Page 138 - 2015 Travel Guide to California

MONTEREY COUNTY
A blend of old and new
»SIGHTSEE,
WINE & DINE,
PLAY GOLF!
Monterey County
Convention & Visitors
Bureau
seemonterey.com
CANNERY ROW AT TWILIGHT, Monterey,
above; the 7th hole at Pebble Beach Golf
Links, below.
MONTEREY’S OLD ADOBES and gar-
dens from Spanish and Mexican eras may
remind some that the city has a special
place in the California history books. But
that doesn’t mean Monterey County is a
dusty antique. The region regularly adds to
its tried-and-true highlights, pleasing both
locals and visitors.
One of the best ways to see Monterey
through a resident’s eyes, complete with his-
torical and cultural elements (but based on
your preferences), is a private tour with
Tours by Locals. Learn more about Old Mon-
terey, John Steinbeck’s Cannery Row, the
city’s most famous attractions, or combine
two in one day with a Monterey and Carmel
tour. Be sure to ask your guide for his favorite
local restaurant or bar to add to your list.
Monterey County encompasses eight
smaller American Viticultural Areas (AVA)
in addition to the larger Monterey appella-
tion, so wine fans will enjoy visiting
vineyards, tasting rooms, and shopping for
wine with labels denoting the region’s best
136 2015 T R AV E L G U I D E TO C A L I F O R N I A
B Y J I L L K . R O B I N S O N
new vintages from Arroyo Seco, Carmel
Valley, Chalone, Hames Valley, San
Antonio Valley, San Bernabe, San Lucas
and Santa Lucia Highlands. Mix it up a
little with a visit to the Monterey penin-
sula’s newest wine bar, Jeninni Kitchen +
Wine Bar, which features wines from the
Mediterranean and southern Spain.
Among Pebble Beach’s famed golf
courses with spectacular views, Poppy Hills
recently completed an extensive renova-
tion and reopened in April 2014. Robert
Trent Jones Jr. expanded on his original
course design to reinvent the course archi-
tecturally, focusing on water conservation.
Take advantage of the new layout and play
with friends, take a “Make the Turn” class
with coach Jeff Ritter to unlock your poten-
tial, or advance directly to Porter’s in the
Forest restaurant—a far cry from the tradi-
tional clubhouse café with its farm-to-table
menu, outdoor dining and panoramic view
of the Del Monte Forest. Even non-golfers
can enjoy some time out here.
KERRICK JAMES/SEEMONTEREY.COM; PHOTOGOLFER/SHUTTERSTOCK