Cannery Row is a staple to the Monterey area. From Steinbeck writing about the area to the aquarium attracting millions of visitors throughout the years, Cannery Row has come a long way since its original days as a tin cannery.
There’s no shortage of restaurants, quick bites, shops, and things to do here, but we recommend checking out any of the following five stops to get the most of your Cannery Row experience.
Read MoreA blue and white awning labeled “Epsilon” draws my attention, and as I enter the restaurant, I’m immediately transported into Greece. The high-beamed ceilings — which I learn have recently been part of a remodel —, Greek art, and color scheme feels like the building has been cut out of Athens and placed ever so gently in downtown Monterey.
On the other side of the door I find the owner, Christos Hix, busy preparing for the restaurant’s opening in just under an hour. Fortunately, I was able to grab a few minutes of his time to get the scoop on the creation of Epsilon Fine Greek Restaurant — a spot you can always enjoy on our Old Monterey Tour.
Read MoreSummer is here once again, which means it’s time to kick back, relax, and enjoy the salted air of the Monterey Bay. There’s plenty of places to eat, and being in wine country also provides a plethora of options there, but what about specialty drinks in the area?
We love wine, but we also love whiskey, and if you are, too, we’re certain you won’t be disappointed by any of these drinks!
Read MoreLet’s face it: There’s a lot to see in the Monterey Bay, and people travel here for a wide array of reasons. Literature lovers come here for the Steinbeck experience. Marine lovers come here for the aquarium and whale watching. Others come to see the ocean for the first time in one of the most beautiful spots in the whole world, but how can you see the best of it?
Unless you’re lucky enough to live here, you might have to face some time constraints. Check out these tour options to make the most of your time in the Monterey Bay!
Read MoreMonterey Bay Food Tours and Monterey Bay Meditation Studio have something wild in store for you…
Experience… all of your senses.
Reflect… on your surroundings.
Grow… your inner knowledge.
When it comes to eating, most of us don’t spend time in a period of meditation beforehand — in fact, the idea is wild to some.
Read MoreWe don’t know about you, but here at the Monterey Bay Food Tours, we’re super excited about season 2 of Big Little Lies! The show has done a lot for the community in general, and a lot of our local businesses were either featured in season 2 or supplied products for the cast!
On top of that, we’re honored to partner with a few of them!
Read MoreWaves slosh underneath the patio outside of Paluca Trattoria on a calm and cloudy morning. A statue of a fisherman stares back at me as I meander the outside seating area — an area that I’m more familiar with from a TV show than from personal experience. As my eyes glance over a picture of Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman, and Shailene Woodley sitting on the very table I’m standing at, I’m reminded that I’m in one of the most popular attractions from HBO’s hit show, Big Little Lies.
Read MoreIt’s no secret that a show about some pretty Big Little Lies has taken the world by storm — and put Monterey Bay back on the map as a go-to vacation spot. Filming from the first season brought in an estimated $2.5 million in revenue to the Monterey County, roughly $3.7 million from the second, and tourism has also seen an increase from travelers wanting to see the town for themselves.
Season one may have been full of twists and turns, but season two looks even bigger, better, and far more scandalous:
Read MoreIce cream is something you can find in any country, unlike specific foods that can only be enjoyed in certain regions. Making ice cream is simple and something that can be done easily at home, but nowadays has been commercialized and filled with so many additives and artificial flavors that we don’t even know what proper ice cream tastes like anymore.
by Andrew J. Stillman
Looking for something to do in Monterey Bay? How about a food tour?
Trudging through the lists of Monterey Bay eateries is a job within itself, and picking the right food options can make or break a vacation or night out.
Most people stick to review sites like TripAdvisor and Yelp to make their assumptions based on customer reviews. However, a mix-and-match of customer voices can make the right choices harder to come by. Thankfully, people out there like Casey Aguilar of Monterey Bay Food Tours take it upon themselves to show you your options.
Read MoreDid you know that you can attend a farmer's market everyday of the week on the Monterey Peninsula?
Monday
Pacific Grove Certified Farmers Market• 3-7pm, 3-6pm winter • Central and Grand
Tuesday
Old Monterey Marketplace• 4-8pm summer, 4-7pm winter • Alvarado Street
Carmel Farmers Market • 9am-1pm (May-September) • Barnyard Shopping Center
Read MoreFood, drink, and great company are what weddings are all about. I spent weeks thinking about who would cater my wedding, what drinks would be unforgettable, and who I would invite. My now husband of 10 years and I spent countless hours and arguments deciding what experience we would give our guests.
At last we landed on our favorite Indian restaurant who catered non-traditional wedding fare full of delicious chicken curry, lentils, basmati rice, nan and a lamb biryani. Our guests were a little surprised, but after having the first taste they couldn’t say enough about the vendor and wanted to know where they could go for more. For drinks, we took it island-style with fresh mojitos; we were in Georgia, in the summer, and my father had what seemed to be an endless supply of mint growing in his garden. The selection of food and drinks were a hit. It was a memorable event and the most unforgettable day of my life, other than the birth of my children!
Read MoreAs a mother of four, I have a responsibility to leave behind a world in which the next generation can live and enjoy the way we have been lucky enough to. After moving to Monterey and deciding to start Monterey Bay Food Tours, I have tried to incorporate partners who share this vision, are environmentally conscious, and want to preserve the beauty the Central Coast has to offer.
Revival Ice Cream, one of our original partners, epitomize this ideology sourcing their products locally from the likes of MEarth, a middle school garden sharing the vision with future generations. Revival uses re-usable tasting spoons and sells re-usable stainless steel pints that get you a $2 discount on pint refills. All of their cleaning products are 100% natural as their philosophy includes “living within the resources of the planet without damaging the environment now or in the future.”
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