Monterey & Carmel
Sea otters, touch pools and a beach picnic at Carmel. A reliable pick for a first family weekend trip.
2 hrs drive · 2 days · Best for all ages · Year-round
Day 1: Aquarium day
- 9:30 Arrive at the aquarium at opening (book timed tickets)
- 12:30 Lunch on Cannery Row
- 2:30 Nap or hotel pool break
- 5:00 Sunset at Lovers Point
Day 2: Carmel & tide pools
- 9:00 Tide pools at Asilomar
- 11:30 Carmel Beach, then a dog-and-kid friendly lunch in town
- 2:00 Head home via Gilroy for fruit stands
From parents who have been
- Some aquarium galleries are quite dark. Parents put glow bracelets, light-up shoes or a bright shirt on toddlers so they are easy to spot in the crowd. 510 Families
- With toddlers, several families split the aquarium day. They do about three hours in the morning, go back for a nap, then return in the afternoon. A dim gallery also works as a quiet stroller rest. 510 Families
- The penguin feeding gets packed and is hard for small kids to see. Visit the penguins outside feeding time. For the Kelp Forest feeding, take a seat about 30 to 45 minutes early. 510 Families
- Eat at the aquarium cafe around 11 am. By noon the grill lines are long and the bayside tables are full. Street parking on Cannery Row is tight, so one family parked downtown and rode the free trolley. Tips For Family Trips
- At Lovers Point, picnic on the grass above the water, then take the steps down to the small beach. At Asilomar, kids hunt for sea glass, and a kite is worth packing. Pavel's Backerei in Pacific Grove often sells out early. Kids Activities Blog
- Carmel Beach has soft sand and usually mild waves, so toddlers can wade. Skip the water at nearby Monastery Beach, which has dangerous waves. In town, Carmel Belle and Yeast of Eden have outdoor seating with room for strollers. Gennifer Rose blog
- A Chinese-language parent's day trip guide starts at McAbee Beach so kids play first, then walks the rec trail toward the aquarium. The free lot at Dennis the Menace Playground is hard to get into, so be patient. Monterey State Historic Park closes at 4 pm. Dealmoon user guide
Good to know
- Book aquarium tickets 2+ weeks ahead
- Asilomar tide pools are best at low tide
- Pack layers, since it gets foggy fast