5 Day Monterey, CA Vacation: Scenic Drives & Hidden Gems

Last updated on March 31, 2026

Want to plan the perfect Monterey, CA vacation, but not sure what to do? This guide will help you have an amazing 5-day trip here.

Nestled along the Pacific Coast, Monterey County, California is a true gem. Receiving more than 4.7 million visitors in 2024, it’s hardly a secret. Known for its epic golf courses, scenic drives (like Big Sur), a world-class aquarium, and fascinating history made famous by John Steinbeck—it’s easy to see why this is such a popular getaway for a California vacation.

While most visitors stick to Monterey and Carmel-by-the-Sea on their Monterey vacation—which, let’s be honest, makes sense—there is so much more to experience!

In this post, I’ll cover all the fantastic things Monterey County has to offer. From its incredible beaches, scenic drives, fantastic hikes, delicious restaurants, and must-visit wineries along with several hidden gems most visitors miss completely.

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Full disclosure, this post is written in partnership with See Monterey who invited us on a paid trip to explore their beautiful county. While we did receive compensation for creating this post, all recommendations and opinions shared here are 100% our own. Now, let’s have this five-day itinerary help you plan the best Monterey, CA vacation ever!

The Best Time for a Monterey, CA Vacation

Monterey, California has temperate weather year-round. It rarely crests above 70°F (21.1°C) and doesn’t drop below 45°F (7.2°C) too often. Most people assume summer is the best time to visit the coast, but June through August is quite overcast, with lots of cloud coverage off the coast.

Summer is also the most crowded season. Expect lines at major sites, higher pricing and potentially bumper-to-bumper traffic on Big Sur. For that reason, we suggest skipping planning your Monterey, CA vacation in the summer if possible, instead visiting in late spring (April or May) or early fall (September or October).

If you want picturesque days spent on the beach, sunny skies, and crisp weather—September or May are your best months to visit. Winter is slightly colder and wetter, is still a lovely time to visit. However, Big Sur may be closed due to weather conditions during the winter months. So check that before booking.

Month	Avg. High °F (°C)	Avg. Low °F (°C)
January	58°F (14.4°C)	44°F (6.6°C)
February	60°F (15.5°C)	45°F (7.2°C)
March	61°F (16.1°C)	45°F (7.2°C)
April	62°F (16.6°C)	46°F (7.7°C)
May	63°F (17.2°C)	48°F (8.8°C)
June	65°F (18.3°C)	50°F (10°C)
July	66°F (18.8°C)	52°F (11.1°C)
August	68°F (20°C)	53°F (11.6°C)
September	70°F (21.1°C)	53°F (11.6°C)
October	68°F (20°C)	51°F (10.5°C)
November	63°F (17.2°C)	47°F (8.3°C)
December	58°F (14.4°C)	44°F (6.6°C)

Where to Start and End Your Monterey, CA Vacation

The easiest way to get to Monterey, California is to fly into the Monterey Regional Airport. It’s a great, albeit small, airport with flights across the US. This is how we arrived and loved that after 10 minutes we were at our hotel and getting settled.

If preferred, you can fly into San Francisco and pick up a rental car, driving two hours south to Monterey County. Many people like to fly into San Francisco and make that a part of their California road trip, exploring the city and stopping at a few sights like Muir Woods or Redwoods State Park.

✈️ Fly into Monterey Regional Airport if you’re short on time.
✈️ Fly into San Francisco if you don’t mind adding 2 hours of driving to your trip.

You definitely need to rent a car for your Monterey, CA vacation. You can walk around most major tourist sites in each city, but you’ll need a car to get to the neighboring towns of Pacific Grove, Salinas, or Carmel-by-the-Sea. Not to mention, you need a car for scenic drives like Big Sur!

The regional airport and San Francisco airport have great car rental options. We always book our rental cars through Discover Cars, an online rental car platform because they have great transparent prices and an easy booking experience. You can see what it may cost you using the form below!

How Long Do You Need for a Monterey, CA Vacation?

Most people visit Monterey, CA on a weekend getaway having two or three days to enjoy. That is sufficient time to enjoy Monterey and Carmel-by-the-Sea alone, but you’re missing a lot of other amazing spots in this county. For that reason, we recommend spending 4 nights, 5 days in Monterey to experience the diversity and lesser visited spots of this region, too.

🧳 5 Day Monterey, CA Vacation Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive and get settled in Monterey.
Day 2: Spend your time between Monterey, Pacific Grove, and Seaside.
Day 3: Enjoy a day in Carmel-by-the-Sea.
Day 4: Explore Salinas, one of the area’s most underrated cities.
Day 5: Drive Big Sur.

Map of Monterey, CA

Monterey California is big. It spans 3,777 square miles and is the third-largest agricultural county in California. Monterey is the city most people think of (thanks to its name), but Salinas is the largest city in the county located about 30 minutes northeast of Monterey. On the Monterey map below, you’ll notice several small municipalities, including Pacific Grove, Carmel-by-the-Sea, Seaside, and Sand City.

These towns are 100% worth visiting and often a short drive from Monterey City with their own vibe, attractions, and amazing offerings.

Where to Stay on Your Monterey, CA Vacation

This itinerary will take you all across most of Monterey County. With that in mind, you want to stay somewhere central that requires the least amount of driving to each destination. For us, that was in Monterey. Many people prefer the charm of Carmel-by-the-Sea, but there isn’t nearly as much to do and you aren’t as well connected.

We stayed at the Portola Hotel & Spa in Monterey. It is a 2-minute walk to the Fisherman’s Wharf, next to biking and walking trails, and close to amazing restaurants in the historic district. We loved our stay there and took full advantage of the heated pool, hot tub, on-site parking, and beautiful rooms. If the Portola Hotel & Spa is out of your budget we have other Monterey hotel recommendations below.

Our Top 4 hotels in Monterey, California

• Portola Hotel & Spa ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐, 9.2 rating (Our top pick)
• Old Monterey Inn ⭐⭐⭐⭐, 8.3 rating (Upscale old-school hotel)
• Spindrift Inn ⭐⭐⭐⭐, 8.9 rating (on Cannery Row)
• Days Inn by Wyndham Monterey Downtown ⭐⭐⭐, 7.9 rating (central Monterey location)
  Explore all hotels >

How to visit Monterey, CA Responsibly

Before we dive into what to do on your Monterey, CA vacation, I need to go over some basic rules visitors should follow when coming here. Sadly, we saw loads of unsafe and irresponsible behavior on our trip and while we’d all love to skip over this PSA, it’s clearly needed.

Please make sure you stay on the trail whenever visiting a site. This includes scenic walks along the coast, state parks or other vista points. The rocky windswept conditions and short growing season here already make it tough for the rare and beautiful flora to thrive. The pathways and boardwalks were specifically designed to protect this fragile habitat while allowing visitors to enjoy the stunning beauty.

Being here is a privilege, so please stay on the trail, follow park rules—such as no drones—and pack out any trash you bring. Let’s help preserve this special place for future generations.

It’s also important to note that parking is limited along Big Sur. If you get to a spot that is overcrowded and there is no parking left, keep driving. This is a windy, narrow two-lane road with fast-moving traffic. Pulling illegal u-turns to get to spots, or parking slightly on the road is extremely dangerous for you and other visitors!

• 🚫 Drones are NOT ALLOWED on Big Sur.
• 🥾 Stay on trail. Going off trail can disrupt the flora and fauna and impact the habitat for animals.
• 🚮 Leave no trace. Always take any trash, food, or other waste items with you.
• 🅿️ If a pull-off is busy and there is no parking, keep driving and try to return at a slower time. Do not park illegally or in a dangerous spot on the road.
• 🔇Be mindful of your noise level when exploring. Don’t play loud music on trails or on the beach.

What to Pack for Your Monterey, CA Vacation

Even though you’re visiting the beach, skip your shorts and tank tops and pack light layers. Bring short-sleeved or light long-sleeve shirts with a mid-weight jacket. When the weather is nice you can soak in the sunshine while staying warm when the clouds roll in or it gets dark. We wore jeans and had several layers to stay warm during our March visit.

We love Merino wool clothing because it’s perfect for traveling and layering. It’s lightweight and can be cooling or warming, plus it doesn’t retain odors. You can shop our favorite products at Unbound Merino here.

👟 If you’re visiting Pinnacles National Park on this trip (which you should), make sure you have a good pair of sneakers or hiking boots plus hiking clothes. I love my Vessi boots for hiking near rivers or lakes. It has a great grip so I don’t slip in mud. It keeps my feet warm and dry since they are waterproof and cute! You can grab a pair here.

A wind and rain jacket is a good idea since the weather is so unpredictable. We had 10-minute downpours, a 1-minute hail session, followed by hours of sunshine.

Grab the gear below:
☔️ Rain or wind jacket
👖Jeans
👕 Merino wool shirts (both t-shirts and long sleeves)
🧥Mid-weight jacket (even in summer)
👟 Sneakers or hiking boots
👙Bathing suits (if your hotel has a jacuzzi or pool)
💧Reusable water bottle
🥾 Hiking outfit for Pinnacles National Park
🔦 Headlamp if you want to hike in a cave at Pinnacles National Park
🧢 Beanie or hat

We noticed that people tend to dress well in Monterey. Pack a button-down or collared shirt and/or a nice top or dress. While there are plenty of casual spots, having a more polished outfit on hand is recommended for wine tastings or a nice meal.

Day 1: Arrive + Explore Monterey

Day 1 you’ll arrive in Monterey and get settled into your hotel. After, you’ll explore what you can of the city before having a lovely meal and a nightcap if desired. If you don’t have time for all of the activities below don’t worry, you can continue exploring more of Monterey tomorrow!

If you’re hungry grab a coffee or bite to eat at Alta Bakery. They have awesome pizzas and amazing lattes.

Walk through Historic Monterey

Monterey’s history dates back millennia, first being home to the Rumsien natives. The Spanish first arrived in 1602, but colonization didn’t begin until 1769. Formerly known as Alta California, Monterey became the capital of California in 1775 a title it would hold under Mexican and US rule.

As a rich port town, Monterey was an important locale for the Spanish, Mexicans, and later the United States. You can take a historic tour downtown to glimpse into Monterey’s past. Many buildings are old adobe-style homes that date back to Mexican and Spanish rule. A few notable buildings to explore are the Custom House, the First Brick House, and the Pacific House Museum.

🏫 Start your visit to Monterey State Historic Park at the Pacific House Museum. They will share information and have view displays covering the various periods of Monterey’s history.

Shop and Explore Cannery Row

Cannery Row is one of the top tourist areas in Monterey with loads of shops, restaurants, boutiques and art galleries lining the old canning district. This area was once the epicenter of Monterey’s sardine canning industry in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Monterey was formerly considered the Sardine Capital of the World during World War II and remained a top producer until demand fell in the 1950s.

Idealized by the book Cannery Row, by John Steinbeck (a Salinas native) a walk down this historic area is a must. If you want a drink stop at Tipsy Putt, a restaurant and bar where you can play put-put golf among other games. Another option is the Salty Seal Pub which has more of a dive-bar, sports-bar feel and is right on Cannery Row’s main street.

If you want to get out on the water and get a different vantage point of Cannery Row, take this kayak tour. You’ll admire the beautiful shoreline and learn about the marine animals. You’ll likely see a sea lion and a sea otter or two.

Tour the Monterey Bay Aquarium

The Monterey Bay Aquarium is one of the top attractions in Monterey County. Rightfully so—the aquarium is incredible! With over 200 exhibits and 80,000 animals and plant species, it beautifully illustrates marine biodiversity while advocating for ocean conservation.

Located inside of an old Cannery Warehouse on Cannery Row, the aquarium sits waterfront with unique displays of the open ocean, a massive kelp tank, deep water creatures, and a crowd favorite, otters. Even if you’re not normally an aquarium person, the Monterey Bay Aquarium is not to be missed!

🎫 Tickets need to be booked in advance and will sell out. Buy these at least a week or two before arriving.

Take a Stroll on Fisherman’s Wharf

Fisherman’s Wharf in Monterey, California is a great spot to grab a bite to eat, pick up a souvenir or admire the many sea lions relaxing on the beach or swimming below the docks. This historic wharf was originally built in 1845 and was a hub for commercial fishing and boomed during the Sardine era. Today, it’s mostly a tourist destination and a great spot to grab a whale-watching tour!

Grab Dinner in Monterey

We grabbed dinner on the Fisherman’s Wharf at Old Fisherman’s Grotto. Known for its award-winning clam chowder, this seafood spot on the Fisherman’s Wharf is iconic and perfect for a nice seafood meal. You don’t have to eat at the Fisherman’s Wharf if you don’t want to.

There are several great restaurants in the historic downtown, but we loved the charm and history of this restaurant. Alvarado Street Brewery is a great option if you want a more relaxed dinner or are craving a delicious beer or cocktail to accompany your meal.

Day 2: Pacific Grove, Monterey, and Seaside

Today you’ll explore the charming town of Pacific Grove before completing one of the many scenic drives in Monterey, California. You can also fill in your day with anything you may have missed in Monterey yesterday before finishing the evening in Seaside.

Explore Pacific Grove

Start your second day of your Monterey, CA vacation in Pacific Grove. Located about 10 minutes from downtown Monterey, this charming historic town has a completely different feel than Monterey, despite its proximity. If you’re an early riser, I highly recommend welcoming the morning with a sunrise at Lover’s Point.

Its east-facing direction makes it one of the few places along the Pacific Coast where you can see the sunrise over the ocean.

From there grab coffee at The Bookworks. This coffee shop, cafe, and bookstore is so charming! We loved browsing their independent bookstore while sipping on coffee. We wanted a hearty breakfast for our day of exploring, so instead of getting pastries at The Bookworks, we went to Winston’s Brunch Place. Their pancakes with lemon and blueberry jam were amazing!

Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary

If you’re planning a Monterey, CA vacation between November to February, stop at the Monarch Grove Sanctuary in Pacific Grove. Nicknamed “Butterfly Town, U.S.A”, Pacific Grove has a protected sanctuary that welcomes thousands of monarch butterflies for overwintering.

We witnessed the monarch migration in Mexico (although it’s a different monarch species) and it’s one of the coolest experiences we’ve ever had. If the timing is right, definitely add this to your itinerary!

🦋 Please be respectful of the monarchs during your visit. Keep your voice low, never touch or molest a butterfly (it’s a $1,000 fine if you’re caught), and be mindful of where you step as you enjoy the free visit.

17-Mile Scenic Drive in Monterey

Start your drive on Ocean View Blvd. This begins at Lover’s Point and winds around the coast until it reaches Asilomar State Beach. This beautiful spot is popular amongst surfers and the trail is lined with paths, boardwalks and beautiful spots to take in the scenery.

From there continue driving to the 17-Mile Scenic Drive to Pebble Beach. The drive is through private property with a paid entry. It costs $12.50 per car and is good all day. There are several entrances where you can pay the fee and begin your scenic drive, but we recommend the one in Pacific Grove for this itinerary.

If it’s nice weather and you enjoy biking, I highly recommend doing an e-bike tour of the 17-mile drive. It’s much easier to stop and take in the views, and pause at each overlook with a better vantage point.

Seaside + Sand City

By now, you’re probably hungry! Grab lunch and a pint of beer at Other Brother Beer Co. in Seaside. This neighborhood is about a 15 to 20-minute drive from Pacific Grove and only 10 minutes from Monterey. It’s super charming and feels more local. It also has great restaurants to explore.

If you drive about 5 minutes up the road you’ll notice sand dunes take over the landscape. This area, aptly named Sand City, is mostly industrial. However, the city turned it into a public art gallery with beautiful murals lining many factories and buildings. Definitely take a stroll through the area to check out the artwork!

From there, head over to Fort Ord Dunes State Park for sunset. This park is one of the best spots to enjoy a sunset in Monterey with over 4 miles of pristine beaches tucked behind dunes. If you’re lucky you might spot a snowy plover, an endangered native bird that nests here.

*Just be mindful of staying on the trail, we saw several people hop the fence to get a picture, which damages the ecosystem and can endanger the snowy plover further!

Your last stop for the night will be for dinner at Maligne. Run by Chef Klaus Georis, this intimate restaurant has a laid-back, yet upscale feel to it with a fantastic menu featuring local ingredients. The kitchen is open air so you can watch the chefs do their magic (and grill over a charcoal fire). It was our favorite meal of the trip!

Day 3: Carmel-By-The-Sea

Day 3 of your Monterey, CA vacation itinerary is all about Carmel-by-the-Sea. This charming fairybook-like town is one of the most popular stops. You’ll spend all day here wine tasting, taking in the views on the beach, hiking Point Lobos, and grabbing an amazing dinner before returning to Monterey.

Explore Downtown and Fairytale Buildings

Start your morning with breakfast at Pangea. Consistently voted one of the best restaurants in Carmel, it has nice breakfast options and insane bloody marys. You can also grab a pastry at Carmel Bakery, which has been in operation since 1899 (before Carmel was even a city)!

From there stroll the charming streets of Carmel-by-the-Sea. You’ll instantly notice it’s unique architecture. The streets are as picture-perfect as it gets. Lined with beautiful trees, flowers, vines, and sprinkled in with fairytale cottages designed by Hugh Comstock in the 1920s. This self-taught architect started a trend for these unique property designs which ooze with charm and character.

A few of the popular homes and buildings to see with this unique fairytale architecture are the Hansel and Gretel homes and Tucks Box, although Tucks Box is not an original Comstock.

Known for attracting painters, sculptors, writers, poets, actors, and musicians. Carmel-by-the-Sea is the proud home of Thomas Kincade’s first art gallery and several famous modern painters along with the Frank Lloyd Wright home, Della Walker House at the end of Carmel Beach. Many of these galleries are tucked away, down non-assuming “hidden” passageways that lead to beautifully decorated courtyards.

Point Lobos

If you’re hungry by now, stop by Bruno’s Deli and get one of their sandwiches or deli fair to go. We got a tri-tip sandwich that was 10/10. You can also get grab-and-go deli food from Nielsen Bros Market. It’s the perfect snack for a picnic at Point Lobos State Natural Reserve.

I highly recommend planning your itinerary around visiting Carmel-by-the-Sea and Point Lobos on a weekday. This place is very popular and will reach capacity on the weekends. We weren’t able to visit during our trip because it was at max capacity.

If you can make it, make sure you give yourself at least two hours to take in the views and do one of the awesome hikes there. We recommend the Cypress Grove Trail via South Shore Trail. It’s 1.7-miles roundtrip and gives you some of the best views on Point Lobos. Picture crystal clear turquoise water, striking rocks and trees jutting out over the ocean. It’s stunning! You can also visit Weston Beach to explore the tide pools if you visit during low tide. Just remember to check the tide charts.

Wine Tasting

After you’ll head back to Carmel-by-the-Sea for a wine tasting (or two). We went to Chalone Vineyard, which is the oldest producing winery in Monterey County. There are over 200 wineries in Monterey, with many having wine-tasting rooms only in Carmel-by-the-Sea or Monterey. If you want to enjoy the wines of this region, this is the spot to do it!

🍷 Monterey is known mostly for Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, so make sure these are on your tasting menu. Reservations are recommended, however not required if you’re visiting in the off-season.

Cheese Picnic + Carmel Beach

The Cheese Shop is a charming cheese and wine specialty store in the same complex as Chalone. After your wine tasting, grab a cheese board (they give you everything you need from knives, boards, and to-go gear) and a bottle of wine (twist off) and head to Carmel Beach for sunset.

The beach is incredible! Soft white sand with massive waves. Point Lobos is to the left while Pebble Beach sits on the right, it’s protected in many ways compared to other beaches in Monterey giving visitors a relatively windless experience.

Dinner in Carmel

There are loads of great restaurants in Carmel-by-the-Sea. Dametra Cafe is one of the most popular restaurants (reservations required) serving Mediterranean cuisine. You can also visit Chez Noir if you want a Michelin fine dining experience. We ended up at Vesuvio‘s a popular Italian restaurant that had fantastic pasta! If the weather is nice ask to sit on the rooftop terrace.

Day 4: Salinas, Soledad, and Pinnacles National Park

Today you’re getting off the tourist path and exploring the lesser visited spots in Monterey County. Start with breakfast and coffee in historic Salinas before heading to Pinnacles National Park for a hike. After you can get some delicious tacos in Soledad before returning back to Salinas for a delicious dinner and drinks.

Explore Salinas

Salinas is the largest city in Monterey County, but most visitors don’t come here. Located about 30 minutes from Monterey City, it’s a bit of a hike—but it’s worth it. We loved this historic city, which has several beautiful buildings dating back to the late 19th century.

Salinas is not only the home of John Steinbeck and home to the John Steinbeck Museum, but it’s also a major agriculture hub. Considered the “Salad Bowl of the World” Salinas is where a large portion of the USA’s salad greens are grown. It’s also where 75% of the world’s artichokes are produced. Its ties with the agriculture community and Monterey County’s history with Mexico mean it has a large Mexican-American population.

We visited on a Saturday so we got a taste of this area’s beautiful bounty at their farmer’s market. The farmer’s market had so much tasty food from tacos, tamales, aguas frescas, burritos, BBQ, and beyond. There’s no shortage of delicious things to enjoy.

☕️ Don’t miss getting coffee at Karanaval, which makes Mexican-inspired drinks like a Horchata latte.

Pinnacles National Park

After exploring Salinas, head an hour south to Pinnacles National Park. There are two entrances so make sure you decide which entrance is best for your trip. Due to timing, and a wine tasting we had scheduled after our hike, we entered on the west side.

🚨 Tip: Pinnacles gets incredibly hot during summer months. Avoid hiking in peak daytime if you are visiting June through August. Also, bring a headlamp if you plan to hike one of the cave trails. It gets dark!

You will need to pay the National Park entrance fee which is $30 per vehicle, good for one week, or free if you have one of the National Park’s annual passes. We visited after days of back-to-back rain, so the hike we intended on doing (Balcony Caves Hike 2.6 miles out and back) had calf-deep water. So, we decided to adjust and did the Balconies Cliff hike. It was stunning!

We were thoroughly surprised by Pinnacles given it’s one of the least visited National Parks in the country. It was serene, incredibly striking, and filled with nature treasures to enjoy.

➡ Read Next: 10 Breathtaking Underrated National Parks You Need To Visit ⬅

Soledad and Wine Tasting

After head to Soledad for a (much-needed) post-hike taco. Soledad has been an agriculture hub for more than a century and remains a largely Mexican-American community. You can find loads of authentic Mexican restaurants, but we recommend getting tacos from Cocuyo’s Restaurant, Taqueria Pacheco (inside a quick-mart), and Taqueria Comidas Sabrosas.

The tacos will also give you some substance before you do another wine tasting! As you drive to Pinnacles you’ll notice signs on the highway for Monterey wine country. There are several options for wineries to visit, but we went to Crū Winery. Their view overlooking the valley with Pinnacles in the distance was amazing and their wine was really tasty. You can also go to Wrath Winery, which we’ve heard is lovely.

Dinner and Drinks in Soledad

After wine tasting drive the twenty to thirty minutes back to Salinas for dinner at Villa Azteca. This restaurant located on Main Street showcases a wide variety of Mexican cuisine in a laid-back atmosphere. We got enchiladas in a red mole sauce and the most amazing agua chile with chicharron. We’ve spent more than a year and a half traveling in Mexico and have tried most Mexican dishes in the region they hail from.

When we say this restaurant was good, we mean it! Everything was delicious and very authentic. Don’t miss out on getting a michealada here. Our day exploring the Salinas region and Pinnacles National Park was our favorite of our Monterey, CA vacation, so don’t skip this stop.

Day 5: Drive Big Sur

On your last day of this Monterey, CA vacation you’re going to drive to Big Sur. I normally advise against doing popular activities on the weekend, but Big Sur is a rare exception to that rule. Most businesses along Big Sur’s remote two-lane scenic highway are only open Thursday through Sunday. So if you want to stop for a coffee or lunch along the route, you want to go one of these days.

Big Sur is huge. It specifically describes the 90-mile stretch of coast between Carmel-by-the-Sea to the north and San Simeon in the South. However, the road continues further and can offer scenic views for nearly 200 miles. We spent nearly all day driving, stopping, snapping photos, and exploring and still only did a small portion of the road.

There is zero cell phone service and very few restrooms on the highway. Stop for a restroom break before driving and download offline maps. It’s also important to emphasize, there are no drones at all along Big Sur.

We stopped for a bathroom break and donuts from Dutch Door Donuts in Carmel-by-the-Sea before starting our drive then pulled over at one of the Garrapata State Park’s nineteen discreetly numbered stops for a picnic.

There are plenty of blog posts dedicated to driving this route, but a few stops we can recommend on this drive are China Vista Point, Garrapata State Park, Calla Lily Valley, and Hurricane Point. If you need a coffee pick me up stop at The Village Bodega and then get lunch at Big Sur River Inn Restaurant before continuing to Pfeiffer Beach or Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park to hike amongst the Redwoods trees.

Dinner at Nepenthe

To finish off a perfect day on Big Sur, head over to Nepenthe. This restaurant has been open since 1949 serving guests delicious food in a cozy mountain cabin atmosphere overlooking the Santa Lucia Mountains. I will be the first to say, the menu is not cheap. You are certainly paying Big Sur prices and for the million-dollar view, but the food was excellent. We highly recommend the Ambrosia Burger! Reservations are highly encouraged.

It will take around an hour to drive back from Nepenthe to Monterey where you can get ready for tomorrow’s departure. As you can see this 5 day Monterey, CA vacation showcases the best of the county and gives you huge diversity in food, activities, and sights that a lot of other Monterey itineraries miss. I hope it helped plan our Monterey, CA vacation. If so, let me know below!

Monterey truly is a must-visit destination and one of the best road trips to make in the USA. If you’re looking for more travel content check out some of our blog posts below.

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