So Much to Discover!

Visit Monterey and see the amazing Monterey Bay Aquarium, as well as Fisherman's Wharf and Cannery Row, made famous by Nobel Prize-winning Salinas writer John Steinbeck. Experience the legendary golf courses of Pebble Beach. Take a California wine country vacation in Carmel Valley, Soledad or Salinas Valley, or go art gallery hopping in beautiful Carmel-by-the-Sea or buzzing Sand City. For an outdoor experience, hike the wild trails of Big Sur, go surfing in Moss Landing, or watch the hang gliders in Marina and Seaside. Dine in centrally located Del Rey Oaks, and relax in an old-fashioned, seaside home town among the Victorian cottages and Monarch butterflies of Pacific Grove. Monterey County is your destination for a perfect California vacation.

How to Get to Monterey County

Whether you prefer planes, trains or automobiles, it's easy to get to Monterey County.

Flying to Monterey County

Convenient Monterey Peninsula Airport, which has short and hassle-free security lines, is located just 10 minutes door-to-door from downtown Monterey, 15 minutes from Carmel-by-the-Sea, 25 minutes from downtown Salinas and 45 minutes from Big Sur. Visitors can fly direct to Monterey Peninsula Airport (MRY) via international and domestic connecting routes on Allegiant, American Eagle, United Express and US Airways. Fly direct from airports including Los Angeles (LAX), San Francisco (SFO), Phoenix (PHX), Denver (DEN) and Las Vegas (LAS). Charter and private flights are also available.

Other Nearby Airports

Other large airports near Monterey County include Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC), located 60 minutes from downtown Monterey and 50 from downtown Salinas; and San Francisco International Airport, located 2 hours from downtown Monterey and 90 minutes from downtown Salinas. Monterey Airbus and Main Event Transportation offer convenient door-to-door service to and from SFO and SJC.

Monterey County by Bus or Train

Amtrak's Coast Starlight train cruises through Salinas each day on its route between Seattle, Washington and Los Angeles, California, providing a leisurely and scenic way to travel. There are packages to fit every budget. It's a great way to see the grandeur of the Central Coast at eye level. Free bus service is provided from Salinas to downtown Monterey, a 30-minute ride. There is also a Greyhound station in Salinas with connecting service to Monterey.

Monterey County by Car

There are two routes to Monterey by car, both very scenic. Highway One, which runs from San Francisco to Los Angeles, offers breathtaking views of the Pacific coastline and has been called the top road trip in America by many sources. Highway 101 runs down the valley corridor and affords the motorist an opportunity to see the rich land that has made the Salinas Valley "the Salad Bowl of the World."

The CSDA conference was a great experience. I learned relevant and important information that has improved my ability to excel at being a Board Director. The staff was always nice and courteous. Networking opportunities were useful and a lot of fun. I will definitely come back next year! - Liz Buda, Director, Isla Vista Recreation and Park District