The Cannery Row in Monterey Bay
Top Things to See and Do in the Cannery Row
Monterey Sightseeing Attraction
Monterey historic Cannery Row is a premiere destination for dining, shopping, fun activities, whales watching, nightlife, elegant hotels, and famous for the Monterey Bay Aquarium. It’s located between Monterey old Fisherman’s Wharf and the 17-Mile Drive- a scenic road that runs through Pebble Beach Carmel-by-the-Sea.
Monterey’s bustling one-stop center of tourism and attractions, Cannery Row makes for a fun-filled, diverse stop on any tour of the quaint city of Monterey, CA. Though Monterey has much to offer by way of natural attractions due to its essential location on the Northern California coastline, the countless shops, eateries, and activities offered by Cannery Row is hard to beat for family-oriented fun. But even though the Cannery is now a modernized destination with several levels filled with chic shopping and attractions, it has a rich past tied intimately to Monterey’s not-so-distant past.
Monterey’s location, perched on the edge of the Pacific Ocean, has significantly affected its history as well as its present. From the early 1900s, commercial fishing was an important part of Monterey’s economy, relying on the abundant sea life lying just off the shore. The two-mile deep Monterey Canyon, found in the Pacific Ocean just off Monterey, propelled cold
Deepwater upward to the surface, carrying with it a bounty of seafood including abalone and the tiny anchovy, among others. Large-scale fish canneries were constructed to efficiently bring the freshest of seafood directly into the factories for canning and then to be moved quickly onto trains waiting on the other side of the cannery buildings. This industry seemed bottomless during the fishing boom of the mid-20th century; it was significantly aided by the food shortages during World War Two, when canned sardines were a hot commodity among American families living in the midst of rationing. Monterey’s economic scene was truly in its heyday.
But the canning industry was so efficient that Monterey Bay soon became over-fished, and by the 1960s, the factories were all closed, a relic of an earlier time. This entire area remained more or less a ghost of its previous self, staying vacant until being revitalized as a historical site under the name “Cannery Row.” Offering a variety of restaurants, shops, local artisans, and points of
interest, the site capitalized on its heritage while modernizing in ways that would make it a dynamic and rejuvenating force to the Monterey economy. Their plan worked. Cannery Row is now a popular attraction for locals and tourists alike. A few canneries still operate in Monterey today, and sport fishing is a popular activity for residents as well as visitors.
Monterey provides numerous outdoor enjoyments, many of which can be enjoyed through walking tours including the area around Cannery Row. Because of this, it makes a great destination for a visitor to the Monterey area because at the same time as it offers businesses that appeal to one’s modern senses, they have not eliminated the history and the original seafront personality of the location. For instance, huge California sea lions loll on the rocks just off the piers, providing daily entertainment to all who may stroll by.
Cannery Row’s most famous attraction is probably the Monterey Bay Aquarium. More than 2 million visitors a year travel through this incredible monument to California’s unique and majestic undersea life. Thousands of plants and animals are on display for exploration by every member of your family, with enormous touch tanks always drawing a large crowd. Be sure not to miss this wonder! Californians come from across the state to experience this magical place – in fact, you’ll be hard pressed to find a child in all of Northern California who hasn’t been to this destination! The aquarium’s claim to fame is a 33-foot high, 360-degree walk in ocean tube, giving you the feeling that you are really under water. Although a little disorienting at first, you soon adjust to this incredible feature and wish you never had to leave! This opportunity to get up close and personal with California wildlife is truly priceless. Don’t miss out!
Indeed, Monterey received even more national attention due to Pulitzer Prize-winning American author John Steinbeck’s growing up inland from Monterey. His works often reference the area, one of the most prominent including a novel set in Monterey itself entitled Cannery Row. It was made into a movie in 1982 starring big-name actors Nick Nolte and Debra Winger.
Top Things to See and Do in and near Monterey Cannery Row
Among top thing to see and do in Monterey Cannery Row include dining, shopping, fun activities, whales watching, nightlife, elegant hotels, and we recommend visiting the famous Monterey Bay Aquarium.
Here is a brief sum up of tips things to se and do in the Cannery Row area:
The Monterey Bay Aquarium: it’s located in the heart of the Cannery Row
#1 of 80 things to do in Monterey.
886 Cannery Row, Monterey, CA 93940-1085
0.2 miles from Cannery Row
Monterey Mirror Maze & Lazer Challenge
#2 of 14 Fun & Games in Monterey
715 Cannery Row Suite 109, Monterey, CA 93940-1024
0 miles from Cannery Row
Steinbeck’s Spirit of Monterey Wax Museum
#66 of 80 things to do in Monterey
78 reviews
700 Cannery Row Ste II, Monterey, CA 93940-1064
0 miles from Cannery Row
The Paper Wing Theatre Company
#55 of 80 things to do in Monterey.
3 reviews
711 Cannery Row Suite i, Monterey, CA 93940
0 miles from Cannery Row
Global Candle Gallery
#9 of 34 Shopping in Monterey
711 Cannery Row, Monterey, CA 93940-1037
0 miles from Cannery Row
Super Silver #24 of 34 Shopping in Monterey
1 review
700 Cannery Row, Monterey, CA 93940-1063
0 miles from Cannery Row
Soap Confections #14 of 34 Shopping in Monterey
2 reviews.
700 Cannery Row, Monterey, CA 93940-1063
0 miles from Cannery Row
Carmel Ridge Winery
#31 of 80 things to do in Monterey
36 reviews
700 Cannery Row Suite C, Monterey, CA 93940-1063
0 miles from Cannery Row
Zucchini’s Tricks N Things
Be the first to review this attraction.
711 Cannery Row Ste H, Monterey, CA 93940-1037
0 miles from Cannery Row
Mission 57 Sci-Fi Escape Room
#14 of 14 Fun & Games in Monterey
711 Cannery Row 2nd Floor, Suite N, Monterey, CA 93940-1037
0 miles from Cannery Row
Sculptures by the Sea
#68 of 80 things to do in Monterey.
685 Cannery Row, Monterey, CA 93940-1056
0 miles from Cannery Row
#21 of 34 Shopping in Monterey
685 Cannery Row, Monterey, CA 93940-1056
0 miles from Cannery Row
Charms by the Bay
#62 of 80 things to do in Monterey
685 Cannery Row, Monterey, CA 93940-1056
0 miles from Cannery Row
Blue Fox Cellars
#48 of 80 things to do in Monterey
700 Cannery Row Suite DD, Monterey, CA 93940-1063
0 miles from Cannery Row
Bargetto Winery’s Monterey Tasting Room
#37 of 80 things to do in Monterey
700 Cannery Row Ste G, Monterey, CA 93940-1036
0 miles from Cannery Row
Monterey Waterfront & Cannery Row Tours
#20 of 57 Tours in Monterey
750 Cannery Row the Clement Hotel, Monterey, CA 93940-1087
0.1 miles from Cannery Row
A Taste of Monterey-Wine Market & Bistro
#2 of 34 Shopping in Monterey
700 Cannery Row 2nd Floor, Monterey, CA 93940-1063
0.1 miles from Cannery Row
Spa at InterContinental The Clement Monterey
#3 of 18 Spas & Wellness in Monterey
750 Cannery Row 2nd Floor, Monterey, CA 93940-1087
0.1 miles from Cannery Row
Exodus Escape Room
#1 of 14 Fun & Games in Monterey
765 Wave St Suite A-2, Monterey, CA 93940-1016
0.1 miles from Cannery Row
Doc Rickett’s Pacific Biological Laboratories
#20 of 80 things to do in Monterey.
800 Cannery Row, Monterey, CA 93940-1023
0.1 miles from Cannery Row
Historic Cannery Row: Explore John Steinbeck’s…
Monterey’s Tasty Olive Bar
#5 of 34 Shopping in Monterey
751 Cannery Row, Monterey, CA 93940-1089
0.1 miles from Cannery Row
Bamboo Reef Scuba Diving Centers
#4 of 28 Boat Tours & Water Sports in Monterey
614 Lighthouse Ave, Monterey, CA 93940-1008
0.2 miles from Cannery Row
ZFolio Gallery
#8 of 34 Shopping in Monterey
750 Cannery Row Suite 112, Monterey, CA 93940-1087
0.1 miles from Cannery Row
Cooper’s Pub & Restaurant
#1 of 6 Nightlife in Monterey
653 Cannery Row, Monterey, CA 93940-1001
0 miles from Cannery Row
Bay Bikes
#18 of 56 Outdoor Activities in Monterey
585 Cannery Row, Monterey, CA 93940-1574
0.1 miles from Cannery Row
The Cannery Row Monument
#8 of 80 things to do in Monterey.
Cannery Row Steinbeck Plaza, Monterey, CA 93940
0.1 miles from Cannery Row
Highway 1 Golf Games and Grub
#8 of 14 Fun & Games in Monterey
27 reviews
751 Cannery Row, Monterey, CA 93940-1089
0.1 miles from Cannery Row
Blazing Saddles Bike Rentals & Tours
#42 of 56 Outdoor Activities in Monterey
750 Cannery Row, Monterey, CA 93940-1087
0.1 miles from Cannery Row
SockShop
#15 of 34 Shopping in Monterey
649 Cannery Row, Monterey, CA 93940-1026
0 miles from Cannery Row
MST Trolley, 77 reviews
Tyler St, Monterey, CA 93940
0 miles from Cannery Row
Monterey Vintage Chart House: Coconut Crunchy Shrimp. citrus chili | coconut cream + soy dipping sauces mango sticky rice.
