Monterey Bay Aquarium
Monterey's strongest rain-proof anchor, with kelp forest galleries and a substantial way to understand the bay before going back outside.
Cannery Row and Aquarium District · 3 to 4 hours
Family travel guide
Things to Do in Monterey with Kids
Monterey is a good option when you stop treating the whole peninsula as one town. Give the aquarium and harbor their day, save Carmel and Point Lobos for another, and let the ocean set the pace. Each choice includes a pace, weather, or access cue for planning with children.
Cannery Row and Monterey Bay Coastal Recreation Trail
Walk the former canning district and bay trail as one easy orientation block, then stop when the views have done their job.
Cannery Row and Aquarium District · 2 to 3 hours
Monterey Whale Watching Cruise
A proper Monterey Bay outing when sea conditions cooperate, best booked for the morning and treated as the one moving part of the day.
Old Fisherman's Wharf and Downtown · 3 to 4 hours
Old Fisherman's Wharf
A compact harbor walk for boats, sea lions, chowder, and a first look at the working-waterfront side of town.
Old Fisherman's Wharf and Downtown · 2 to 3 hours
Monterey State Historic Park and Custom House
Monterey State Historic Park and Custom House is a indoor-leaning history stop that makes Monterey’s early California role legible without giving up a whole sunny day.
Old Fisherman's Wharf and Downtown · 2 to 3 hours
Lovers Point Park and Beach
The easy Pacific Grove beach-and-picnic stop for travelers who want shoreline time without committing to a longer Carmel push.
Pacific Grove and Asilomar · 2 to 3 hours
Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History
A small, smart rainy-day counterweight to the peninsula’s scenic pull, especially good with kids or before a tidepool walk.
Pacific Grove and Asilomar · 2 to 3 hours
Point Lobos State Natural Reserve
The peninsula’s most rewarding coastal walk, with coves, cypress, and headlands that deserve an early start before parking turns the mood sour.
Carmel and Point Lobos · 3 to 4 hours
Carmel Beach and Scenic Road
A broad-sand, cypress-lined beach walk for the softer side of the peninsula. Keep it for late afternoon, then eat in Carmel.
Carmel and Point Lobos · 2 to 3 hours
Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo
A focused Carmel history stop with a quiet architectural change of pace from the coast.
Carmel and Point Lobos · 2 to 3 hours
17-Mile Drive
A scenic driving loop through Pebble Beach where the right move is selecting two or three stops instead of treating every pullout as mandatory.
Pebble Beach and 17-Mile Drive · 2 to 3 hours
Monterey Museum of Art
A compact indoor reset in downtown Monterey for a wet afternoon or the moment the coast’s wind has worn out its welcome.
Old Fisherman's Wharf and Downtown · 2 to 3 hours
Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Exploration Center
A reliable family-friendly experience that gives visitors a different pace and weather-flexible option. Build it into the day when this is the part of Monterey visitors would otherwise miss.
Cannery Row and Aquarium District
Confirm current details with Official Monterey Bay Aquarium information before departure.
Travel conditions, access, and reservations can change. Check official sources close to departure.