Hundreds of tiny crabs were scuttling around, spinning on pieces of kelp like little crustacean gymnasts. We stayed there for well over an hour watching their antics.
The Real Show-Stopper? Itβs Bird Rock.
Iβve never seen so much wildlife in one place.
Sea lions piled on the lower rocks.
Sea otters floating in rafts nearby.
Pelicans and Brandtβs cormorants nesting in the cliffs.
Squirrels (way too comfortable with people, but adorable nonetheless).
The sound of the waves crashing mixed with the calls of the birds and the barking of sea lions - it felt like natureβs version of a concert. I couldnβt get enough and snapped photo after photo with my Sony 200-600mm. (Note to self: bring a monopod next time. My arms still havenβt forgiven me.)
Crocker Grove & The Lone Cypress
We wrapped up our drive with stops at Crocker Grove and the famous Lone Cypress. While I snapped a few personal shots of the cypress, I wonβt be offering those as prints in the shop due to licensing restrictions. But the wildlife and coastal scenery? Fair game. Stay tuned - those might just make their way to the store soon.
Closing Out the Day
We closed the day back in Santa Cruz - gear everywhere, takeout on the table, and a camera roll that somehow felt like it still didnβt capture it all.
What Iβd Do Differently (And What I Canβt Wait to Repeat)
Would I skip the aquarium during spring break next time? Absolutely.
Would I do 17 Mile Drive again? In a heartbeat.
This trip reminded me that some of the best memories come from the moments you donβt plan for. We could have called it after the aquarium flop, but instead, we wandered, explored, and came home with stories that were somehow even better than what weβd imagined.
πΏ P.S. If youβre looking for prints from this trip, check the shop - Iβve started adding new work from the Monterey coast, with more coming throughout the month. Everythingβs sorted by newest, so youβll see the latest right at the top. View the collection β
Gallery
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