My son has never been to the Monterey Bay Aquarium, and it’s been a while since any of my family had been.  So, when my dad suggested a trip there last year in June, you best believe we jumped at the opportunity! We were only there for one day, but we made every second count and it turned out to be such a fun time.  So today, I wanted to share all the fun highlights from our brief time in Monterey including where we stayed, what we did and where we ate. 

Let’s go!

Where we stayed

For this trip, my dad booked our stay at the InterContinental the Clement Monterey, and it was the perfect hotel for us. Though, this hotel is on the older side, it’s kept up really well and the grounds are immaculate.  As for our room, it was simple, but comfortable! In fact, we had an incredibly spacious room on the 3^rd floor with two beds, TV, a sitting area, bathroom and even a balcony. The best part about the Intercontinental is the location though! It is located literally in the heart of Cannery Row, so it’s very walkable to restaurants, shops and numerous attractions including the Monterey Bay Aquarium.  Overall, I highly recommend this property especially for families with young kids.

What we did

Day 1

Monterey is an hour and a half from the Bay Area where my parents live and all four of us drove together in one car.  We hit the road by 8:00 am and it was a super easy drive.  As soon as we got to Monterey, we went straight to our hotel.  We arrive five hours before the regular check-in time but much to our surprise, our room was ready. So, we parked the car and headed over to our room.  Once we got settled in, it was time to get to the aquarium! 

Getting to the aquarium was easy.  It is one and half block walk from the hotel. Plus, since we visited on a weekday, it wasn’t very crowded.  So, we were able to see exhibits and animals without having a lot of people around.  Though we didn’t see any of the feedings or experience the touch pools, seeing the vast array of fish, penguins and everything in between up close and personal was entertaining.  All in all, we spent a little over an hour and a half exploring the different exhibits and looking at amazing creatures that live in the sea. 

My son’s favorite part of our trip to the aquarium was the Splash Zone.  It was the place we spent the most time in and he didn’t want leave! 

After roaming around the aquarium, our tummies were grumbling so we headed to Bubba Gump for lunch. 

It was a beautiful day, so we chose to sit outside to enjoy our meal.  To start, we shared a bowl of clam chowder and calamari.  Both were delicious! For our main entrée, the little guy opted for a hamburger served with French fries and I got the Maker’s Mark Glazed Salmon.  My dish was light but had a nice flavor and hit the spot. My dad got the Bourbon St. Mahi Mahi and Shrimp Combo, and I don’t remember what my mom had ordered but they both said they really enjoyed it.  If you are looking for a super casual, family friendly spot, you can’t go wrong with Bubba Gump!

Next, we spent some time down at the hotel’s central courtyard.  It’s a beautiful space where you can sit and relax.  They also have various fire pits in case it gets chilly.  Additionally, since it’s facing waterfront, it’s a great spot to enjoy amazing views of the Bay or in our case, the perfect place to let the little guy run around and play! We stayed here for a little bit so that he can do that.  #thankgoodnessforbubbles

Of course, I also took this as an opportunity for a family selfie!

From there, we wandered around Cannery Row and just admired everything around us.  Along the way, we enjoyed some sweet treats from the Turkish Coffee Shop as well as Dippin Dots.  We also walked into a few shops where we were able to peruse and even pick up a Monterey zip up hoodie for the little guy. 

After our little exploring adventure, we headed to an adorable spot for dinner, Louie’s Linguini.  The restaurant is very quaint with a relaxed, casual vibe.  I thought the chicken piccata sounded good, so I went with that.  Not one person complained about their food, so it’s safe to say this place was a hit.  By the time dinner was over, we were ready to wind down for the night.  We headed back to our room and people watched from our balcony before calling it a night.

Day 2

The next morning, we enjoyed breakfast at the C Restaurant in the hotel lobby.  It was hard to choose our entrees because everything on the menu looked so delicious.  I ended up with the Castroville Omelet with a cappuccino while the little guy got their silver dollar pancakes and a cup of their hot chocolate.  It did not disappoint! My dad ordered the flat iron steak and eggs chilaquiles while my mom ordered the Clement benedict, and they both gave their dishes a thumbs up! If you are looking for a breakfast with a view*, highly recommend! 

(*Side note: Keep in mind their food is a bit on the pricier side.  However, you are paying for the service and location.)  

After breakfast, we headed back out to the patio for one last walk around before jumping in the car and heading home.  A great way to end our time in Monterey!

Final Thoughts

All in all, it was a fun trip with my parents! I didn’t feel like our trip was rushed even though we were only really in Monterey for 24 hours.  We were happy just walking around and spent a lot of time talking and laughing together.  There’s really nothing better.  Truthfully, it will go down as one of my favorite family trips of all time.  

Tell me, is Monterey on your radar to visit? Are you guys traveling anytime soon? If yes, where are you off to?

For more tips and travel ideas:

San Diego Travel Diary Part 1 – Valley Center

San Diego Travel Diary Part 2 – Oceanside

Solvang 2021 Travel Diary

Santa Barbara Travel Diary Part 1

Santa Barbara Travel Diary Part 2

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**Additionally, some items linked above are not the exact item shown because it is either old or sold out, but I linked similar items for those that are unavailable.