Posted on February 5, 2010.
Monterey, California: All About Cheese it! California cities are each famous for one thing: Hollywood Los Angeles, San Diego Surfing, San Francisco and Monterey hippies - cheese? The city of Monterey, located along the Pacific coast of Monterey Bay in Central California, has long been known worldwide as the home of Monterey Jack. However, Monterey has a long history with its former residents, including people like Henry Miller and John Steinbeck, whose novel "Cannery Row" was created in the city. In fact, Monterey offers the visitor many attractions - and not just of cheese!
Monterey has been dubbed by many as "the cradle of history and home to many firsts in the history of California: Including the Golden State Theatre first brick house, publicly funded school, public library and its first printing press. All hope of getting a glimpse of Monterey historical tradition rich enough to visit the Monterey State Historic Park, where visitors will find many examples of colonial architecture in the beginning. Major historic sites include Monterey Larkin House, the Royal Presidio Chapel and Colton Hall - a public school and place of meeting of the government that hosted the first California Constitutional Convention.
In addition, Monterey is well known for its spectacular marine habitats and its long tradition of fishing. fishing industry in Monterey has been for many years one of the most famous in the U.S. but suffered a severe decline in the 1950s because of overfishing. Cannery Row, Monterey, once the busy street of canned sardines has been transformed into a major tourist attraction with many restaurants and boutiques on the site of historic importance.
Cannery Row is also home to one of the most popular attractions in Monterey: Monterey Bay Aquarium. One of the largest aquariums in North America, the aquarium does not see more than 1.8 million people annually through its doors to 35,000 plants and animals from around 623 species, including jellyfish, sea otters and rays. And in September 2004, the Aquarium Outer Bay exhibit the momentously became home to the first great white shark ever managed to be at the exhibition.
If you're hoping to sample some non-cheesy Monterey pleasures, you'll find that getting around the city is easy thanks to its relatively compact. Any of the hotels in Monterey gives you only a hop, skip and a jump away from the main attractions of the city of. And since Monterey is only a few hours drive from San Francisco and San Jose, and only a little farther from San Diego, Sacramento and LA is a day or weekend trip easily accessible for tourists visiting a major California cities.
