Need suggestions for Monterey

[Nascar8Fan]

We are planning a trip to Monterey in March for my birthday. We haven't been there before but I know for sure I want to go the Aquarium. Can anyone recommend somewhere to stay that is centrally located? We aren't too picky on a hotel/motel, just something along the lines of a Best Western?? Any suggestions for the weekend would be helpful!! (Restaurants, stores, fun places, etc.)

[LindaBo]

It has been 6 years sence i have been there, but what i can remember is...there is a place to take a shuttle to the aquarium, take it! it is free and it well save you on parking...you can call ahead for tickets to be waiting for you.. they do sell out...get a motel not quite in town, it well be cheeper...check the motel. com for prices...look for montery.com something like that, and it well tell you more.That fish tank is worth seeing!!! http://oakhurstonline.com/icon/idea3.gif i have seen it at least 5 times...I use to live in Santa Cruz, and take a drive there,Visit the Mission , it is great to see also.......Check out the Musiumes they are good too.check out the richey houses too along the coast......Bebble beach is there also, very nice....hopefuly the weather well be good and clear.....have fun* tell us how it was and take some pictures. http://oakhurstonline.com/icon/happy.gif

[Kim]

Asilomar Conference center is about a 5 minute drive from the Aquarium; it's right beside the beach yet deer wander through; it's inexpensive; and the cool thing is that they serve meals in a large dining room with lots of tables in it, and ring a bell to let you know when it's time to eat.

[Yosemite_Wolf]

Nascar... hotels are always costly in Monterey.... blame it on the area I reckon. Do you like "slightly" healthful
seafood? I mean the kind where you get black beans instead of french fries. There is the most WONDERFUL restaurant in Seaside called "The Fishwife". Its one of my favourite places on the coast.
Just ask anyone when you get there (like the motel guy) cos I can't remember how to get there. (get totally lost in that area!). For good fun, go down to the beach and rent a kayak. The bay is a WONDERFUL place to paddle kayaks.

[jakobscalpel]

Since we have two young kids, we stayed at the Embassy Suites. It was fairly inexpensive last February because of offseason....

Its a short walk to the beach or to a nice little park and the kids love the tall open hotel design.

I thought the aquarium was a bit overhyped, to be honest. We still had fun though. Driving to Big Sur was the highlight of the trip.

[Goddesschyyld]

I'm from the area and I would say to visit O'Kanes's Irish Pub. It's my favorite pub in the world...and I've traveled (and lived in Europe for man years) the world.

It is a great place to get an Irish coffee and watch the waves roll in.

Have fun!! http://oakhurstonline.com/icon/happy.gif

[Yosemite_Wolf]

Originally posted by jakobscalpel:
Since we have two young kids, we stayed at the Embassy Suites. It was fairly inexpensive last February because of offseason....

Its a short walk to the beach or to a nice little park and the kids love the tall open hotel design.

I thought the aquarium was a bit overhyped, to be honest. We still had fun though. Driving to Big Sur was the highlight of the trip.

Jakob... bad bad bad! dont be talkin' smack about my aquarium! but yeah.. it is a bit over hyped.... but its done very very very well. Just pay a visit to Long Beach Aquarium and you will see what i mean (but the lb aquarium might have improved in the last few yrs).

A drive down pebble beach drive is a def must and also a ride down hwy 1 to ragged point/san simeon too.

[BGW]

I still love the old indoor Carousel at the Edgewater Packing Company in Cannery Row, Monterey, California.

[Nascar8Fan]

Wow, thanks you guys for all of the suggestions. I forgot to mention that we will have our kids with us so I will probably look into Jacob's hotel. I can't wait to smell that fresh ocean air, it has been a long time since I have been to the coast. I want to find a place along the water that has some fish tacos. Sounds so good!!!!

[Yosemite_Wolf]

The Fishwife in SeaSide. http://oakhurstonline.com/icon/happy.gif (fish tacos)