Cannery Row
A historic waterfront section of Monterey once home to several sardine canning facilities, Cannery Row is now the premier entertainment and dining district. Full of excitement and possibility, Cannery Row is the place to be.
Like many trendy districts, Cannery Row began as an industrial zone. The original name of the area, Ocean View Avenue, was officially changed in 1958 to honor American author John Steinbeck and his gloriously acclaimed novel Cannery Row which was inspired by this Monterey canning district. Of Cannery Row, Steinbeck said it was "a poem, a stink, a grating noise, a quality of light, a tone, a habit, a nostalgia, a dream." Today, while the history of the canning industry remains, Cannery Row is but a dream.
The area is now a popular tourist attraction, home to a number of hotels and restaurants, not to mention the abundance of shops. The Monterey Bay Aquarium, one of the best in the country, is situated at the north end of Cannery Row, though you also have the option of trying out the Monterey Mirror Maze and Lazer Challenge and having fun in the sand down on the beach. Take a tour of the now defunct canneries and the other historic landmarks in the district, take a Taste of Monterey at the wine market and bistro, visit the very first Bubba Gump Shrimp, Co. location, or get lost and wind your way through the shops, picking up handmade candies, crafts, and luxury items.