Monterey Peninsula, California Luxury Hotels and Destination
Everything Deluxe in Monterey
Welcome to the Monterey Peninsula, one of the most diverse and beautiful areas in Northern California. Here you’ll find vibrant cities and countless historical attractions that have drawn luxury travelers for decades. Monterey features an array of fine restaurants, boutiques, galleries, and recreational opportunities sure to please every luxury traveler. Sprinkled amidst these attractions are very well-appointed small luxury hotels. These deluxe accommodations are vacation destinations onto themselves! With superior service, sophisticated décor, knowledgeable and friendly staff, indulgent spa facilities, and superb dining, Monterey luxury hotels far exceed the expectations of unsuspecting vacationers.
Areas of Interest on the Monterey Peninsula
 |
With a population of 5,000 residents, Carmel-by-the-Sea is a small village 12 miles east of Carmel that hosts hundreds of visitors in its small luxury hotels each year. By the 1920's Carmel had already achieved its international reputation as an artists' colony. Now its biggest attractions are the downtown shopping district and its beautiful beaches within walking distance of many luxury hotels. You won't find many streetlights, neon signs or mailing addresses in this part of the Monterey Peninsula, but instead you will come across specialty shops, upscale boutiques, art and photography galleries and great restaurants. Carmel Valley is a soothing blend of sunshine and countryside perfect for easing your mind into total relaxation. The valley retains the agricultural character of its past: rustic barns, grazing animals, vineyards that stretch as far as the eye can see, and endless fields featuring perfectly parallel rows of lettuce, artichokes, and strawberries. The village is home to Garland Ranch Regional Park, an outdoors gem for those luxury travelers looking to reconnect with nature. Step out from the elegant ambiance and pampering amenities of luxury hotels and enter the world of old sycamores, waterfalls, and peaceful trails ideal for hiking, photography, horseback riding, jogging, walking, bird watching, painting and simple solitude.
 |
Pacific Grove, better known by locals as "America's last hometown," is also known for its thriving population of Monarch butterflies. A walk through the residential neighborhoods reveals well-preserved, turn of the century Victorian homes, some of which have been converted into lavish luxury hotels. History buffs can visit the Point Piños Lighthouse, the oldest operating facility of its kind on the California coast. For a memorable afternoon picnic, Lover's Point Park is a sheltered nook hugging the Pacific coast that offers breathtaking vistas of the ocean as well as opportunities to view sea otters, sea lions and the occasional passing whale.
 |
Pebble Beach is a gated community located between Carmel-by-the-Sea and Pacific Grove. If you’re heading this way, you won’t want to leave your luxury hotel without a loaded camera! Its 17-Mile Drive draws hundreds of visitors daily where views of the Pacific Ocean, cypress trees, fabulous houses, deer, and not to mention the world's most dramatic golf courses, are truly breathtaking.
Monterey: Past & Present
In the midst of a bustling downtown lined with fashionable restaurants, shops, cafes and nightspots, Monterey has preserved more history than any other city in California. Monterey State Historic Park, in downtown Monterey, marks the spot where the United States flag was first officially raised on July 7, 1846, bringing 600,000 square miles, including California, into the Union. Ten buildings, including the Custom House, California's First Theater, and several former seventeenth century residences turned into museums, preserve the area's rich heritage. Special walking tours led by professionals in period costumes depart several times each day from the Stanton Visitor Center; but if you prefer to explore the city on your own, you can pick up a Path of History Walking Tour map from the Old Monterey Business Association and guide yourself.
Monterey's history began long ago as a convenient stopover for Spanish galleons returning from Manila to Acapulco. Spanish explorer Sebastian Vizcaino "discovered" the bay and peninsula in 1602, naming them Monterey in honor of the viceroy of New Spain.
Chinese and Japanese laborers settled in the area circa 1849 during the Gold Rush, and by drying fish, abalone, squid and other seafood and shipping it back to their homeland, they originated the local fishing industry. In the 1870s, the Italian and Portuguese broke the Chinese fishing monopoly by developing the fresh fish industry and shipping to San Francisco markets via the new railroad. The railroad, in turn, opened up the tourism industry, bringing travelers to the Peninsula and to its first luxury resort, the famed Del Monte Hotel, now the campus for the Naval Postgraduate School. Today, luxury hotels have been established in almost every corner of the Monterey Peninsula.
Monterey Peninsula—A Goldmine of Attractions
The Cannery Row in Monterey is said to be one of the most popular vacation destinations on California's Central Coast. Ideally set right on the Monterey Bay, this historic waterfront district made famous by Steinbeck offers fun restaurants, waterfront luxury hotels, boutique shops, souvenir stores, and lots of lively nightlife. This strip hosts a wide variety of festivals and world class events including The Monterey Jazz Festival, The Monterey Blues Festival, Cherries Jubilee, The Great Monterey Squid Festival and Monterey Wine Festival, as well as major automobile and motorcycle races at nearby Laguna Seca Raceway.
Monterey is recognized in California as a prized diving destination. Though the water is far from tropical, diving along the Monterey coast offers views of abalone, ship wrecks, colorful anemone, various types of starfish, and a wide array of sea creatures. Dive shops are interspersed throughout the Monterey Peninsula and offer equipment for sale or for rent as well as scuba courses and lessons to become a certified diver.
Point Lobos is a California State park drenched in natural beauty and breathtaking ocean views. This outdoor gem offers a day’s worth of passive and active outdoor activities such as sightseeing, photography, painting, picnicking, jogging, hiking, bicycling, and much more. For a breath of fresh air and a quick break from the pampering and extravagance of luxury hotels, Point Lobos creates a peaceful atmosphere amidst its unique geological formations, incredibly rich flora and fauna of both land and sea, and native wildlife.
California Cuisine
California Cuisine can best be described as a fusion of flavors incorporating fresh California ingredients with Mexican and Asian influences. Food typically served "California style" is prepared with particularly strong attention to presentation. California grown fresh ingredients include avocados, artichokes, lettuce, tomatoes, figs, dates, persimmons and sprouts to name a few. Along the California coast seafood virtually jumps onto the plate. Lobster, oysters, shrimp, clams and scallops are among some of traveler's favorites. Melted butter and fresh chopped parsley are delightful additions to any fresh seafood dish prepared at the table. For centuries, Monterey communities have celebrated their rich culinary history and culture with summer festivals and feasts that combine food and entertainment, providing visitors with a colorful display of California cuisine.
Monterey Peninsula—The Luxury Experience
The Monterey Peninsula is a coastal destination that caters to luxury travelers with luxury hotels to accommodate visitors in search of a memorable vacation. From the moment you step inside your luxury hotel lobby, you’ll know from the elegant atmosphere, friendly staff, and superior attention to detail that your Monterey Peninsula luxury hotels experience will be one saturated in comfort and relaxation. Your mind will be alleviated from all the standard stresses of traveling as you discover that your luxury hotel has stocked your room with all the amenities needed to make you feel right at home. From a state-of-the-art mattress, an assortment of comfortable pillows, and spa-quality bathroom products, to a high-end entertainment system, wireless internet access, and spectacular décor, luxury hotels provide you with all the extras to make your stay memorable and enjoyable.
|
california
