Monterey Shore Excursions: Discover California’s Coastline

The small city of Monterey is one of the jewels of the California coast. Along its shores, you’ll find rugged rock formations jutting out of the water, wild waves where wildlife play, and a historic downtown area. For cruisers, Monterey shore excursions get them right into the heart of Monterey’s most popular attractions.

In the city center, you won’t want to miss Cannery Row, a name immortalized in the John Steinbeck novel of the same name about sardine cannery workers during the Great Depression. Today, those old canneries have been replaced with shops and restaurants, perfect for browsing and dining in after your tour ends.  

One of the other popular things to do in Monterey from a cruise is to visit the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Considered one of the best in the world, the Monterey Bay Aquarium showcases many of the species that live in Monterey Bay, some of which you can see from the museum’s oceanfront viewing platform. Inside, you’ll find a million-gallon tank and exhibits featuring octopus, stingrays, kelp forests, sea turtles, penguins, sharks, sea otters, and so much more.  

On a Monterey cruise, nature and wildlife await you. Enjoy a shore excursion that combines the beauty of the city with the windswept coastline of the Monterey Peninsula on the famous 17-Mile Drive that takes you past some of the most beautiful scenery in northern California and ends at the acclaimed Pebble Beach Golf Club. Along the way, you’ll see famous Monterey cypress trees and sea lions frolicking in the surf.

Monterey shore excursions may also escort you to the ritzy and artsy Main Street of Carmel, or the tasting rooms of some of California’s wineries located alongside lovely vineyards. You can also visit the Carmel Mission, which is a beautiful restored Roman Catholic mission church that dates back to 1797.

Monterey shore excursions will introduce you to the beauty of Monterey and beyond. No matter what you choose of the many things to do in Monterey from a cruise, you’re sure to have an amazing time with a photo card full of frameable memories.

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