COMPASS
Coastal California
COMPILED BY PAT HENDERSON
Whales and trails
in Monterey
Whale watching at Monterey Bay
Horseback riding at Moss Landing State Beach
Point Lobos State Natural Reserve
“Monterey County features nature at its best,” says
Tammy Blount, president and CEO of the Monterey
County CVB. “The spectacular scenery includes 99
miles of stunning Pacific surf, the Monterey Bay
National Marine Sanctuary, enchanting forests,
majestic redwoods, sprawling vineyards and beauti-
ful beaches.
In addition to checking out the area’s signature
spots—Monterey Bay Aquarium, Cannery Row, the
scenic 17-Mile Drive and the beaches of Carmel—
groups can enjoy a range of nature-based experi-
ences such as whale watching, kayaking, hiking,
horseback riding and scuba diving.
The presence of several species of whales along
the county’s coastline makes nature cruises a favor-
ite of visitors. During sightseeing excursions, gray
whales, blue whales, orcas and humpbacks, as well
as thousands of dolphins, are often spotted near
Point Piños and Monterey Bay.
“From whale watching year-round to bird watch-
ing to viewing seals during pupping season, there are
also a number of ways to view wildlife up close and
personal,” adds Blount.
Kayak tours on Monterey Bay and Elkhorn Slough
offer a memorable way to have those types of close
encounters. Whether travelers go on guided excur-
sions or rent a kayak and paddle on their own, they
can see harbor seals, otters, sea lions, whales, peli-
cans, sandpipers, loons and more.
The county also is home to hundreds of miles
of great hiking trails. Visitors can discover many
aspects of the area’s natural beauty as they walk
through Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park’s redwood groves,
birding hot spots in Pinnacles National Park, the for-
ests of Point Lobos State Natural Reserve and Point
Sur Lightstation’s volcanic terrain.
Contact the CVB’s David Cater at dcater@seemonterey
.com or go to seemonterey.com to find out more.
Update on the
Pacific Coast Highway
36
August/September 2017
Winter storms forced closures along the Pacific Coast
Highway in the Big Sur area south of Monterey. While
Big Sur and a number of other places along the
Central Coast are open, parts of the scenic highway,
including the section from Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge to
Ragged Point, are currently closed. Status updates
are available from the Monterey County CVB at
seemonterey.com/resources/travel-alert.