Monterey is located on the beautiful Pacific Coast in Central California. Along with a bunch of other picturesque towns, it sits on Monterey Bay, which is an absolute hotspot for marine life and coastal views. For anyone who loves nature and charming coastal towns, this is an incredible destination to visit. There are so many things to see and do: venture out into the bay on a whale-watching tour, spot sea otters and sea lions while paddling in a kayak, stroll along the coast in Monterey, hike at nearby Point Lobos, or watch one of those awe-inspiring California sunsets. If you are planning your outdoor-focused trip around Monterey, this is the post for you.

Point Lobos State Natural Reserve is a wonderful place to admire the immense biodiversity and beauty of the Californian Central Coast. There are numerous trails within the reserve that allow you to immerse yourself in stunning scenery, ranging from coastal bluffs providing habitat for — among many others — harbor seals, sea lions, pelicans, and great blue herons, to dense forests with yellow-green lichens hanging mythically from the trees, often shrouded in fog.

Monterey Bay, located on California's central coast, is renowned for its stunning marine life and spectacular whale-watching opportunities. In this article, I’ll take you on a tour to see these magnificent creatures, share insights on why Monterey is such a prime location to spot marine life, and provide everything you need to know before venturing out on a shaky boat into the ocean. While every tour is exciting, this one on a beautiful fall day in October 2023 was particularly special, as it featured an unexpected 'celebrity': the patchy white-gray orca, Frosty.