General Info

Visit Monterey

The Sea Otter Classic is all about enjoying life, especially life on two wheels. So while you are enjoying the world's greatest all-around cycling festival, try to set aside some additional time to enjoy the other wonderful opportunities available for sightseeing, entertainment, education, and family fun throughout the Monterey Peninsula and its surrounding areas.

The Monterey Peninsula is one of California's top vacation destinations, offering museums, shopping, scenic views and outdoor recreation. The area also has a fascinating history dating back to the 18th century. In fact, California's first Constitution was signed at Colton Hall in Old Monterey, now a preserved historic site. On Tuesdays starting at 4 p.m., you'll find the Old Monterey Market Place held there along Alvarado Street.

Afterward, be sure to visit one of the many restaurants just blocks away at Old Fisherman's Wharf. Built in 1846 for trading vessels, whaling ships and, naturally, fishermen, the Wharf includes restaurants, shops, and a working pier for whale watching and fishing trips.

You will also of course find Cannery Row in Monterey, the setting for John Steinbeck's eponymous masterpiece. Cannery Row's most renowned present occupant is the world-famous Monterey Bay Aquarium. Open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., the aquarium will celebrate its 20th anniversary in 2004.

Highlighting its calendar is a new exhibit, opening April 2, entitled "Sharks: Myth and Mystery." In addition to nearly two dozen living species on display, the exhibit will be the first of its kind to explore the cultural impact of these fascinating animals on human societies, including everything from ancient Mayan artifacts to Saturday Night Live's "Landshark" skit.

Noted as "America's Last Home Town," Pacific Grove offers terrific shopping and world-famous restaurants. From Pacific Grove, you can enter Pebble Beach and the beautiful Seventeen Mile Drive. The drive winds along the gorgeous coastline toward the town of Carmel. Open to bikes for most of its length, this spectacular roadway passes by several celebrated golf courses including, Pebble Beach Golf Links, Cypress Point, and Spyglass Hill Golf Course. Once in Carmel, you should visit the historic Carmel Mission. The mission is one of the original California missions established by Padre Junipero Serra in 1771.

If you're interested in traveling a little farther away from the Monterey Peninsula, you can head east past Laguna Seca to Salinas. In historic Old Town Salinas, you'll find the National Steinbeck Center with its new Valley of the World exhibit. This attraction explores agriculture "from field to feast" through hands-on exhibits and provides multiple perspectives on the challenges facing today's farmers.

If you head south from the Monterey Peninsula, there is an abundance of natural beauty to explore along the coast. Point Lobos State Reserve, just a few miles south of Carmel, has been described as "the greatest meeting of land and water in the world," and is certainly one of the world's most picturesque locations. A unique geological formation with a remarkable diversity of plants and wildlife, Point Lobos has been home to Spanish missionaries, Portuguese whalers, Chinese fishermen, and the U.S. Army. Point Lobos' marine reserve is part of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.

Twenty miles further south along Highway 1 is the town of Big Sur, with a history that is closely linked to the sea otter itself. By the 1930s, the California sea otter (whose astonishing metabolic rate is rivaled only by that of the pro bike racer) was believed extinct due to fur trapping until a group of otters was discovered along the coast near Big Sur in 1938. Since then, the town's fame has grown, as has the otter's population. Today, Big Sur is known for it's spectacular coastline and its opportunities to view endangered species like the sea otter, the California condor, and the blue whale. The town also offers access to the rugged Ventana Wilderness and high-quality lodging and dining options.

The Sea Otter Classic offers a perfect opportunity to discover the Big Sur coast or Point Lobos, stroll through Old Monterey or the Carmel Mission, and check out the sharks at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. At the Sea otter Classic, fun comes first, whether on or off the bike. Enjoy!

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