Over the weekend, Ernie and I went down to the Monterey Coast to celebrate his birthday. We actually spent our first wedding anniversary in Monterey! There is so much to do in this coastal town, that each weekend is unique.

Eat

From Scratch Restaurant // 3626 The Barnyard Carmel, CA 93923

Ernie LOVES breakfast. He’s not into the fancy type of breakfast spots where a simple egg scramble is $25. He loves hearty breakfast spots where he can fill up for the day. For me, I could eat a croissant and coffee and be just fine. But since it was his birthday weekend, I took him to a fantastic breakfast in Carmel Valley.

From Scratch Restaurant is located at The Barnyard in Carmel and was featured on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives. You can indulge in breakfast all day long. Which is great if you want to sleep in and still get breakfast! If you bring your dog, they have a large patio with ample space for pups.

Ernie made his own scramble and I got their famous cinnamon French Toast. Which was AMAZING! These were huge pieces of bread, so I took 1/2 of it home…and it was just as good the next day.

See

Point Lobos State Natural Reserve

Last time we were on the coast, we had to pass on visiting Point Lobos because we had Mochi with us. You are not able to bring dogs into the park, so we needed to make a stop this time. It costs $10 to get into the park, but there is plenty of street parking on Highway 1 if you are willing to walk. I was wearing jeans and Birkenstocks (not hiking clothes) so we drove our car into the park.

Once out of our car, I grabbed my camera and headed down to the ocean. We were able to see the tide pools and Ernie found a bunch of little crabs. I couldn’t find them as quickly as he could, but I was ready with my camera.

This park is just gorgeous. There are plenty of walking trails, you can ride your bike on the paved road, and in some areas you can bring food for a picnic. I was so glad we finally got to see this area of California!

Monterey Bay Aquarium

If you are headed to Monterey for the first time, the Monterey Bay Aquarium should be on your must-see list. This aquarium is HUGE and the lines to get in can get really long on the weekend. But, you can buy admission tickets on your phone! Skip the line and go up to the entrance to show the QR code on your phone.

The sea otter feeding can be really busy, it’s one of the most popular attractions. Make sure you read up on the feeding times and get there early to claim your spot on the window. Or, you can head out to the bay to search for otters on your own!

Turns out, Ernie and I were able to see an Otter…without paying the aquarium admission fee.

Each time Ernie and I visit Monterey we have a new experience. Whether we are checking out a new restaurant, visiting one of the many wineries, or just hanging out on the beach, we always have a wonderful time on our weekend getaway.

Have you ever visited the Monterey coast? What are some of your favorite places to see? Leave me a comment with a place on your bucket list!