Holiday Inn Express & Suites Marina - Monterey Bay Area Área local

Watch sea otters frolic, penguins dive, and jellyfish glow in one of the world's most celebrated aquariums, about 18 minutes south of our hotel. The Monterey Bay Aquarium sits at the west end of Cannery Row, with exhibits drawn from the living waters of Monterey Bay. The Kelp Forest and Open Sea galleries put you face to face with sharks, tuna, and swirling sardines, while the ocean decks offer a chance to spot wild otters. Feedings and daily programs bring the animals to life.

Salt air and crashing surf greet you at Marina State Beach, where wind-sculpted dunes rise above the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Less than a mile from our front door, this wide stretch of sand winds through the Marina Dunes Natural Preserve. Hang gliders catch coastal breezes while picnickers gather at accessible tables. A wooden boardwalk leads south along the dunes. Swimming is not advised due to rip currents, but the shoreline is perfect for walking and Pacific sunsets.

Just 15 minutes south in central Monterey, El Estero Park spreads across 45 acres of recreation space around Lake El Estero. The Dennis the Menace Playground is a family favorite, with climbing structures that keep kids exploring for hours. Paddleboats glide across the lake in warmer months, and fishing piers are stocked several times a year. Group BBQ areas, an exercise course, and a skateboarding spot round out the offerings. Restrooms and parking make it a comfortable half-day trip.

Once the sardine-canning hub of Monterey, Cannery Row is now the top tourist destination on California's Central Coast. The historic waterfront street runs along the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, about 10 miles from our hotel, where old cannery buildings have been reborn as restaurants, galleries, tasting rooms, and shops. Steinbeck immortalized the area in his 1945 novel, and reminders of the author and Ed Ricketts abound. Millions of visitors come for dining and views.

World-famous golf and raw coastal beauty share the same shoreline at Pebble Beach. The 17-Mile Drive winds through the Del Monte Forest, about 14 miles south of our hotel, past the Lone Cypress and some of the most photographed coastline in California. Golfers come for the legendary courses, but the scenery alone is worth the toll. Sea lions bark from the rocks at Bird Rock, and cypress trees cling to the cliffs in wind-sculpted shapes.