Monterey

A decidedly Spanish influence still pervades in the city of Monterey, once the state capital. Picturesque well-maintained old adobes, some of which are open to the public, are interspersed among newer buildings and businesses in downtown Monterey (the grid of the streets still follows the meandering paths of the original settlement). Although Monterey honors its history, it has a lively downtown with excellent restaurants, shops, galleries and entertainment opportunities. The area's Italian heritage is kept alive at colorful Fisherman's Wharf with its seafood restaurants and gift shops. The Monterey Bay Aquarium sits on the boundary of Monterey and Pacific Grove at one end of Cannery Row, made famous by novelist John Steinbeck.