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The Atlas Obscura Guide To Monterey

16 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Monterey, California

Updated August 20, 2026
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See All 16 Things To Do in Monterey
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Atlas Obscura Itineraries

Time Travel Through Monterey County

Sponsored by See Monterey

Monterey County is one of those places where California history doesn’t just linger; it stacks, layer upon layer, across coasts, valleys, and mountains. On a single journey, you can move from Indigenous homelands to Spanish presidios, from Mexican-era ranchos to 20th-century artist colonies, and onward into a region shaped by agriculture, military history, creativity, and ecological conservation. In that spirit, Monterey is looking back at more than 1,000 years of its history, a project inspired by America’s 250th anniversary. Each of the places on this road trip is a part of that history, helping to shape this remarkable stretch of California coast. Learn more at The Monterey 1000 Project.

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Explore Monterey, California

Monuments 3
Museums 3
Literature 3
Ecosystems 3
Military History 2
Animals 2
Statues 2
Intriguing Environs 2

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Recent Monterey Activity

Stories About Monterey

Reno 911 Lemons Style driven by Ryan Doherty, David Doherty, and Tom Church with Rally Master Jeff Stobbs

Roadtrips for Hoopties and other Acts of Stupidity

Rumbling into Monterey Car Week with the Lemons Rally
by Scott Klinger, Community Contributor
All illustrations: Anne Meadows for Atlas Obscura (Photo: Courtesy Monterey Bay Aquarium)

The Monterey Bay Aquarium Crossword: Exploring the Kelp Forest

Sponsored By Monterey Bay Aquarium
The basket star (Gorgonocephalus eucnemis), on display at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, is a deep sea species related to the sea stars seen in more shallow waters.

How to Recreate the Deepest, Darkest Ocean

Revealing the unseen world under Monterey Bay.
by Kevin McLean, Atlas Obscura
A hammerhead shark may look ominous, but in the wild they have no beef with humans.

From Shark Tanks to the Deep Sea: A Day in the Life of a Monterey Bay Aquarist

What it’s like to care for fascinating animals at an aquarium on the edge of the Pacific.
Sponsored By Visit California
That mouth is full of info for scientists to chew on.

Sea Otter Teeth Are Gross but Really Useful for Scientists

You don’t want to look an old sea otter in the mouth—unless you want to tell how old it is.
by Jessica Leigh Hester, Atlas Obscura
Point Alones was once home to the state’s largest Chinatown. This photograph of Chinese fisherman was taken in 1875.

A Chinese Fishing Village Regains Its Rightful Place in California History

A shipwreck brought Chinese immigrants to the Monterey area. Discrimination forced them to start over.
by Claire Wang, Atlas Obscura
So many cephalopods.

Found: The Largest Cluster of Deep-Sea Octopuses Ever Recorded

More than 1,000 were spotted off the coast of Monterey, California.
by Anna Kusmer, Atlas Obscura
Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
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