Monterey Bay Escape

Dates: TBD

A seaside scene with a wooden pier or deck extending over rocks and sand, positioned near a beach, with a building on stilts, and a cloudy sky overhead.

A slower-paced coastal trip with big views, good food, and plenty of room to breathe.

Think aquarium wonder, wharf sea lions, and a little something for everyone…whether you want the big moments or the quiet ones.

A street scene in Monterey, California, with a red building labeled 'Monterey Canning Company' and a yellow building to the right, both with storefronts and parked cars along the street.

We'll spend some time just walking Cannery Row. It's flat, easy, and there's always something to look at.

No rush, no big agenda, just shops, snacks, and the ocean right there. It runs right along the old cannery buildings from Steinbeck's day, so there's some history built into the walk too.

✦ Cannery Row & the Waterfront
Entrance to Monterey Bay Aquarium with a blue logo on the white building wall and glass doors. 
✦ The Aquarium

Monterey Bay Aquarium is one of the best in the country, and it's set up so we can go at our own pace. Sea otters, jellyfish, a huge kelp tank, it's a lot of fun and never feels overwhelming. The two-story kelp forest tank is the centerpiece, and it's worth planning some extra time around it.

There are also touch pools where we can get hands-on with sea stars and anemones and a penguin exhibit that's always a crowd favorite. It's the kind of place where we can linger as long as we want or move through quickly, whatever feels right that day.

A brown pelican with its wings spread, perched on a railing near the water, with a marina and boat in the background.
A meal featuring baked stuffed mushrooms topped with cheese and chopped herbs, served on a yellow plate with ocean view in the background.

A bowl of clam chowder in a bread bowl, boats bobbing in the harbor, and that classic Monterey waterfront feel.

Simple, but it's one of those moments we'll remember. There's also plenty of shopping right along the wharf, saltwater taffy, otter-themed gifts, jewelry, so it's an easy spot to grab something small to bring home.

✦ Fisherman's Wharf
A seaside promenade with a fountain featuring dolphin sculptures, flower planters, a multi-story beige hotel with balconies on the left, and people walking along the railing overlooking the ocean under a clear blue sky.
A large group of jellyfish swimming in a deep blue ocean.
Close-up image of a weathered white sign with black letters reading 'MONTERY', partially obscured by tall dry grass in the foreground, with trees and a blue sky in the background.
Exterior of the Monterey Museum of Art building with sculptures and visitors in the landscaped garden.
Exterior of the Monterey Museum of Art building with sculptures and visitors in the landscaped garden. 
✦ A Little Art, A Little History

For anyone who wants something quieter, we can swing by the Monterey Museum of Art or just wander the historic downtown. Good change of pace from the busier spots.

The Monterey State Historic Park also has some restored adobe buildings nearby if we want a bit more of that old-California feel.

A stuffed bear sculpture on display in a museum, with visitors and informational exhibits visible in the background.

Trip Price (4 days / 3 nights): $2,499 per participant

Includes lodging, meals, activities, local transportation, and on-trip support.
Final details are confirmed during the planning process.

1:1 Support Option
Individualized 1:1 support is available when needed and confirmed during the planning process.
Pricing varies based on support requirements, with a minimum additional cost of $600 for the four-day experience.

Final trip details, support levels, and pricing are confirmed collaboratively during planning.

Contact us to book
Visitors observing fish and coral in a large aquarium tank with a glass viewing panel.