Monterey Bay

MONTEREY BAY AREA

Dennis the Mennis Playground    
Just North of the Downtown/Fisherman’s Wharf area
Great slides and rock climbing stones. Peddle boats rides available. Also a skate board park. Snack bar in parking lot.

Monterey Bay Aquarium
The aquarium is one of the best in the entire country. As such it gets really busy during the summer months. Arrive at OPENING time to avoid the crowds. Also purchase your tickets ahead of time. Best value is from AAA. At a minimum you can purchase your tickets from your motel. There is a separate entrance on the side of the building for people with tickets. Don’t need to stand in line to get in.

Best FREE parking for the aquarium is just past the Tin Cannery Outlet shops. If you go just past the Tin Cannery there is FREE parking along the street. It is a short and beautiful walk along the bicycle/walking path to the aquarium. We usually bring our bikes and ride along this area. There are bike racks in front of the aquarium.

Portola Café inside the aquarium has WONDERFUL food.    There is also a sit down restaurant inside with a separate seating area and table service. If you bring your own snacks and eat outside be very careful of the seagulls. They are VERY aggressive and will attack small children with food in their hands.

Outer Bay Exhibit Big Fish Feeding

Arrive 15 minutes early to get a seat in the front. 11 am on Sat/Sun/Tu/Thu Time the day of your trip so that you can see the feeding. It is really neat.

Kelp Feeding 11:30 / 4:00 pm    Sea Otter Feeding 10:30 / 1:30 / 3:30    Penguin 10:30 / 3:00

TIDE POOL EXPLORATION:
Explore the beach area just past the Tin Cannery Outlets. If you follow the road directly by the beach, there are places to pull over and explore the tide pools.

Remember never to turn your back to the ocean.

Fishermans Wharf:
Old Fisherman’s Grotto. Best clam chowder.

Bubba Gumps
You can call ahead to put your name down on the waiting list. Normally about a 1 hour wait.

There is a sandbox play area directly in the front.

Fandango    
In Pacific Grove. Very good Italian/ Mediterranean food. Nice setting. 223 17th St. (831) 372-3456

FIFI’s French Food    
On Forrest Ave. Up the street from Pacific Grove. Good local French restaurant.

Ghirardelli    
Chocolate Soda Fountain. Great sundaes. Down the street from Aquarium.

Bed and Breakfast Four Sisters Inn.
Great set of inns. Visit their web site for Fall/Winter specials. Some of them will allow a one night stay on Saturday only. (800) 527-8828 (Gosby) 800-833-8836 Carmel Clarion Motel on Munras Avenue has an indoor heated swimming pool. Free Breakfast.

Have a wonderful trip. Please share our tips with your friends and family. Thank you for telling your friends and family about our office we greatly appreciate referrals. Tip sheets for Disneyland, New York City, Las Vegas, Italy, Spain, London, Paris, Washington D.C., Seattle, Puerto Vallarta Mexico, Monterey Bay, Big Island of HI, Maui, San Francisco Bay Area, Bay Area Restaurants are also available online at www.LumOptometry.com under patient forms. This sheet and updated information in on-line.

Randall T. Lum, O.D.    (650) 589-7198    More Tips online @ www.LumOptometry.com