Things to do in Monterey – A Perfect Day
By Donna Polizzi
Monterey is a place of remarkable beauty. The ocean views and scenic drives are breathtaking. Monterey is home to world-famous Cannery Row shopping and the Monterey Bay Aquarium. There are also some amazing places to dine in the area, and we definitely had our fill of some of the finest cuisine Monterey has to offer. The aromatic scent of breakfast cooking brought us to First Awakenings Restaurant, where my husband and I shared a gigantic Acupulco omelet. He had to fight me for his share of it, because it was absolutely delicious. They also have some very unique menu items, including Calamari Steak.
After breakfast, we found a fantastic place on Cannery Row called Lalla Oceanside Grill. Their food is amazing. Downstairs they have a bar called Angel’s Share Craft Cocktail Bar. Its vibe is reminiscent of a 1920’s era speakeasy. They have their own brand of Barrel-aged cocktails at the bar. It was fascinating to seem them take a torch to a big piece of oak. Next they turned snifters upside down on the oak to capture the smoke prior to tasting. That made for a very interesting tasting experience indeed! We enjoyed our time there so much that we ended up booking a table for dinner at Lalla right upstairs. If you are ever in the area, you absolutely HAVE to try this place! The food was delicious, from the Ahi Ceviche with Wasabi Salsa, (served on a Himalayan salt block) to the incredible Lobster Nachos. Everything we ate there was heavenly.
After dinner, we went back to our hotel, the Casa Munras Garden Hotel & Spa. We were fortunate to have a king-sized suite with a Spanish vibe and a fireplace. Our family and friends sat in front of the blazing fire, sipped champagne, and munched on the complimentary truffles. In the morning we hit the spa, where I got a relaxing massage and facial, before it was time to hit the road.
We plan to visit for years to come.
For the full article in the Noozhawk, click here: Donna Polizzi: Magical Monterey Getaway Is Just a Taste — and a Sip — of All It Has to Offer
