Monterey Self-Guided Walking Tour Cannery Row to Old Monterey

Once the bustling heart of Monterey’s sardine industry, Cannery Row now buzzes with oceanfront charm. Walk where factory whistles once echoed and discover how Steinbeck turned these working docks into literary legend.

Pause by the bronze likeness of Monterey’s most famous storyteller and hear how Steinbeck immortalized the characters and struggles of Cannery Row — capturing a moment in time that still defines the city today.

Explore Monterey’s military roots at the Presidio, where centuries of global influence — from Spanish soldiers to American forces — tell the story of a coastline long shaped by power and trade.

Step inside the stately building where California’s first constitution was drafted in 1849. Once a schoolhouse and civic hall, Colton Hall remains a cornerstone of the state’s early democracy.

California’s oldest government building, the Custom House witnessed the moment the U.S. flag was first raised over the state. Its thick adobe walls whisper of trade, transition, and empire.

Visit one of Monterey’s most elegant adobes, blending New England symmetry with Spanish colonial style. Once home to Thomas Larkin — the U.S. consul before statehood — it stands as a symbol of cultural fusion.

Breathe in the salty air at Monterey’s historic pier, where fishing fleets once set out at dawn. Today, the wharf offers a lively mix of seafood, sea lions, and sweeping bay views.

California’s oldest stone building and first cathedral, San Carlos Borromeo stands as a quiet reminder of Monterey’s mission-era beginnings and enduring faith across centuries.

Peek inside the humble adobe that staged California’s first performances — a lively gathering place for soldiers, settlers, and storytellers at the dawn of statehood.

Where history meets creativity, the Monterey Museum of Art celebrates the coast’s natural beauty through California Impressionism and modern works inspired by the landscape and light.