72 Hours in Monterey County - A Complete Itinerary
Monterey County has always had a special place in my heart. I grew up going to Monterey, Carmel, Pebble Beach, and Big Sur with my family every few weeks since it’s only a short 1-2 hour drive from the Bay. From the vast dining scene to wine tastings to outdoor activities, Monterey County has it all. Read on for a complete guide on how to spend a long weekend in Monterey!
DAY 1
1:00pm - Make your way down the Monterey County Artichoke Trail
Castroville, located within Monterey County, is known as the “Artichoke Capital of the World” so if you like artichokes, you’re in luck. The Artichoke Trail is comprised of over 20 stops, including restaurants, farms, markets, and attractions. Start at The Power Plant for coffee (they host a farmer’s market with artichoke products on Saturdays) and make your way to the World’s Largest Artichoke Statue at the Giant Artichoke before stopping at Pezzini Farm Stand & The Choke Coach for fried, grilled, and steamed artichokes.
4:00pm - Check-In to The Sanctuary Beach Resort
Located in Marina, The Sanctuary Beach Resort occupies 19 acres of Pacific shoreline with a mix of oceanfront rooms and suites. We had an Oceanfront Suite with an adjoining Oceanfront Deluxe Room right on the beach.
5:30pm - Dinner at Salt Wood Kitchen & Oysterette
Salt Wood is The Sanctuary Beach Resort’s onsite restaurant, which is also part of the Artichoke Trail. The menu is seafood heavy with a few meat options from their woodfire grill. They offer sunset sessions and dinner daily along with weekend brunch and also supply the offerings for in-room dining.
7:00pm - Take a walk on the Marina Dunes Preserve before enjoying a beach bonfire while watching the sunset
The Sanctuary is located right along the Marina Dunes so you can easily walk to the back from your room or the restaurant but make sure to bring jackets as it can get quite windy and chilly as the sun goes down. The resort offers a special BONDfire package for up to 8 people where they will set up a private fire pit for you complete with either cheese or chocolate fondue, or you can also bring your own s’mores kit and snag one of the open fire pits.
DAY 2
10:00am - Head to Calla Lily Valley at Garrapata State Park
First, stop at the Garrapata State Park Bluff Trail and take an easy walk along the coast before heading to Calla Lily Valley. Make sure to have driving instructions for both spots before heading over as there is no cell signal once you enter Garrapata State Park and check here for more info about responsible travel tips when in Big Sur.
12:00pm - Explore Downtown Carmel-By-The-Sea
Carmel-By-The-Sea is a cute little town comprised of fairytale-like buildings. There are plenty of art galleries, boutiques, and museums to visit in addition to all the eateries. We started with coffee at Carmel Valley Coffee Roasting Co. before strolling the streets.
1:00pm - Lunch at Pangaea Grill
Located in the heart of Carmel-By-The-Sea, Pangaea Grill offers a mix of East-West fusion dishes and the menu has something for everyone. Even though they’re not part of the Artichoke Trail, they have a steamed artichoke with a balsamic glaze and artichoke aioli that I highly recommend.
2:30pm - Wine tasting at Caraccioli Cellars Tasting Room
Caraccioli Cellars is a family-run winery founded in 2006 with a quaint tasting room in the heart of Carmel-By-The-Sea. They offer a five wine tasting flight for $40 or wines by the glass. I personally enjoyed their Brut Cuvée and Brut Rosé since I like sparkling wines, which have been named the Best USA Sparkling Wine from the Champagne & Sparkling Wine World Championships.
5:30pm - Aqueous Yoga class
Aqueous Yoga is a new offering from the team behind Big Sur Salts. The class involves individual yoga pools shallowly filled with purified Big Sur salt water, which offers many benefits and healing properties for the skin. The classes are set up oceanside or in the scenic valley so there’s always a beautiful view.
7:00pm - Dinner at Cella Restaurant & Bar
Cella is a newer addition from the Alta Group, which also owns popular Alta Bakery & Cafe, to Downtown Old Monterey and located on the grounds of the Historic Cooper Molera Adobe. Chef Ben Spungin’s ever-changing menu focuses on locally grown, seasonal ingredients with bright flavors. The menu is not overly extensive but still has plenty of options to choose from. I haven’t tried every dish but I’m confident that you can’t go wrong with any item on the menu. And make sure to save room for dessert, their olive oil cake isone of the best I’ve had.
DAY 3
11:30am - Brunch at Alta Bakery & Cafe
If you love bread and pastries, because who doesn’t, Alta is a must. I consider myself a carb snob so when I say a bakery/cafe is worth visiting, you better believe it will be good. I literally dream about the Peas & Herb Dip with Alta toasted bread everyday… Alta is also the sister restaurant of Cella, which have adjoining back patios.
12:30pm - Walk around Monterey and grab ice cream at Revival Ice Cream
From Alta, head up Alvarado St. and make your way to Old Fisherman’s Wharf. On your way back, stop by Revival Ice Cream to try their award winning Bee’s Knees ice cream, which is made with local Monterey honey and beeswax, along with other artisanal flavors.
2:30pm - Wine tasting at Odonata Winery
Odonata Winery is a family-owned vineyard and winery that produces small batches of wines while focusing on local grapes that are organic and grown sustainably. If you didn’t know, Monterey County actually has a robust wine region including seven recognized American Viticulture Areas. The tasting set-up at Odonata is very casual and laid-back. Once you check-in, pick a seat either inside or outside and one of the team members will come by every so often to pour your selections.
4:30pm - Take a class or enjoy food & wine pairings at Folktale Winery
Folktale Winery offers various classes throughout the month. We took the Seasonings, Salts & Rubs class, which started off with a glass of wine and small bites before we mixed our own seasonings. Folktale Winery also has an indoor/outdoor wine garden where you can order food and wine tastings.
7:00pm - Dinner at Baja Cantina
Baja Cantina is another Artichoke Trail restaurant and only a three minute drive from Folktale Winery. The best way I can describe Baja Cantina is as an eclectic sports bar. The interior is filled with vintage automobile memorabilia and TVs while the patio has a completely different cozy vibe with a fireplace. If you like artichokes, definitely get the Monterey Bay Quesadilla, which is filled with grilled prawns and artichoke hearts.
I hope you get a chance to explore Monterey County for yourself! It’s such a beautiful place with so much to do and see and will leave you wanting to come back for more.
All photos by Sarah Ching Photography
