Hotels, motels and B & B's we like: Some offer Sanctuary Cruises Whale Watching Packages. For discounted tickets for Whale Watching Cruises ask your hotel about Sanctuary Cruises Whale Watching Cruise Packages.
They are roughly listed from north of us to south of us and there is something for everyone, from utilitarian to grand:
Costanoa Coastal Lodge & Camp: Phone Phone 877.262.7848 www.costanoa.com Whale Watching Package with Sanctuary Cruises available. A luxury retreat located north of Santa Cruz, featuring a wonderland of hiking, biking, birding, kiteboarding and other adventures. Stay in tent cabins, their RV area or the lodge.
Pleasure Point Inn: Phone Phone 831.475.4657 www.pleasurepointinn.com
Whale Watching Package with Sanctuary Cruises available. Santa Cruz's posh B&B, located on Ocean Front overlooking the beautiful Monterey Bay. Just steps from the beach and a popular surfing spot. Wonderful for a quiet romantic getaway or as a base to participate in the numerous activities offered in Santa Cruz. Modern, upscale, contemporary Mediterranean style design. There is a large rooftop deck with a hot tub.
Sand Rock Farm B and B: Phone 831.688.8005 www.sandrockfarm.com
Whale Watching Package with Sanctuary Cruises available. This historic farm is just 15 minutes north of Moss Landing. Nestled in the foothills of Aptos, Sand Rock Farm is owned by Kris Sheehan, who graciously serves as the hostess, and her sister, master chef Lynn Sheehan, who cut her teeth in five star restaurants around the world. Painstakingly restored, this fantastic farmhouse is inspired by the redwood rich Craftsman style, with framing and finished woodwork created from trees milled on site in the early days of the last century. Prices range from $185.00-225.00 per night and they include scrumptuous breakfasts. Check their web site for information on their Dinner with the Winemakers series.
Pajaro Dunes Vacation Rentals: Phone 800.564.1771 www.pajarodunes.com Whale Watching Package with Sanctuary Cruises available. Treat yourself. Vacation Rentals. Conferences.Real Estate Sales. Pajaro Dunes is located just minutes north of us on Monterey Bay. We have folks who have rented places at Pajaro Dunes for years and they just love it.
Motel 6 Watsonville or Marina: Phone: 800-4-MOTEL6 (800-466-8356) www.motel6.com
Located just to the north of us in Watsonville as well as to the south of us in Marina, Motel 6 offers an inexpensive option for travelers with rates starting around $36.00.
Captain's Inn B&B: Phone 831.633.5550 www.captainsinn.com
Whale Watching Package with Sanctuary Cruises available. This is Moss Landing's only inn and it's a beauty. It features a coastal, nautical décor. The new rooms in the Boat House face the river and you can watch egrets, heron, harbor seals and more from them. Generous breakfasts and snacks are included. Rooms range from $110.00 to $215.00.
Moss Landing RV Park Phone: 877.735.7275 www.mosslandingrvpark.com
Brand new and located right next to us in Moss Landing, Moss Landing RV Park is one minute's walking distance of our dock. It's also close to all of the shops, restaurants, cafes and the beach. Drive in, set up and you don't have to drive again until it's time to go home.
Best Western Beach Resort: Phone 831.655.7650 www.montereybeachresort.com
Located right on the beach north of Monterey, the Beach Resort has an incredible bay view and is ideal for people who love to walk the beach and play in the water.
Monterey Bay Lodge: Phone 800.558.1900 www.montereybaylodge.com Whale Watching Package with Sanctuary Cruises available. The Monterey Bay Lodge is super for families because it's got so many great things for kids to do nearby, plus dogs are allowed ($15 per pet extra charge). It's close to the beach, Monterey Bay Kayaks and the wonderful recreation trail. It's across the street from Lake El Estero and one block to the new skate park and Dennis the Menace Park (designed by Hank Ketchum, creator of Dennis the Menace and a favorite with small kids). Moderately priced: $69.00-$169.00 off season and $89.00-$259.00 peak season. Check the Internet for specials.
Portola Plaza Hotel : Phone 888.222.5851 www.portolaplazahotel.com
Located at Fisherman's Wharf in Monterey, this hotel defines centrally located. Walk to the aquarium, Old Alvarado Street restaurants and shops, Cannery Row and the beach. Anne Roberts, the concierge, loves Sanctuary Cruises and frequently sends her guests to us, even though if they fell out of bed, they'd practically be ON Fisherman's Wharf.
Asilomar: Phone 831.642.4242 www.VisitAsilomar.com
Asilomar is a refuge by the sea. Run by Delaware North, the same great company that manages facilities at Yosemite and the Grand Canyon, it mirrors their admirable standards for conservation. Asilomar offers 107 extraordinary acres of forests, dunes and coastline situated right on the Monterey Bay National Marine Life Sanctuary.
Tradewinds Carmel: 831.624.2776 www.tradewindscarmel.com THE luxury boutique hotel in the heart of Carmel, California providing an elegant oasis just a short stroll from the many wonderful shops, galleries and restaurants of Carmel-by-the-Sea. Whether you are looking for a romantic bed and breakfast, a luxury Carmel California hotel, or a romantic inn from which to explore Carmel, Monterey, Pebble Beach, Pacific Grove, or even Big Sur, Tradewinds Carmel is the perfect sanctuary to rebalance your mind, body and spirit. Tradewinds Carmel is a luxury hotel of uncompromising, elegant style that resonates with its visitors as nothing less than magical.
Casa Munras: Phone 800.222.2558 www.casamunras-hotel.com
Whale Watching Package with Sanctuary Cruises available. Casa Munras is a large hotel with sprawling gardens and a good sized pool. It can accomodate substantial groups. (see Not to Be Missed While You're Here) $109.00-159.00 winter/$129.00-189.00 summer.
Tickle Pink Inn : Phone 800.635.4774 www.ticklepinkinn.com
Incredible Carmel Highlands oceanfront location. Breathtaking views, worthy of a grand splurge.
Restaurants We Love!
The newest restaurant in Moss Landing is Sea Harvest, located just north of the bridge where Highway One crosses Elkhorn Slough. It is easily spotted thanks to its pretty aqua roof. It sits at the edge of the water and overlooks the mouth of the harbor and Monterey Bay. The seafood is fresh. Try the squid!
The Whole Enchilada and The Haute Enchilada/Moss Landing www.wenchilada.com Some of our favorites in Moss Landing are The Whole Enchilada Mexican restaurant and The Haute Enchilada. The Whole Enchilada has excellent seafood and some unique dishes. Their crab enchiladas with lobster sauce are fantastic.
The Haute Enchilada is a great place to hang out before or after your cruise, since it's across the street from the harbor entrance and just a few hundred feet from our boats. It has an espresso bar, a taco bar and much more. Also, interesting arts and crafts from Mexico.
Phil's Fish Market & Eatery/Moss Landing www.philsfishmarket.com Phil's Fish Market and Eatery in Moss Landing is a casual and beloved restaurant. Phil's is located just past Moss Landing Harbor. Rather than turning into the harbor off Sandholdt Road, proceed over the one lane bridge and about 1/4 mile. Phil's is on the left.
Not To Be Missed While You're Here
The Central Coast has so many wonders that it's hard to know where to start. If you're looking for tremendous photo opportunities, breath-taking views and great places to hike or picnic, try these:
Drive down Highway 1 to Big Sur.
The hour's drive south of Monterey is beyond breath-taking and there are many safe areas to pull off the highway to take pictures as well as wonderful places to hike and explore.
Point Lobos State Reserve is just south of Carmel and the Carmel River. You may park outside and walk in (no charge) or drive in (small fee). Although the entire coast here is rugged and beautiful, Point Lobos may be the prettiest of all with its terrific paths to explore, fantastic coves and beaches, even natural rock arches in the sea. Look for whales from shore. It's a great spot for winter whale watching and often we are joined by folks who saw the blows from Point Lobos and then wanted to see the whales closer by boat. The old whaling museum is located here and that's exactly where whaling belongs, in a museum. You can walk through the twisted cypress trees amongst the blubber try pots and look at the flencing tools lined along the wall of the old building. Smell the fragrant air rich with the scent of wild blackberries and pine, far better than the smell of half-putrid whale carcasses and boiling blubber. (Be careful to stay on the path and not to touch plants; poison oak is abundant. Should you end up in it anyway, go to a pharmacy or market and buy some Tecnu. This special soap dissolves the poison oak oils which can remain potent up to three years. Follow the directions carefully to get those oils off your skin, everything you've touched and your clothing.)
Check out Nepenthe, a restaurant and bar south of Big Sur village a few minutes (about an hour's drive from Monterey). It's on Highway One on the ocean side and it has gorgeous views. Be sure you walk all around. Maybe have lunch there (pricey), but be sure you at least see it and browse through the gift shop below.
Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park is several miles south of Nepenthe. Park outside off the highway. Cross the highway to trail along highway and walk north about 5 minutes. Be careful not to touch plants! Poison oak is everywhere. Look back to the south to see one of the only freshwater waterfalls falling into salt water on the west coast. Stunning ocean color! Best in the afternoon for light for photos.
Monterey Bay Aquarium www.mbayaq.org
Cruise their web site to get an idea of how many tremendous exhibits there are, then plan to get there early and stay at least 3-4 hours to do it justice. From the ethereal, pulsing jellies to the magnificent Outer Bay exhibit, the aquarium will stun you with both the ocean's complexity and its frailty.
Point Pinos Lighthouse & Point Pinos
Near Point Pinos in Pacific Grove. The lighthouse is open Thursdays through Sundays 1-4 for tours. The first lighthouse on the west coast, it had a woman lighthousekeeper in the early 1900's and has been restored to what it looked like in her day. To get there, make your way to Oceanview Blvd. in Pacific Grove, then head southwest. Take a left at Asilomar Bvld. just before the Point. The lighthouse is up the hill on the right; just follow the signs. Point Pinos offers some of the most beautiful views for photography.
Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History
Del Monte Avenue turns into Lighthouse as you head toward New Monterey through the tunnel. Then Lighthouse turns into Central heading S-SW. Stay on it until you see the huge whale outside the museum. Inside, you can see whale baleen, hear whale songs and much more. It has quite a collection of animals as well as an extensive collection of photographs of Ed Ricketts (Doc from John Steinbeck's writings) as well as some of his species gathered from the tide pools. Please don't disturb animals in the tide pools when you're at the beach.
Itsyville: Whale people are nature people and often they come with a good dose of whimsy, which makes them susceptible to wonders others might not marvel over. If you have the imagination of a child and always wanted to live in a magic forest, then you have to head out on Highway 68 (also called Salinas Highway) between Monterey and Salinas. About 12 miles from Monterey (just a few miles from Salinas), on the east side of the highway, you'll find Itsyville. Carved by Steve Blanchard, this redwood village of what might be gnome homes will dazzle you. Steve's written a book about Itsyville and the magical keepers of the lights. Most of the incredible redwood trunk homes with their curved banisters, meandering rooflines and little people and animal inhabitants aren't for sale, but Steve does do commissioned pieces. Check it out at Blanchard Wood Sculpture.
Alvarado Street & Around it
Shops, Restaurants & Farmers' Market (Year-Round.)
This is the main street of Old Monterey. It starts right at Customs House Plaza near Old Fisherman's Wharf and in the next several blocks, you'll find all sorts of cool restaurants, shops and events. Every Tuesday, Alvarado is closed off for a Farmer's Market from 4 PM to 8 PM. You can hear new music, shop for vegetables and flowers fresh from the fields, sample foods or sit down to a plate of squid, barbeque or Indian nan rolls!
Advance purchase strongly recommended. Trips often sell out in advance.
To purchase by phone, call Zerve at 800.979.3370 or 212.209.3370.
For private & special charters, school groups or general information please call Andy at 831-917-1042 or 831-643-0128.
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Sanctuary Cruises is wheelchair accessible.
"Sanctuary Cruises' long reputation of respect for the environment has led you to become Asilomar's number one referral for whale watching inquiries." - Johnathan Carter , Asilomar Conference Grounds Pacific Grove, CA
Sanctuary Cruises is wheelchair accessible.