Beach Guide

What’s On

This week on the beach

Something
every night

8 AM

Whale-Watch Fleet

Old Fisherman's Wharf · Family

Whale-watching and deep-sea fishing boats head out through the day from the wharf into some of the richest waters on the Pacific coast.

9 AM

Bay Coastal Trail Ride

Monterey Bay Coastal Trail · Active

Walk, run or bike the paved shoreline trail linking Del Monte Beach, the wharf, Cannery Row and Pacific Grove along the edge of the bay.

10 AM

Monterey Bay Aquarium

Cannery Row · Family

The world-renowned aquarium at the west end of Cannery Row, famous for its kelp forest tank, sea otters and open-sea exhibit.

7:43 PM

sun-timed

Wharf Sunset

Old Fisherman's Wharf · Sunset

The nightly sunset over Monterey Bay from Old Fisherman's Wharf, with sea otters in the kelp and the fishing fleet at the docks.

Big Days

annual
Sep

Monterey Jazz Festival

The longest continuously running jazz festival in the world, held every September at the Monterey Fairgrounds since 1958.

Aug

Monterey Car Week

A week of concours events, auctions and vintage racing around the peninsula each August, capped by the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance.

Dec

Monterey Bay Whale Season

Peak of the gray-whale migration past Monterey Bay, with humpbacks often lingering into winter, drawing whale watchers to the wharf boats.

see you out there

Real recurring local happenings — schedules can change, so check the venue. Sun-timed events track each day’s real sunset and the countdown runs on the live local clock.

At Monterey State Beach, the sun sets at 8:13 PM today — about 13h 57m of daylight. Sunrise was 6:16 AM. Live water temperature, surf height, UV index, wind and tide for Monterey State Beach update at the top of the conditions page.