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Cannery Row

· Monterey, CA

Why you should go…

Cannery Row is a waterfront street in Monterey, California that was the center of a sardine canning industry from the early 1900s through the 1940s, later made famous by John Steinbeck's novel of the same name. Since 1976 the Cannery Row Company has redeveloped the former canneries into shops, restaurants, wine tasting rooms and oceanfront hotels. The district, home to the Monterey Bay Aquarium, draws several million visitors a year and is promoted as the top visitor destination on California's Central Coast.

  • #shopping
  • #waterfront
  • #history
  • #dining
  • #views

Good to know

General sightseeing guidance

Habits that pay off across this whole category, not rules for this one venue. Always check the official site for the specifics.

  • The forecast is part of the ticket

    Haze, low cloud, and rain flatten a view. Clear-day visits are worth rearranging your plans for.

  • Golden hour sells out first

    Sunset slots at observation decks and cruises are the first to go, so book those further ahead.

  • Dress a layer warmer

    It is always breezier up high and out on the water than it feels at street level.

  • Timed entry is common

    Plenty of landmarks release tickets in windows rather than at the door, so check before you walk over.

What's around here?

The closest stops to Cannery Row, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

  • Shopping
    Local Gem

    Cannery Row Antique Mall

    Free

    A two-story antique and collectibles mall on Cannery Row set inside a restored 1927 sardine cannery building.

    Right next doorSwitch it up: Shopping

  • Eat & Drink
    Date Night

    Fish Hopper

    $25–$50

    Seafood and steak restaurant on Monterey's historic Cannery Row.

    0.2 mi awaySwitch it up: Eat & Drink

  • Attractions
    Family Favorite

    Monterey Mirror Maze

    Under $25

    Walk-through mirror maze and laser challenge arcade on Monterey's Cannery Row.

    0.3 mi awaySwitch it up: Attractions

  • Sightseeing
    Local Gem

    Pacific Grove

    Free

    A Victorian-era town on the Monterey Peninsula known for its rocky coastline and wintering monarch butterflies.

    1.2 mi awayMore like this

  • Sightseeing
    Local Gem

    Carmel-by-the-Sea

    Free

    Official visitor resource for the coastal art town of Carmel-by-the-Sea, California.

    4.2 mi awayMore like this

  • Sightseeing
    Local Gem

    Capitola

    Free

    A pastel-colored Santa Cruz County beach village built around a small wharf and Capitola Village's shops and restaurants.

    25 mi awayMore like this