Spindrift Inn

This hotel was our first stop in Monterey after a long drive up Highway 1. It looked very quaint, had great pictures and had a 4 star rating. We just needed to stay for one night so I went ahead and booked it. What I wasn’t prepared for was the borderline overpowering wood burning smell that filled the room and saturated everything on the first layer of our luggage. Luckily the smell mostly came out by the second day after check-out. 6/10 recommend…for the price, the hotel next door is better, it was just booked during our trip. The complimentary room service breakfast included with the stay was pretty solid and we really enjoyed it. 

Monterey Bay Aquarium

Monterey Bay Aquarium is a global leader in activating sustainable seafood, cleaning up and preventing ocean pollution, climate change and conservation. They were the first to exhibit a live kept forest, which I found to be the most impressive exhibit at the aquarium. I’ve always found our ocean to be mysterious and slightly terrifying, but I love learning about it’s inhabitants and it’s always a bonus when I can safely see them up close. There’s something magical about the ocean and the things that live in them and I’ll always get excited to see them whenever possible. 

Monterey Bay

Ah. I could stay here. We could stay here…forever. Every inch of the coast was just as beautiful as the last. The waves on the west coast have a particular sound and smell that leaves you wanting to linger and keep taking it in.

Linger we did. For hours and hours, hopping from one beach to the next while watching the wildlife. The only thing that could have made the west coast better would have been diving with Great White Sharks. Hopefully, our next trip will consist of shark diving, Pebble Beach, and Cypress. Fingers crossed 🤞🏻.