One of the world's most celebrated unions of land and sea, Monterey County encompasses stunning scenery, myriad attractions and recreational riches. From the dramatic Big Sur coastline to romantic Carmel and Pebble Beach, historic Monterey and the fertile Salinas Valley, Monterey County offers a compelling vacation itinerary.

Monterey County is situated on California's central coast with its northern border approximately 100 miles south of San Francisco and its southern border about 200 miles north of Los Angeles. California Highway 101 bisects the county providing easy access to all Salinas Valley cities and the Monterey Peninsula, while Highway 1 offers postcard vistas of the California coast.

The County is comprised of 12 incorporated cities, divided into the following regions: Monterey Peninsula (Monterey, Pacific Grove, Carmel-by-the-Sea, Carmel Valley, Seaside, Marina, Sand City, Del Rey Oaks, Big Sur, and Pebble Beach); Big Sur; North County (Marina, Moss Landing, Prunedale and others); and the Salinas Valley (Salinas, Soledad, Gonzales, Greenfield and King City).

With so much to see and do, Monterey's sightseeing and recreational opportunities can seem overwhelming. A first-time trip to Monterey County should include such sites as the Monterey Bay Aquarium, Cannery Row, Fisherman's Wharf, 17-Mile Drive, National Steinbeck Center, Elkhorn Slough and Monterey Wine Country.

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