Family-Friendly Monterey

Start, of course, with the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Its Splash Zone, an interactive exhibit for kids, recently doubled in size—now you can walk “through” a giant kelp forest (via a glass tunnel) and (gently) pet a living abalone in the display’s expanded touch pool.

Address:
886 Cannery Row,
Monterey, CA 93940

Phone:
(831) 648-4800

Take a kayak tour ($50) of the bay from Cannery Row.

Address:
299 Cannery Row,
Monterey, CA 93940

Phone:
(831) 372-1807

Fill up on morning blueberry pancakes or cinnamon raisin French toast at this local breakfast haunt.

Address:
489 Alvarado St.,
Monterey, CA 93940

Phone:
(831) 646-1021

For dinner, pull the kids away from Bubba Gump and head for Passionfish in neighboring Pacific Grove. On the menu: more grown-up dishes such as sea scallops with tomato-truffle butter and risotto custard and ratatouille ravioli topped by aged asiago.

Address:
701 Lighthouse Ave.,
Pacific Grove, CA 93950

Phone:
(831) 655-3311

The 208-room hotel, next to the aquarium, is a family-friendly InterContinental with a pool.

Address:
750 Cannery Row,
Monterey, CA 93940

Phone:
(831) 375-4500