Monterey State Historic Park

Scattered throughout downtown Monterey, the Monterey State Historic Park takes you back in time by opening up the doors of historic adobes from a bygone era. Monterey was once the California state capital. Today you can take the "walking path of history" and explore the various historic structures, stepping on the last existing whale bone path. Many can only be toured with a state park guide, so you must obtain tickets at the Pacific House Museum, built in the 1800s. Here you can learn about Monterey when it was the seat of Mexican and Spanish rule as well as educate yourself on Native American history. You can hop on the path at any point ...

Scattered throughout downtown Monterey, the Monterey State Historic Park takes you back in time by opening up the doors of historic adobes from a bygone era. Monterey was once the California state capital. Today you can take the "walking path of history" and explore the various historic structures, stepping on the last existing whale bone path. Many can only be toured with a state park guide, so you must obtain tickets at the Pacific House Museum, built in the 1800s. Here you can learn about Monterey when it was the seat of Mexican and Spanish rule as well as educate yourself on Native American history. You can hop on the path at any point to find Casa del Oro, Custom House, Stevenson House, Cooper Molera Adobe, Old Whaling Station, and more. Be sure to peek behind many of the buildings to see the abundant flowering gardens surrounding the structures.

About the Expert

Michele Bigley is the author of Northern California: An Explorer's Guide and Great Destinations Kauai from Countryman Press.