Dinner with sea otters and yoga with seals

Monterrey, California caught me completely off guard. We were on our way back North to San Fransisco and decided to spend one last night on the ocean.

I love spontaneous travel decisions because without them, I would never know what a perfect little beach side town Monterrey is. 

After spending the past few days in the woods of Big Sur I was ready for a nice dinner and hotel stay. We booked a night stay at Monterrey Hotel, around the block from Fisherman's Wharf and Cannery Row, it is  located in the historic downtown area. The hotel was quiet and charming with switchback hallways that you could easily get lost in. 

For dinner we walked to Fisherman's Wharf and after getting a great recommendation from our hotel staff decided to try Domenico's on the Wharf where we enjoyed seafood, seafood, seafood. 

 

 Wood grilled salmon and shrimp straight from the bay we sat above.

 

We even had an extra guest that was a complete show off by catching his own meal from the marina - but we let him stay around to enjoy the evening with us anyways.

 

We stayed late, chatting with the waiters that wanted to know everything about "Walking Dead" (being that it is filmed in Georgia) and enjoying wine on the deck.

We also couldn't look away from our entertainment. They looked a bit lazy but they never quit pushing each other over the side or jumping flippers first into their pile of friends. 

The next morning we awoke for a greatly needed early morning run down Cannery Row. This area takes you along the beach and through the first canneries, or what is left of them, that helped the area boom.

 

 Everyone in Monterrey was active - from the bikers peddling past on the ocean front trails, the paddle boarders exploring the calm bay, and we even caught a glimpse of a AM yoga session in the harbor.

Serious skills here!

Monterrey definitely put me in a zen like state as well - off to Trader Joe's and back on the road again...