Hotel at a Glance: Embassy Suites by Hilton - Monterey Bay

At the Embassy Suites Monterey Bay, guests can take advantage of its new renovations and longstanding tradition of making vacationers feel pampered. The menu at the recently-opened Silver Tide Bar & Grill centers around vibrant pairings such as pork belly flatbreads topped with roasted tomatoes, arugula, and pineapple, while fresh West Coast salmon cakes are accompanied by kale-fennel slaw. Before or after dinner, the hotel hosts a two-hour evening reception from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. for guests where all beer, wine, and mixed drinks are complimentary.

• Breakfast is covered: Every morning breakfast is free and made-to-order.
• The suite life: All suites include a fridge and microwave; select bay-view king suites open up to an attached balcony overlooking the water.
• Two blocks from the beach where guests can stroll the boardwalks and explore the sand dunes along the seashore.
• Swim any season in the hotel’s indoor pool.
• Kids welcome: Guests 17 years old or younger stay free at the hotel.
• Fun for the family: The nearby MY museum features interactive play spaces suitable for kids all ages to use their imaginations to learn.

Monterey, California: Scenic Beaches and Marine Wildlife on the Pacific Coast

The city of Monterey is located at Monterey Bay’s southern end, in an area considered one of the world’s most scenic thanks to its rugged cliffs and dramatic ocean views. Author John Steinbeck lived for several years in the neighboring town of Pacific Grove, and he immortalized this part of central California in works such as East of Eden and Of Mice and Men. In Cannery Row, Steinbeck depicted the Monterey fish-canning industry at the turn of the 20th century. Today, a tourist destination of the same name houses souvenir shops and eateries right where the sardine factories used to be.

One attraction that you don’t want to miss is the Monterey Bay Aquarium, one of the world’s largest. Its mesmerizing displays include a living kelp forest filled with leopard sharks and wolf eels and a deep-water tank that’s home to schools of bluefin tuna.

To get even closer to the sea, hop on the oceanfront Monterey Bay Coastal Recreation Trail; look out for sea lions sunbathing on the rocks and otters playing in the surf. A variety of whales pass by the shores of Monterey all year; you might also spot a few dolphins from aboard one of the popular harbor cruises. For the best up-close encounters, however, do as the locals do and head to one of the scuba-diving sites nearby. Dive shops on Del Monte Beach offer rentals and lessons—the easily accessible reef system here is popular for first-time divers.