April 2023: Our 3-Day Monterey, California Itinerary
My husband and I took a short trip to Monterey, California and it exceeded all expectations! We were completely captivated by the stunning beauty that surrounded us every step of the way. From the breathtaking sunrises at Lovers Point Park to the invigorating hikes in Garrapata State Park, and the heartwarming sight of mommy harbor seals with their pups in Point Lobos, our adventure was nothing short of magical.
We also indulged in delightful wine tastings in Carmel-By-The-Sea and drove along the famously scenic 17-Mile Drive. Each moment was filled with awe and wonder!
If you are planning a trip to Monterey, you have to read through this blog post! Our 3-Day Monterey, California Itinerary is meant to both inspire and educate others through our personal experiences. Visiting Monterey, California (and following our itinerary below) will not disappoint!
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Table of Contents
Day 1: Exploring Monterey, CA
April 17, 2023
Walking along Cannery Row
Our first stop as soon as we arrived in Monterey was an easy-access beach. We found a random one with a parking lot right there at the beach area. My first goal of our trip was to touch the Pacific Ocean! I had never seen the Pacific Ocean with my own eyes before (nor touched it), so I was like a kid being on a beach for the first time. It was quite cold and windy, so we dipped only our fingers in the water which was also cold. Yay, we touched the Pacific Ocean!
The next item on the itinerary was to visit Cannery Row. This is a very popular spot along the coast of California. It has cute shops, restaurants, artists’ galleries, and fun attractions! We walked around for a while then left to find some parks. Did we spend any money at Cannery Row? Absolutely not. Most of our trips are budget-friendly! Also, we didn’t want to spend our money on anything there anyway, so it worked out!
Of course, if there is something that we want so badly to buy, whether it’s a souvenir or an experience, then we will most likely do it (within reason). We typically opt for “free” activities – typically hiking. I added quotations around “free” because you have to purchase hiking gear, and usually you have to drive a good distance to reach the hiking spots. Oh, and let’s not forget about the hiking snacks! Ok, I’ll get off my soapbox now.
Exploring coastal parks
We found two beautiful parks to explore near Monterey. We parked at Berwick Park in Pacific Grove then walked over to Lovers Point Park. It was such a beautiful day to be outside!
We discovered one of our favorite spots near Monterey – Lovers Point Park. It’s a big, beautiful park and there’s a spot where you can climb the rocks and enjoy the sounds of the ocean waves crashing into the rocks below. And the best part…
WE SAW SEA OTTERS!! I’m pretty sure I cried a little bit when I saw them for the first time. They were floating around on their backs, eating some sea snacks, and enjoying the sunshine. So cute!!
Kissing Rock
One more stop before we finally check-in to our motel! Just down the road from the Lovers Point Park was Kissing Rock. And the name makes sense. It’s literally two rocks and they’re kissing. Pretty sure they beat the world record for longest kiss. lol
We also found a thing called Heart-Shaped Rock on Google Maps, but it wasn’t that exciting. And we also tried to see the Point Pinos Lighthouse, but it was closed to visitors. Oh well.
We finally checked into our motel and called it a day.
Day 1 Vlog
Day 2: Sunrise, 17-Mile Drive, Carmel-By-The-Sea, & Sunset Beach
April 18, 2023
Sunrise at Lovers Point
We woke up early to watch sunrise from Lovers Point Park. We found an awesome spot yesterday and we though to ourselves “maybe we should watch sunrise from here?”, and so we did.
It was AMAZING!! Definitely recommend watching sunrise from Lovers Point Park. There was no one else there but us. It was perfect.
We also saw sea otters and a harbor seal!!!! I don’t know why I get so excited to see marine wildlife. Maybe because it was my first time seeing them in person and in their natural habitat!
17-Mile Drive
We had to do it. We had to see what the 17-Mile Drive was all about. Let’s just say, it did not disappoint! Well… maybe a tiny bit. I’ll tell you why later. Keep reading!
The 17-Mile Drive is a beautiful stretch along the Monterey Peninsula in California. This scenic route takes you through Pacific Grove and Pebble Beach, showcasing 17 beautiful points of interest. You’ll see iconic landmarks like the Lone Cypress tree and the famous Spanish Bay. You will also find spots for watching wildlife! It’s a must-do attraction if you’re visiting the Monterey area.
There are several entry points. We started from the Pacific Grove gate. It’s important to note that we entered 17-Mile Drive right after sunrise, so it was not crowded whatsoever. I read a few blog posts, and they talked about how busy this area can become. When we visit popular spots, we always try to get there as early as we can to avoid crowds! Also, we went on a Tuesday. So that helped!
There’s a lot to take in here! It’s also a lot of stopping, getting out of the car, taking pictures and videos, then getting back in the car and driving a short distance to the next spot. It was a lot of fun though. I would absolutely recommend doing the 17-Mile Drive.
So, remember earlier how I said it was a tiny bit disappointing? Well, the wildlife was not very active when we were there. That was the thing I was most excited about was seeing sea otters, sea lions, harbor seals, and maybe even whales but we barely saw any marine wildlife. We did see a few harbor seals at Bird Rock which was cool! Either way, it was still an awesome experience!
Carmel-By-The-Sea
Time to explore the cutest little coastal town – Carmel-By-The-Sea! Our first stop was a winery. We love pretending to be wine connoisseurs but in reality, we know nothing about wine. But it tastes good and gives you a warm fuzzy feeling inside, so that’s always fun.
We stopped at Dawn’s Dream Winery and spent $70 on a wine tasting for the both of us (*gasp*). Let’s just say… it was the only wine tasting we did that day. The guy who was doing our wine tasting was super nice. It was a great experience!
After about 6 big sips of various wines, we located a budget-friendly restaurant for dinner – Tommy’s Wok. It was incredibly yummy! And they served complimentary tea!! I feel like you can never go wrong with an Asian restaurant. They always slap.
To finish up our time at Carmel-By-The-Sea, we found a bakery called Carmel Bakery. This placed also slapped.
Sunset at Sunset Beach
What better place to watch the sunset than at Sunset Beach!? There were parking spots alongside the road, so we just parked there and watched the sunset from the comfort of our car. It was a perfect day!
Day 2 Vlog
Day 3: Sunrise and Hiking in Point Lobos & Garrapata State Park
April 19, 2023
Sunrise at Lovers Point
We loved watching sunrise from Lovers Point Park so much the first time we decided to go back! Once again, the sunrise was absolutely beautiful. It’s probably one of the most peaceful spots we have ever watched sunrise from. And of course, I was very happy to watch the sea otters floating around while the waves carried them back and forth. I love it here. 💕
Hiking the Point Lobos Loop
Time to do the thing we love most… hiking!! We drove to Point Lobos State Natural Reserve and spent nearly 6 hours exploring this area. We tackled the Point Lobos Loop which is about a 6.5-mile hike around the reserve. It is one of the most beautiful hikes we have ever been on!
We saw so much wildlife! It was like a dream! We saw so many mother harbor seals with their pups, sea lions basking in the sun on a rock, and sea otters playing in the ocean.
I cannot recommend this hike enough, or simply visiting Point Lobos State Natural Reserve and doing a few shorter hikes. I created a guide on how to hike the Point Lobos Loop if you want to learn more about it!
Hiking a Scenic Trail in Garrapata State Park
Just 10 minutes down the road was Garrapata State Park. We made our way over there to find more stunningly scenic hikes. We parked alongside the road in a gravel area. We almost drove right passed the trailhead!
We decided to do three short hikes (we basically combined them together). The views from these trails were spectacular! We usually see mountainous views from all the hikes we do in the mountains, so it was a nice change of scenery to be hiking by the ocean.
The third and final hike we did was cut short. We wanted to reach a spot called Doud Peak, but there was a sign that said that the section to reach that peak was closed due to hazardous conditions. It was still a beautiful hike through a lush green canyon and into a forest of redwoods!
If you want to learn more about hiking in Garrapata State Park, read my blog post!
