Many people who have traveled to the Monterey Peninsula before think that they have seen it all. A trip to the Monterey Bay Aquarium, 17 Mile Drive, the Big Sur Coastline and Fisherman's Wharf are usually on everyone's must see list. Make sure you do the research ahead of time to find the activities that will best suit your investment in time spent on the beautiful California coast. Several helpful sites and newspapers include the Monterey Bay Visitors Guide, The Monterey County Weekly and the Monterey Convention and Visitors Bureau. 

Traveling with kids? Aside from the Monterey Bay Aquarium, there are many places to go including the Monterey County Youth Museum (M Y Museum), pottery studios, tandem kayaking, whale watching, kite flying, skate parks, movie theaters, farm tours and wild animal tours. Gilroy Gardens, a large amusement park, is located just about 60 minutes away as is the Santa Cruz Beach and Boardwalk Amusement Park and Roaring Camp Railroad.

Looking for a romantic getaway? There are a lot of romantic inns and bed and breakfasts and resorts for special occassions. The most romantic are the smaller ones found in downtown Carmel and Pacific Grove. A company called Romantic Room Designs will decorate your hotel room or set up a bonfire on the beach. Limousine companies are available to whisk you away on a journey of wine tasting in to the inland valleys. Romantic restaurants are abundant in all of the major Peninsula cities including Casanova, Fresh Cream, Pacific's Edge and Anton and Michel to name just a few. The Monterey Convention and Visitors Bureau highlights special Monterey County package deals at their website. 

The weather is pretty consistently mild so outdoor activities such as hiking and biking are great ideas during almost any time of year. It is always best to dress in layers as it can become quite cool in the evening -- especially when the fog rolls in.