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Fact Sheet


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Fact Sheet

Location:



  • Monterey County is 120 miles south of San Francisco, 70 miles south of San Jose and 345 miles north of Los Angeles.
  • The Monterey Bay and Santa Cruz County border the county to the north, the Pacific Ocean is to the west, the Gabilan Mountain Range and San Benito County to the east, and San Luis Obispo County to the south.
  • Monterey County is comprised of 12 incorporated cities, and is divided into the following regions: Monterey Peninsula (Monterey, Pacific Grove, Carmel-by-the-Sea, Carmel Valley, Seaside, Marina, Sand City, Del Rey Oaks, Big Sur, and Pebble Beach); Big Sur; North County (Marina, Moss Landing, Prunedale and others); and the Salinas Valley (Salinas, Soledad, Gonzales, Greenfield and King City).

Population / Facilities:



  • Total County population: approximately 421,400.
  • Total Peninsula population: approximately 150,000.
  • The population of unincorporated areas totals about 25,000*
  • Monterey County visitation: approximately 8.1 million leisure and business travelers each year.
  • Total number of lodging facilities on the Monterey Peninsula: 210 (9,588 rooms).
  • Total number of lodging facilities in Monterey County: 276 (12,221).

Climate:



  • Average summer temperatures range from 51 to 68 degrees F.
  • Average winter temperatures range from 44 to 61 degrees F.
  • Warmest months are July through October.
  • Average yearly rainfall totals 18 inches, and falls primarily between November and April.
  • Spring and Fall months are known for the most pleasant weather conditions.
  • Summer months on the coast can often be foggy due to the chilly and unchanging water temperature of the Pacific Ocean.

Transportation:



  • Monterey Peninsula Airport — 3 miles east of Monterey off Hwy 68: United Express, America West, American Eagle and Delta Connection offer direct flights into Monterey via San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Denver, Las Vegas and Salt Lake City.
    (831-648-7000, www.montereyairport.com)
  • Marina Municipal Airport — 2 miles east of Marina.
    (831-582-0102, www.ci.marina.ca.us/depairport.htm)
  • Salinas Municipal Airport — 3 miles southeast of downton Salinas.
    (831-758-7214, www.ci.salinas.ca.us/Admin/Airport/ADairprt.html)
  • Monterey-Salinas Transit offers bus service from Salinas to the Monterey Peninsula and between cities on the Peninsula.
    (888-MST-BUS, www.mst.org)
  • Greyhound Bus Lines — 19 West Gabilan, Salinas; local bus feeder lines offer service to the Monterey Peninsula.
    (831-424-4418, www.greyhound.com)
  • Monterey Salinas Airbus — Airport transport to San Jose and San Francisco from hotels and locations throughout the Monterey Peninsula.
    (831-373-7777, www.montereyairbus.com)
  • Amtrak — 30 Railroad Avenue, Salinas; bus feeder lines to the Peninsula.
    (800-872-7245, www.amtrak.com)

Military:



  • US Naval Post Graduate School, Monterey. Housed in the old Del Monte Hotel and adjacent buildings, this institution offers graduate-level education for career officers of the US and Allied Armed Forces.
  • Defense Language Institute (DLI), Monterey. Headquartered at the Presidio of Monterey, DLI provides foreign language training for members of the US and Allied Armed Forces and other governmental agencies; DLI is the largest foreign language school in the free world.
  • US Coast Guard Station, Monterey. Based in the Monterey harbor, the US Coast Guard patrols the waters from Año Nuevo, just north of Santa Cruz, south to Point Sal near San Luis Obispo.
  • Fort Hunter Liggett, South County. Located 25 miles SW of King City, Hunter Liggett is an active military training facility that encompasses 165,000 acres of grasslands, woodlands, chaparral and part of Lake San Antonio. It offers some recreational facilities to visitors and residents.

Major Attractions:



  • Monterey Bay Aquarium (www.montereybayaquarium.org) — Nation's No. 1 aquarium (Zagat Survey, U.S. Family Travel Guide); Nearly 200 galleries and exhibits showcasing the Monterey Bay’s marine life and habitats.
  • National Steinbeck Center (www.steinbeck.org) — Museum devoted to the life and works of John Steinbeck.
  • 17-Mile Drive (www.pebblebeach.com) — Scenic driving tour of Pebble Beach, including rocky coastline and crashing waves, grand mansions, scenic lookouts and famous golf courses. Maps provided. Entrance fee.
  • Cannery Row (www.canneryrow.com) — One of America’s most well-known streets, named for Steinbeck’s novel, Cannery Row now houses a variety of shops, restaurants, hotels and the Monterey Bay Aquarium.
  • Big Sur (www.bigsurcalifornia.org) — An incredibly scenic area of Monterey County, encompassing a 90-mile stretch of dramatic coastline from Carmel south to the Monterey County southern border and Hearst Castle. A collection of restaurants, inns and camping spots can be found about 25 miles south of Carmel.
  • Fisherman’s Wharf (www.montereywharf.com) — Popular attraction with seafood vendors, shops, restaurants.
  • Carmel-by-the-Sea (www.carmelcalifornia.org) — Quaint village with boutique shops and 100+ art galleries. Quirky laws (no street addresses, live music, neon lights or high heels without a permit, and more) still exist.
  • Monterey Wine Country (www.montereywines.org) — Home to some 40,000 acres of vineyards, 40 wineries, and 85 labels produced, Monterey County offers wine tasting opportunities at vineyards and tasting rooms throughout the Salinas and Carmel Valleys. Tasting rooms also open on the Monterey Peninsula and in Salinas.

Recreational Activities:



  • Golf * — 25 public and private courses in Monterey County playable year-round, in a variety of scenic settings.
  • Beaches — Many public areas for walking, picnicking, kite flying and tide pool and sand dune exploration.
  • Scuba Diving * — The variety of sea life and the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary designation makes the ocean and bay popular for all levels of diving — top stops include San Carlos Beach and Point Lobos.
  • Sailing * — Tours and charters leave from Monterey Harbor, taking in local wildlife and coastal views.
  • Kayaking * — Guided tours and rental kayaks leave from Monterey and Moss Landing. All ages welcome.
  • Whale Watching — Can be enjoyed year-round — grey whales in the winter and early spring, blue whales in the summer, humpbacks in the summer and fall. Orcas and other dolphins year-round. Many chartered whale watching tours are available from Fisherman's Wharf and Moss Landing.
  • Fishing * — Deep sea, rock and surf fishing are popular activities. Many charter fishing trips leave from Fisherman's Wharf. Fishing regulations and license information can be obtained from the state Fish & Game Department (831-649-2870).
  • Camping — The Los Padres National Forest and many state beaches and parks offer campsites at beaches, meadows and forests in Monterey, Big Sur, Salinas Valley and beyond. RV camping available at select sites.
  • Horseback Riding * — Guided tours, beach ride and trail ride packages are available near Moss Landing, and in Pebble Beach and Big Sur.
  • Skydiving — Available in Marina at the Monterey Municipal Airport.
  • Hiking & Biking * — Monterey County's parks and recreation areas feature various trails for the day-tripper and the seasoned backcountry traveler. The Monterey Bay Recreation Trail covers 18 miles of paved coastal trail for bikers, roller-bladers and runners alike. Mountain biking is also popular on BLM lands on the former Ft. Ord Military Base, which has nearly 90 miles of trails.
  • Flightseeing Tours — Explore scenic Monterey County by helicopter or fixed wing plane.

*local vendors rent recreational equipment


Culture and Entertainment:



  • Art Galleries and Exhibits (www.culturalmonterey.org) — More than 125 galleries and studios located throughout Monterey County. Exhibits and events held throughout the year.
  • Music and Theatre (www.culturalmonterey.org and montereyinfo.org) — Several live theaters offer a variety of productions year-round. Resident musical groups include the Monterey Symphony Orchestra and several chorales, and the Carmel Bach Festival and Monterey Bay Blues Festival are among music events.
  • History (www.historicmonterey.org) — Discover Monterey's rich historic heritage through guided and self-guided tours of 19th century buildings and landmarks, three historic missions and nine museums.
  • Events (montereyinfo.org) — Nearly 300 special events take place in Monterey County annually, including AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am Golf Tournament, Monterey Jazz Festival, races at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, Concours d'Elegance, Big Sur Marathon and other food, wine, cultural and family festivals.


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