Monterey CA Area

I haven't been to Monterey. I was in San Diego for a few months back in '09. And my wife and I visited Disneyland back in '01 and rented a car from there to visit several of the old Spanish Missions, including Old Mission San Luis Rey de Francia, where the 1950s Zorro TV show was filmed.

I like to visit places and see things. While you're out there, consider:

- The Le Brea Tar Pits and Museum (LA).

- San Diego Zoo

- Visiting some of the old Spanish missions

- San Carlos Cathedral

- Mammoth Lakes area in the Sierra Nevada mountains

- Death Valley National Park

That should get you started!
 
Monterey is beautiful. I love that campus. I can't tell you too much to avoid, but you'll be driving distance to Yosemite, Sequoia, Death Valley. Definitely go to the aquarium, and if you are a golfer check out Pebble Beach. There's enough to see and do and stay away from San Fran and LA. Of course, go there if you just want to say you've been, but I have not spent any time in either city to be of help. Like esteemed colleague @RetiredUSNChief , most of my time was Oceanside and south (San Diego) with some time in the Sierra Nevadas.
 
Some really nice drives around there. Epic scenery. If you like golf, there's lot of options. Painfully expensive.
Cold water beaches couldn't be more different than here.
The motorcycling around there is some of the best in the world, but technical.
You're fairly near the Bay Area (San Fran, Oakland, San Jose, Napa, Berkeley). Avoid those places except my outskirts of Napa wine country.
You'll also be right over the hill from silicon valley. Right across bay from Santa Cruz.

If you get a day or two off, go to Yosemite Valley. See El Capitan and Half Dome. Check out Glacier point there. Go during the week! Unless you have a fetish for Asian tourists. Also KIngs Canyon and Sequoia Park if you want to see giant redwoods. To get to these place you will cross the central valley which is interesting. Huge farms for miles.

Really too much to list as within an hour or two there is a ton of stuff to see and do.

edit: Definitely check out the Aquarium. They have a million gallon tank I believe. Full of giant tuna. Also had great whites in there. Saw one nab a tuna!
Dang, Chuckman pretty much covered it haha
 
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If you're a Star Trek fan, Vasquez Rocks is in the Sierra Pelona Mountains, about 45 miles North of Los Angeles.

That's where they filmed the episode "Arena", where Kirk and the Gorn captain fight it out.
 
L.A. area, see the Nethercutt collection in San Fernando, a free auto museum with amazing number of superb vehicles, automotive paraphernalia, and mechanical musical devices. In LA. is the Petersen Auto Museum.

Monterey is visually stunning. Just drive the coast for scenery overload
 
hearst castle?
buy crafty glass art in Harmony, then have lunch in cayucos?
check griffith observatory on the north end of LA and see if they have a public telescope event? sometimes celebs show up and let you use their fancy stuff out on the lawn

if you make your way to pendleton, this is a cool thing to see but do NOT follow the google directions if you're coming from the north. googlle took me to a special gate i wasn't supposed to be at. did you know that the pistol-armed guard checking papers isn't necessarily alone, and another guard with a shotgun may come running out of the shack? Anyway, makes sure you go to the public welcome center entrance and get your clearance first.
 
The Monterey bay aquarium is awesome. We had season passes when I was a kid. I went about 5 years ago and it was even cooler.

I’d hit Santa Cruz if you can.

Also, the Hogs Breath Inn in Carmel is really cool. Used to be owned by Clint Eastwood.
 
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