Monterey Transportation and Tours
 Getting
Here
There are many ways to get to Monterey County. Air is the quickest. Three
airlines offer direct service to the Monterey Peninsula Airport (MRY) via
international and domestic connecting routes in Los Angeles (LAX), San
Francisco (SFO) and directly from Phoenix (PHX). The Monterey Peninsula
Airport is served by American Eagle, America West and United Express.
A trip by train is a more leisurely and scenic way to get to Monterey.
Amtrak's Coast Starlight train cruises through Salinas each day on its
route between Seattle, Washington, and Los Angeles, California. There are
packages to fit every budget and it's a great way to see the grandeur of
the Central Coast at eye level. Free bus service is provided from Salinas
to downtown Monterey, a 30-minute ride. And there's a Greyhound station
in Salinas with connecting service to Monterey.
For the motorist, there are two main highways into Monterey County. Highway
One runs from San Francisco to Los Angeles. The views of the Pacific coastline
are magnificent from this marvel of human ingenuity. Highway 101 runs down
the valley corridor and affords the motorist an opportunity to see the
rich land that has made the Salinas Valley "the Salad Bowl of the
Nation."
 The
WAVE
The WAVE operates during the summer months (between Memorial Day weekend
and Labor Day). The Waterfront Area Visitors Express bus service runs continuously
between 9:00am and 6:30pm in a circular route from downtown Monterey to
the Monterey Bay Aquarium. It makes stops at major hotels, points of interest,
tourist attractions, and shopping areas. Look for specially marked buses
or the brand-new (though they look vintage) auto-trolleys. What better
way to see Monterey—for free!
Tour Options: Getting to Know Monterey County
Tours are a great way to see our county and discover what makes it unique.
Book a tour with one of the many tour operators in the area: there are
sea tours, garden tours, sunset tours, even agricultural tours, and many
more. Passengers can relax and learn about the many faces of Monterey from
knowledgeable and friendly guides.
Walking tours are the most delightful way to experience our rich Spanish
heritage. Occasionally, tours feature guides dressed in costumes of the
period, regaling visitors with tales of old Monterey and details of historical
interest. Monterey State Historic Park offers two different
guided tours which include some of Monterey's oldest and most important
buildings. A self-guided Path of History tour begins
at the Maritime Museum Visitor Center with a 20-minute
film shown three times every hour. Round yellow tiles designate the path
that meanders through gardens and by buildings from Monterey's colorful
past. In Carmel, the Carmel Heritage Society and Carmel Walks both
offer fascinating guided walks. |
