Cannery Row is Monterey's premier destination for shopping, dining and entertainment. The vibrant enclave features dozens of former sardine canning factories reimagined as trendy cafes and restaurants. Others house quirky boutiques, independent art galleries and waterfront wine-tasting rooms.
The strip was immortalised by American novelist John Steinbeck, who published “Cannery Row” in 1945. Today the neighbourhood offers a glimpse of the city's working-class roots. At the foot of Prescott Avenue, you can snap a selfie with a bronze statue of the Pulitzer Prize-winning author.
Kids love the Monterey Bay Aquarium, a world-class attraction teeming with colourful marine life, including sharks, penguins and sea otters. You can rent kayaks and paddle out onto crystalline Monterey Bay. San Carlos Beach is a great place to peer into colourful tide pools and picnic on the grassy foreshore.
Getting around Cannery Row
Cannery Row is in New Monterey, a 20-minute walk or 15-minute bus ride from the city centre. Street parking is available throughout Cannery Row and at the San Carlos Beach Park lot. You can also rent a pedal-powered car and ride to Cannery Row in five minutes.