Cannery Row was sardines until the 1950s. Then it was nothing for a while. Now it's the most-walked waterfront on the central coast — historic packing houses turned into shops, restaurants, and an aquarium that's a destination on its own.
The Monterey Bay Aquarium
Anchor of the row, and a real one — three-story kelp forest tank, an open-ocean tank with tuna and a sunfish, a sea otter exhibit on the back deck, and the live-feed cameras out to the bay. Two to three hours, more with kids. Reserve tickets ahead; the walk-up line in summer is brutal.
We typically drop guests at the Aquarium and re-collect at a designated time — the loading zone at the end of Cannery Row is chaotic, especially mid-day. With a chauffeur, no parking scramble at Foam Street.
Walking the row
From the Aquarium north toward downtown Monterey is about a mile and a half of waterfront, all walkable. Stops along the way: the Steinbeck Plaza statue at Prescott, the Pacific Biological Laboratories (Doc Ricketts' real-life lab), the Wing Chong Building, and the rows of touristy shops in between. Skip the tourist-trap candy stores; the original stone facades behind them are the actual draw.
Fisherman's Wharf
Old Fisherman's Wharf is the working pier from 1846, now mostly seafood restaurants, fudge shops, and whale-watching boat operators. The breakwater on its west side is where you see harbor seals hauled out on the rocks — big lazy gray torpedoes, often with pups. Sea lions bark from the buoys offshore.
For lunch: the seafood at the wharf is fine but tourist-priced. Cross the bridge to Old Monterey on Alvarado Street for tighter food — see dining for picks.
Whale watching
Monterey Bay is a submarine canyon — deep water close to shore — so whale activity is unusually good. Gray whale migration runs December through April. Humpbacks and blue whales come through April through November. Boats leave from the wharf and run two to three hours. Layer up; even in August the water is 55°F. We'll drop and pick up at the dock.
The Coastal Recreation Trail
The paved trail runs from Pacific Grove through Cannery Row and along the waterfront to Seaside. Bikes can be rented at the wharf. A short version: rent at the wharf, ride 20 minutes to Lovers Point, return. We'll meet you at either end so you don't have to ride back.