Monterey Was Beautiful

[dsm]

I just wanted to thank everybody for their suggestions in regards to: where to go and what to see.

The drive up the coast starting at San Luis Obispo was a great idea. The coolest thing we saw were the molting seals about a mile or so north of Hearst castle. The thing is, I wasn't looking for seals at that point, didn't even occur to me. At the 'vista point' after hearst castle, I noticed one of those big bulletin boards they have, which will often show pictures of local birds and other animals. I just wanted to see if there were some pictures of a few different birds I'd seen, but didn't know what they were.

So we get out of the car, and as I'm walking towards the sign, I start hearing a weird sound. It was a really really deep sound, and kind of had a percolator quality to it. So we make our way over to the rail and look down, and there are about a dozen lounging elephant seals. So damn cute.

After about 8 minutes of checking them out, we start gravitating back towards the car. At this point an elderly lady walks up to us, senses that we're leaving, and gently grabs my arm. "You gotta see this," she said. I guess she was there alone and wanted to share this with others. This is EXACTLY what we saw about 80 yards south from where you park:

Seals Molting By The Hundreds

I wish I had seen some pups, I guess this isn't the time of year to see them.

The roadside plants were in bloom, tons of these:

Yellow Bush Lupine

Indian Paintbrush

Plus Morning Glory galore. I wish I could tag along with some botanist giving a nature walk pointing out the names of all the different plants, trees, and weeds in the Big Sur/Monterey area. I'd drive back up there just for that.

The seventeen-mile drive was nice($8.25), and I finally learned the name of those African-Safari-looking trees with the flat tops I keep seeing when I drive into Santa Barbara...Cypress Trees. The Lone Cypress stop is really something.

The Lone Cypress

I always used to think the beaches going up to Santa Barbara were so nice. Well, compared to Santa Monica (and south of there) I guess they are. But when we got to the Restless Sea/Spanish Bay during the 17-mile drive, oh my God! The water there, and a few spots before the 17-m.d., almost has a lagoon quality to it right at the shore. The sheen and color of the water are so nice compared to anything in Los Angeles, Orange County, or San Diego.

The rest of the day was a few Restaurants, a few Museums, and a really nice Aquarium you might want to check out for about $18 per adult. If you're planning on going to Monterey, you should stop at the Pacific Grove Chamber of Commerce and get a few walking maps they have. They were really helpful. It's on Central ave., across the street from the Natural History Museum.

Thanks again for the tips

[WTF]

My girlfriend saw that 'Lone Cypress Tree' photo, now she wants to go. Maybe when it cools off a bit. I've always wanted to see Hearst Castle, so we'll probably check that out along the way.

Eighteen bucks per person, just to see an aquarium? I used to go to Knott's Berry Farm with my grandmother when I was four and five years old. We'd walk there from her house, catch the Knott's Trolly out on Beach Blvd for a dime, and then enter the park for free. Shortly after, Knott's started charging twenty-five cents to enter the Park to keep the hippies out (at least that's what I was told as a child). Now it probably costs thirty bucks or more per. Disney probabaly $40 or more per.

[andyfox]

Used to love that fried chicken they served at Knott's, probably would hate it now; I remember my grandfather taking me panning for "gold" there, loved that too.

If any aquarium is worth the money, the one in Monterey is it. Heck, it costs about that much to see the Mandalay Bay aquarium.

[youtalkfunny]

That wasn't even a good picture! It was showing off the observation deck, not the view!

Wait until she sees THESE:

one

two

three

[dsm]

[ QUOTE ]
I've always wanted to see Hearst Castle

[/ QUOTE ]

I only stopped there to grab a brochure and to get a photo book of the castle in their gift shop, never been to the castle though. I'll definitely stop in next time I drive up that way. Here's their web site:

Hearst Castle Info

For detailed prices of Castle tours, click on "Fee Schedule Anounced," which is on the right side of the page.

Like Andy said, in regards to the Monterey Aquarium...it's well worth the price to see.

Monterey Bay Aquarium