When kids go on vacation, they want nothing more than to have fun, be entertained and learn new things. This is all available to families venturing to Monterey, Calif., located about 120 miles south of San Francisco along the Central California coast. The area is flush with places to eat, shop and stay, but, importantly for kids, there are tons of fun things to do, too.
Here are a few top kid-friendly activities for families visiting Monterey.
Located in the center of Monterey’s tourism district, the Monterey Bay Aquarium is the perfect place to spend a day with the family. Children ages 8 through 13 can participate in a summer program (usually runs from mid-June through early September) titled Underwater Explorers.
The program requires advance booking online and will lead kids through a surface scuba diving experience in the Great Tide Pool, an open-air pool that leads out to the Monterey Bay containing multiple species of ocean life. Underwater Explorers includes a briefing on scuba diving and an introduction on the types of wildlife the children are likely to see during their visit. Each group consists of no more than 12 kids and one staff member is dedicated to every three participants. Prices run $95 for the general public, $75 for members of the aquarium.
Can’t make it in the summer? Call in advance for some family fun on a Feeding Frenzy Tour. For $65 per person ($42 for members), the whole family can get a behind-the-scenes look on feeding many of the aquarium’s fish. The two-hour tour runs on Thursdays and Sundays and includes a private viewing of sea otter feeding and the opportunity to feed the fish.
Not sure how to entertain your really little ones? Head over to the Monterey County Youth Museum (or MY Museum for short), located less than two miles east of the aquarium. Inside, you will find an 8,500-square-foot space filled with exhibits perfect for children ages 18 months to 8 years old.
Start with MY Healthy Farm, an exhibit dedicated to the rich agriculture of the region. Children will have the ability to pick fruits and veggies (all plastic), simulate selling them at a farmer’s market and even sending them to a city far away for consumption at a restaurant.
Or go to MY Go-Fore Golf, a nod to Monterey’s vibrant golfing community. Pint-size golf clubs are available for kids to try on a mini put-put range. The exhibit is meant to introduce children to the game of golf and to strengthen their hand/eye/ball coordination.
MY Day at the Beach is another great option for families visiting the museum. The exhibit is designed specifically for toddlers with an age appropriate slide, a soft plastic ocean and a real rowboat. Open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays and 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays. Prices run $7 for adults, $7 for kids and free for children under 2 years old.
Blazing Saddles Bike Rentals & Tours
Families with children 10 and older are smart to explore the beautiful Monterey Bay Peninsula by bike. Blazing Saddles offers four-hour guided tours of the area and are not to be missed. The tour, which spans 20 miles at a leisurely pace, starts at the aquarium and runs along beaches and the area’s famed 17-mile drive with a view of the Lone Cypress Tree. Prices run $70 for adults and $50 for children ages 11 and under.
Families that prefer to go on their own are welcome to rent bikes and explore the paved, 29-mile Monterey Bay Coastal Bike Trail. Blazing Saddles offers single bikes, tandem bikes, trailers and baby seats. Prices start at $36 per day for a rental.
Princess Monterey Whale Watching
Bundle up (it can get cold on the water) and get ready to see Monterey’s famed wildlife up close and personal. Princess Monterey Whale Watching offers year around tours for families with children 5 years old and up and non-pregnant women.
Trips run between 2.5 hours and three hours long where families have the opportunity see California Gray Whales (mostly from December through April) and Humpbacks, Orca and Blue Whales (mostly from April through November). Tickets run $44.95 per person and the tour picks up at Fisherman’s Wharf.
Active families can get out on the water in a kayak or stand up paddleboard with Adventures by the Sea. Persons 5 years old and up can rent a kayak (tandem kayaks are also available) for $30 per person or take a two-hour tour for $60 per person.
Families can explore the Monterey Bay by stand up paddleboard for $30 per person or $60 for a two-hour tour. Bike rentals are also available for $30 per day or $60 for a two-hour guided tour.