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Monterey
There
are few other pleasures that can compete with the fun of
having scrumptious fish while rambling along the
streets, catching an eyeful of art resplendently
displayed for your sweet perusal. Welcome to the land
where fishes rule the roost, literally, and the whole
town is dipped in the flavor of art- step into the
pleasure that Monterey is and be prepared to have a
magnificent time! The city of Monterey is situated in
the Monterey County near the Pacific coastline in
California. Bordered by the Monterey bay on one side and
Santa Lucia Mountains and Gabilan Mountains on the
other, the weather here is always wonderfully
Mediterranean; cool breezes, glorious summers and not
too cold winters. The city is situated on the Monterey
Bay National Marine Sanctuary therefore don’t be
surprised if you find yourself in the midst of some rare
exotic species!
If you
wish to tour the city, then it’s important that you are
in sync with its history. After all a place’s past is
what makes its present! The hunting and fishing started
on these lands as far back as the prehistoric times!
Archaeologists have found some shell middens that can be
dated back to the same era. Monterey has been under the
rule of various powers; firstly the Spaniards, then the
Mexicans and finally that of the USA. The city was one
of the first and only ports of the state; in fact the
custom house here has been declared a national landmark!
The city has to its credit not just this but various
other firsts as well-the first public building, the
first theatre, the first printing press and also the
first brick house; all of these are unique to this city.
Talking about art, the city has a distinct flavor of
various art styles that have left their mark on it;
Monterey colonial architecture can be seen at Larkin
House. Monterey is also known for being a melting point
for various painters. Many an artist has picked up his
easel and added a dash of color to it and presented
awe-inspiring pictures in En plein air or in the style
of Tonalism. The city has also been heralded as the
‘language capital of the world’.
Monterey offers a whole variety of things to do. A
Mecca for fish lovers, there are ample places and
opportunities where you can dip in your anglers and
cherish some good time! Head off to Monterey Bay and
Fisherman’s Wharf to have, literally, a whale of a time!
Art aficionados can go check out the Monterey Museum of
Art. Kinkade lovers are sure to enjoy this. Beside this,
you have the Monterey Bay Aquarium, which merits a visit
by all and sundry. Situated on Canary Row, the Aquarium
is nothing short of a national wonder.
With Various marine labs based here, a trip here is
nothing short of an infotainment experience!
Wildlife lovers can feast their eyes on the San Joaquin
kit fox, Bishop Pine or Gardner’s Yampah. You can also move onto check out the
famous coastal town of Pacific Grove which is admired
for its beaches, monarch butterflies, Victorian houses
and Point Pinos Lighthouse!
Related websites and additional information:
The
Monterey Bay Aquarium - located on the site of a
former sardine cannery on Cannery Row in Monterey,
California, is one of the largest aquariums in the
world. It has an annual attendance of 1.8 million and
holds 35,000 plants and animals representing 623
species. Among the aquarium's numerous exhibits, two are
of particular note. The centerpiece of the Ocean's Edge
wing is a 33-foot (10-m) high tank for viewing
California coastal marine life. In this tank, the
aquarium was the first in the world to grow live
California Giant Kelp using a wave machine at the top of
the tank (water movement is a necessary precondition for
keeping Giant Kelp, which absorbs nutrients from
surrounding water and requires turbidity), allowing
sunlight in through the open tank top, and pumping in
raw seawater.
The
second exhibit of note is a one million gallon tank in
the Outer Bay Wing which features one of the world's
largest single-paned windows (crafted by a Japanese
company, the window is actually four panes seamlessly
glued together through a proprietary process). Sea life
on exhibit includes stingrays, jellyfish, sea otters,
and numerous other native marine species, which can be
viewed above and below the waterline. For displaying
jellyfish, the MBA uses an aquarium called a Kreisel
tank which creates a circular flow to support and
suspend the jellies. Visitors are able to inspect the
creatures of the kelp forest at several levels in the
building.
http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/
Monterey County
Convention and Visitors Bureau
http://www.SeeMontery.com
Cannery Row Monterey,
California - the most popular vacation destination
on California's Central Coast, offering visitors
attractions, recreation, restaurants, affordable
waterfront hotels as well as the
Mobil Four-Star
Awarded Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa, convenient
shopping and exciting nightlife.
http://www.canneryrow.com/
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