Exploring Monterey in One Day

There is so much to do in Monterey, but don't let that intimidate you! If you have limited time, it's still possible to hit all of the major sites in one day. Attractions include the 17-Mile Drive, Cannery Row, Fisherman's Warf, and the aquarium. Unfortunately I didn't do the latter because I split my day between Monterey and Carmel (Carmel post on Friday!), but it can be added to your itinerary, just carve out at least two hours.

We woke up early and hit Cannery Row before anything was open. It's mostly restaurants and shops, plus the Monterey Aquarium. I'm not a big fan of shopping while on vacation so I liked that I got to see the area while it was peaceful.

A few blocks away we ate breakfast at Crepes of Brittany. BEST crepes I've ever had. No joke, I ordered the caramel banana and it was so delicious but my photo didn't do it justice so posting a pic would do it a disservice. My friend went with the savory option that included lox, brie, and caramelized onions and it was just as good. And the prices are reasonable. I highly recommend this spot.

After breakfast we headed to our hotel back in Carmel for a bit, then over to 5th Ave. Deli to grab lunch. This deli is perfect for tourists who want to grab tasty food to go. Have a sandwich made, pick out baked goods, and grab a bottle of wine. They even sell picnic baskets so you can take it with you to the beach or on a drive like we did.

Once we had our lunches, we made the quick five minute trip to the 17-Mile Drive. It's $10 for an all day pass and once you enter you're given a map with points of interest. I highly suggest you approach that map backwards. If you're entering from Carmel, that means veering to the left. It's also to the left if you start from Monterey, north of the drive. We found that taking this route meant we were going opposite of the crowd so there wasn't traffic. This scenic drive runs through neighborhoods so to help you stay on the path, follow the red lines on the road.

There are a lot of stops so allow yourself at least three hours, then decide what you want to see. Some of the highlights included Pebble Beach, the Lone Cypress, and Bird Rock Beach where we saw a ton of seals!

Later that night we headed to Fisherman's Warf for dinner and otter watching. We got lucky and saw a little guy floating right off the pier and then as a bonus a few sea lions swam by as we ate dinner next to a big window. It was the perfect location as the sun set over Monterey.

I highly suggest dinner at Big Fish Grill. Great service, delicious food, and the perfect spot to gaze out at the water. It's right at the end of the pier at Fisherman's Warf. They even have a viewing deck open to the public right above and behind the restaurant where you can look for wildlife and admire the sailboats.

To start, we enjoyed grilled salmon cakes (which I'd never had) and roasted oysters topped with artichokes. Both were great, but I could have ordered several more oysters. The artichoke was a nice, unique touch.

The main dishes did not disappoint either! My friend got the Big Fish Cioppino, a hearty stew full of several types of seafood. I usually shy away from anything with lots of different fish in it but I was pleasantly surprised upon tasting that I really liked it. From the calamari to the clams, each bite was cooked well and I think that's why I enjoyed it so much. And then there was my dish that I proceeded to gorge myself with. I was full about halfway in, but the flavor was amazing and I couldn't stop eating it! I got the lobster-stuffed prawns over risotto. Anyone who watches Hell's Kitchen knows that Gordon Ramsay is particular about his risotto, and I have eaten it at one of his restaurants - it has nothing on this dish. Seriously, go to Monterey and eat at Big Fish Grill. The view and the food can't be beat!

If you've been to Monterey, is there anything on the list that I missed other than the aquarium? Let me know in the comments!

Check out my last post featuring my Southern California to Carmel road trip. And be sure to come back Friday for my review of Carmel and the charming Hofsas House.

Disclaimer: I was invited to dine at Big Fish Grill and 5th Ave. Deli and provided complimentary meals in exchange for honest reviews. All thoughts are my own.

Sea Turtle Released Back Into the Wild

Aquarium of the Pacific, located in Long Beach, CA, is a great place to learn about sea creatures and animals of all sorts. They also help to teach the public about endangered species and care for marine life in need. They're really a wonderful organization!

Recently two green sea turtles were injured by fishing hooks off the coast of Southern California. One is still being nurtured but the other turtle was fully rehabilitated by Aquarium of the Pacific and released back into the wild yesterday, and I had the amazing opportunity to watch the whole thing happen! Together with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and Harbor Breeze Cruises, Aquarium of the Pacific was able to return the turtle back to the ocean and invite a group of people to be present for the experience.

We first got to see the turtle up close, then it was put on a boat we followed in our Harbor Breeze Cruises yacht. Once we were far enough out to sea, we all watched as it was slowly lowered into the Pacific.

After the turtle was released, we headed back to land and into the Aquarium to see the other one still being cared for. I am pretty positive it was hamming it up for us because it kept swimming the span of the window so we could all take pictures. Look at that face - it's like a cuter version of Grumpy Cat. Totally judging us humans excited to take it's picture as it flapped around putting on a show!

While it was an experience of a lifetime, I want to get serious for a second. We have to do better to protect all animals - from the sea and land alike. Here are some helpful tips to reduce the risk of extinction of turtles (yes, all of the sea turtle species are endangered!):

• Throw your trash away - they will eat garbage and it can be fatal.
• Reduce toxins - chemical you use and throw down the drain really do make their way to the ocean.
• Watch out for eggs - it's cool to see nature up close, but do it from a safe distance so you don't disturb the nests.

These creatures are so incredible and we don't want to lose them!

Australia: Recap Three

The last of my Australia recaps focuses on Sydney, where I spent most of my free time. I was there a total of two full days and two half days. In that time I explored the city, went to the nearby Blue Mountains, and spent an afternoon at Manly Beach. Of all the cities I visited - Perth, Melbourne, and Sydney - Sydney was my favorite. I loved the vibe of the big buildings, seaside eateries, and old bars AND public transportation really was a dream. Makes me wish LA had a safe, easy bus system.

The first day we got in was spent seeing all of the touristy places like the Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge, as well as other cool buildings.

That night we had a drink at an outside bar in Darling Harbour - sunset was incredibly gorgeous!

On my first full day I was up bright and early to catch a tour to the nearby Blue Mountains. The day consisted of visiting an animal park then touring several places with beautiful views of the forest and the famous Three Sisters.

While I had a good time, I don't think this was a must-see, or at least via tour. I'm more of a city and ocean kind of person that a mountain lover. AND with the tour I didn't get to see the Jenolan Caves (the oldest discovered open caves in the world!) that boast incredible calcite formation. I didn't see this offered on any of the tours and didn't even know about them until I heard that a co-worker visited them.

The next day was spent at Manly Beach, a ferry ride away from Sydney. Unfortunately it was rainy and cold, but the trip over to the island there was scenic and relaxing and the time spent there consisted of delish seafood and walking around the island.

Unfortunately the next day I had to hop on a plane and fly back to LA. I wish I had just one more day to check out the other beaches in Sydney, such a Bondi. I hear it's amazing! Maybe one day...

Be sure to check out Australia: Recap One and Australia: Recap Two to read about my entire three week trip!

Australia: Recap One

I'm finally back and blogging. A HUGE thank you to all of the wonderful ladies who filled in for me while I was away. If you didn't read their guest posts, go do it! They're all so much fun.

It feels like I was gone forever...because I was...three weeks to be exact. On the other hand, those three weeks flew by because I was working for the first two. And I mean working as in wake up times before 4am and bedtimes after 11pm, dealing with pouring rain while directing people where to go, and carrying around heavy metal barricades. I was sent to Australia for work - we produce large scale fundraising events and they are a lot of work.

Since I was so busy I really didn't get to see/do that much. I'll break down my recaps into three parts: Perth, Melbourne, and Sydney. Today is Perth. I had the least amount of time to explore here but saw the most important stuff - the animals! My co-worker and I rushed to Caversham Wildlife Park at the end of our last work day with only an hour to explore the park. Luckily it was a little rainy and we pretty much had the place to ourselves. We got to see crazy animals, pet koalas, and feed kangaroos!

Check out this beach I saw while working. I ran down to it to touch the water quickly and snap pictures. I believe it's called South Beach. The water was UNREAL!

Come back next Tuesday for my Melbourne recap!

Pink and Green Thursday

Somehow I have never linked up with Pink Preppy Lilly Lover's Pink and Green Thursday. Not sure why it's taken me so long to get on board - especially since my sorority colors are pinks and green! Nonetheless, I am linking up now and super excited to be a part of it.

This week I am going with an animal theme.

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Be sure to play along and link up!