Enjoying A Pair Of Coastal Travel Paradises
When a traveler thinks of California, the palm trees of the Southern California coast, the Hollywood celebrities of Los Angeles and the Golden Gate Bridge and restaurants of San Francisco often come first to mind.
Yet California is as diverse as it it big. There are also mountains and deserts, tiny little coastal communities and also Carmel and Monterey.
Carmel and Monterey are like California’s little cuddly dog. They are so cute you just want to curl up with them next to a fireplace. Or have some wine with an ocean view.
Monterey Bay & Carmel Valley A Top Wine Country Region
When you do this, you must do so with a glass of wine because Monterey County has exploded as one of California’s top wine-growing regions. Both towns have wine tasting rooms the way Seattle does coffee shops. Just look around you when you’re at one of the area’s fine restaurants – nearly everyone is having wine with their dinner.
And you’ll need that fireplace because Carmel and Monterey get chilly at night. Even in the summertime.
Carmel and Monterey are located along the Central California coast, about two hours south of San Francisco, hugged their entire length by Monterey Bay.
Monterey is best known for its history of Cannery Row (and movie of the same name that starred Nick Nolte and Debra Winger), adjacent Laguna Seca Raceway and the Monterey Bay Aquarium, the area’s biggest tourist attraction (yes, it’s worth the visit).
Carmel is best known for being next to Pebble Beach, the world-famous golf course with some stunningly scenic finishing holes along the Pacific Ocean.
Its town is a cute little Mediterranean village with shops, wine-tasting rooms – be sure and do the Carmel Wine Walk – little and excellent restaurants and high-end art galleries.
Both places have so many outstanding restaurants you’re going to have a great meal whichever one you choose. But here’s a few recommendations with reviews.
Carmel:
• Mundaka
Monterey:
• Abalonetti, Fisherman’s Wharf
• Beach House, Pacific Grove
• Peter B’s Brewpub (award-winning craft beers)
• Tarpy’s Roadhouse, Highway 68
• Whaling Station, Cannery Row
The pace of life here is slow, a dramatic difference from Los Angeles and San Francisco. That’s why they are such a different kind of California destination – it’s almost as if you are in a different state.
You don’t go to Carmel or Monterey to be in a hurry. You go there to slow down, to catch your breath.
Perhaps that’s why everyone there is drinking wine rather than beer – like wine, it’s a place to sip and savor rather than to gulp.
Links:
• Carmel Blog Posts
• Monterey Blog Posts
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#montereyrestaurants
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