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Old 02-13-2011, 09:19 PM   #1
modisney
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Monterey CA Touristy or Not

Throwing the idea of going to Monterey Ca. but am wondering if it's over crowded and touristy. Any thoughts?
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Old 02-13-2011, 11:14 PM   #2
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I guess it would depend what time of year you go. We've been twice, in September and in October. It wasn't crowded and I didn't find it overly "touristy". We spent most of our time at the aquarium but did walk around the town a bit and down to the wharf for lunch one day. I would think in the summer it's a bit more crowded and there are more things going on geared to the tourists.
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Old 02-14-2011, 01:54 AM   #3
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We went in April and didn't find it crowded. I wouldn't have said it was touristy either. :
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Old 02-14-2011, 03:05 AM   #4
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It's a quaint tourist town. Wasn't Clint Eastwood the mayor there?
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Old 02-14-2011, 08:11 AM   #5
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It's a quaint tourist town. Wasn't Clint Eastwood the mayor there?
He was mayor of Carmel....the next town over. Which is also a great town as well! Don't miss it!
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Old 02-14-2011, 07:01 PM   #6
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I went in September and I didn't find it too crowded at all. I parked in a garage and went to the aquarium for the morning and then walked around and had lunch at Bubba Gump Shrimp Co and looked in the shops for a bit. After I was done wandering around I decided to take the 17-Mile Drive in Pebble Beach. It's easy to get to and BEAUTIFUL! I do believe there is an entrance fee though, just to let you know. But you'll get a map and where the scenic locations are and some of the history. This is also where you'll find The Lone Cypress. I also took a drive over to Carmel to see The Mission, but unfortunately I got there too late and it was closed for the day.

I don't know what kind of trip you are planning or if you will be doing Napa at all but I enjoyed the Castello de Amorosa and Sterling Vinyards. The Petrified Forest is also neat to wander around and check out. We had dinner at The Culinary Institute of America and it was OMG, so fabulous.

Hope you have a great vacation!
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Old 02-16-2011, 03:42 PM   #7
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We went in October and had a wonderful time and got a nice hotel quite inexpensively. The only crowds I remember were at the aquarium on the weekend, but they were not overwhelming, you just had to wait a few minutes.

I loved the town, although we did a glass bottom boat trip that should have been canceled (the ocean was too turbulent to see anything). The kids loved all the Pelicans and seals/sea lions.

I think the wharf may have some souvenir shops that are a a little tacky (like the ones on 192 in Orlando) but the overall atmosphere was nice.

I second the 17 mile drive if you have time, but my kids just liked hanging out at the wharf.
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