Last minute trip. Family of four with two boys ages 4 and 6. Will be there Nov 23-25. We are staying at the Quality Inn mostly due to price and indoor pool for kids. Still have time to cancel and rebook somewher else if there is bad feedback. I have read reviews and they look OK.
Questions:
We will be doing the aquarium but would like to visit some nice beaches where the kids can explore. Seashells, seals, otters, sea lions, maybe tide pools. Anybody know some good spots for younger kids.
Reasonably priced restraunts for families. Seafood, Italian, Mexican, maybe Chinese. I understand a reasonable seafood restraunt is not the same as a reasonable mexican restraunt. Looking for where the locals go.
We will have a car but places to walk to around Munras Ave that would be fun.
What do families do at Fishermans Wharf and Cannery Row?
Would like to say thank you in advance and I really appreciate any advice you can give us.
Family Advice-Experts?
Hi. First of all, if your expectations are realistic, then the Quality Inn should be OK. However, if you tell me your price range, I might be able to suggest something else. Two that come to mind are Monterey Bay Lodge, which is across the street from Lake El Estero, where you can rent Paddleboats and within walking distance of Dennis the Menace Playground and the Wharf, and Monterey Beach Resort, which is the only hotel directly on the beach. These two are worth checking out.
Restaurants: I would avoid Chinese here. For Mexican, a really great casual and reasonable place is Michael%26#39;s Taqueria in Country Club Gate Center in Pacific Grove. For Seafood, the Fish Hopper on Cannery Row is good--it%26#39;s the only restaurant on Cannery Row that I ever recommend. Not sure about the prices anymore, but you can get excellent Italian at Little Napoli in Carmel.
Point Lobos State Reserve (just south of Carmel) has great tide pools to explore, as well as some easy trails with great ocean views. Carmel Beach is a wide expanse of white Sand where the boys can run and play--it%26#39;s a beautiful place. Lover%26#39;s Point in Pacific Grove is a small beach that is protected from the wind and has very calm (but very cold) water. It%26#39; s the perfect place to build a sand castle.
I think your boys would enjoy the glass bottom boat tour of the harbor. It%26#39;s a good way to see seals up close. http://meet.montereyinfo.org/?p=8427 scroll down to Little Mermaid Glass Bottom Boat
The main attraction of Cannery Row is the Aquarium, which is outstanding. There are little shops--Ghiradelli makes great sundaes if you%26#39;re looking for a treat. The Wharf, too, consists mainly of shops.
If you do stay on Munras, you can walk to Del Monte Center. There%26#39;s a California Pizza Kitchen there, shops, and a big movie theater. There is now a PF Chang%26#39;s Chinese restaurant, which is reasonably good, but expensive.
Family Advice-Experts?
It%26#39;s too bad, but Monterey isn%26#39;t good for reasonably priced restaurants. One idea is to pick up a warm picnic (soups, chicken, etc) at the Safeway in Carmel, and eat at the beach! Downtown Monterey I would recommned Turtle Bay Taqueria.
A great way to spend a couple hours is at Dennis the Menace Park. I%26#39;ve never seen such a great place to play for free!
Another great free attraction is the hundreds of Sea Lions at the end of the ';Coast Guard'; pier, also known as the Breakwater. Follow the pier out from El Estero Beach.
One things families do is to rent a surrey and bike between Fisherman%26#39;s Wharf and Cannery row. (Of course you can just walk along for free.) The recreation trail is excellent, and there are almost always seals on the rocks. Lately there have been a lot of otters too. Bring binoculars if you have them - the otters are so much fun to watch!
Schooner%26#39;s Bistro at the Monterey Plaza is nice, they have a kid%26#39;s menu there, also. Great clam chowder and fish and chips here, enough for sharing a plate. :)
On Fisherman%26#39;s Wharf there is Isabella%26#39;s or Cafe Fina for good seafood, the wharf is fun for strolling, looking in the shops, you can sample clam chowder and take in the gorgeous scenery, we have been on the Glass Bottoms Boat, it is a fun ride and fairly inexpensive.
In Asilomar is the Fish Wife, a fun colorful place conducive to families with great seafood, we loved the Crab Tostaditos here! Little Napoli in Carmel as PG mentioned is also very good, the places in Carmel are more expensive, tho. The patio at the Mission Ranch is a good place for a family, they have heaters if the weather is cool, beautiful views of the ocean and green pastures with sheep here, you may enjoy the Carmel Mission in this area also, it is educational and very pretty. have fun! :)
Much thanks to all. I have rebooked my room at the Monterey Bay Lodge thanks to your advice. The Monterey Beach Resort was unavailable for my dates and after research I believe the Lodge will meet our needs better anyway. Look forward to researching the restraunts reccomended. Thank you all very much.
This may be an obvious thing to mention, but I just wanted to say: Never turn your back on the ocean around here! I%26#39;m sure you%26#39;re very vigilant parents, but the tides here can be tricky. This won%26#39;t be a problem at Lover%26#39;s Point, but on the ocean beaches it can be. Have a wonderful and safe trip!
PG hit our favorite restaurants with kids. The other fish place we like is Sea Harvest on Foam Street in Monterey. Sometimes we will get a container of Clam Chowder to go and take to the beach. For lunch, we do like Tommy%26#39;s Wok in Carmel. Huge lunches for cheap. Haven%26#39;t done dinner there.
The other area of tide pool we like (or I should say the kids) is between Asilomar and lover%26#39;s point. Its still technically Asilomar I think, but more toward Pacific Grove. Loads of hermit crabs. Pick a turn out and there are lots of tide pools with tiny beaches in between. Do check out Dennis the Menace Park. Your kids are the perfect ages.
They also like Carmel Beach. Its a nice sandy beach and we can take the dog! Great for sand castles and people watching.
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