Planning a couple’s getaway to Monterey? We can’t think of a better place to enjoy great food, marine life, beautiful waterfront views, and a little wine tasting than California’s Central Coast. The Monterey Peninsula provides the perfect backdrop for making amazing memories with your sweetheart.
Of course, you might be feeling the pressure to come up with a list of things to do on your perfect romantic getaway. Don’t sweat it!
A tour we think you'll love
Luckily, there are so many Monterey Bay activities for couples to choose from whether you’re craving an outdoor adventure or you prefer a spa day at a romantic hotel. Take a look at our picks for the seven best things to do in Monterey for couples:
1) Surprise Your Sweetie With A Food Tour
Go beyond just planning a romantic dinner by booking a true culinary experience that your partner will never forget! Carmel Food Tours offers all of the flavors of Carmel Valley in a carefully curated culinary tour that will bring you to restaurants, specialty shops, wine tasting rooms, dessert bars, and much more! We offer five tour options in total:
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Carmel-by-the-Sea Classic Food Tour – Spend three magical hours visiting five to six highly acclaimed eateries as your expert guide takes you through Carmel’s charming streets. While enjoying blissful bites, you’ll learn about the unique architecture and culture of the area. It turns out that you don’t have to book a wine tasting that includes a long drive into Salinas Valley just to get the flavors of California’s wine region. We can bring you to local tasting rooms that showcase the best of the best from family wineries.
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Private Tour – Design your own food tour based on your tastes. Our private food tours let you choose your start time, tour duration, and the types of tastings you’ll experience. Your private guide will be there to make sure your romantic day goes off without a hitch!
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Scavenger Hunt – A scavenger hunt for two is the perfect activity for a romantic getaway! This interactive experience in Carmel-by-the-Sea offers one of the best ways to explore this charming town.
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Carmel Bikes, Bites & Bevs – This fun experience combines a 2.5-hour e-bike tour with a full food tour! There’s no better way to bond over the area’s rich culture and history.
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Instagram Mural Photo Tour – The vibrant murals of Sand City create the perfect backdrop for some romantic selfies! During this guided experience, you’ll explore the West End Arts District on a walking tour that showcases the history and personality of the area.
We’re ready to show you why the Monterey area is one of the culinary capitals of the country. Book one of the most romantic things to do in Monterey, CA for couples! Make a date with Carmel Food Tours today!
2) Come For The Monterey Jazz Festival
The Monterey Jazz Festival takes place every September at the 20-acre Monterey County Fairgrounds in Monterey, California. Enjoy the shade of massive oaks while listening to incredible performances. Tickets generally go on sale in April.
The Monterey Jazz Festival is a perfect outing for couples looking to enjoy a romantic and fun experience together. With beautiful music filling the air, delicious food to share, and a lovely outdoor setting, it’s a great way to relax and connect with each other.
Fun Fact: Founded in 1958, the Monterey Jazz Fest has been going strong for nearly 70 years. In fact, it has been continually running longer than any other jazz festival in the world.
3) Fall In Love With Nature At The Monterey Bay Aquarium
The Monterey Bay Aquarium is the perfect place for a date. The aquarium’s resident sea otters, African penguins, and California sea lions definitely bring out warm and fuzzy feelings. Guests can also enjoy rare underwater views from a diver’s perspective without actually getting wet.
Additionally, the aquarium is home to a rare living kelp forest. Don’t rush through a visit! Leave time for the aquarium’s 200 exhibits focused on the diverse habitats of Monterey Bay.
Insider Tip: A sunset cruise is the perfect way to spend an evening in the Monterey area. Consider setting sail on a sunset cruise with one of the many cruise agencies with vessels docked just down the road from the aquarium on Fisherman’s Wharf.
4) Relax At The Vista Blue Spa At Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa
Whether you’re looking for a romantic hotel where you can spend the weekend or you simply want to pop in for some spa treatments, the Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa should be on your radar. This stunning hotel is perched on a beachfront property on the California coast overlooking the Pacific Ocean just steps from Cannery Row.
Open to both guests and non-guests, Vista Blue Spa is the hotel’s rooftop luxury spa. Enjoy panoramic views from the sundeck as you’re pampered with amazing treatments. The treatment menu includes massages, facials, waxing, nails, and soaking treatments.
Fun Fact: Vista Blue Spa is ranked among Travel & Leisure’s Top 25 Spas!
5) Enjoy Beach Time And The Best Monterey Bay Views At Del Monte Beach And Point Lobos State Reserve
Can you believe we’ve gotten this far on the list of romantic things to do in Monterey for couples without suggesting a beach stroll? With its golden sand and abundance of sea glass, Del Monte Beach is the perfect place to hold hands and stroll. There’s even a wooden boardwalk trail that will take you around the beach’s lovely dunes. You’ll want to keep your eyes peeled at this beach because dolphin and seal sightings are pretty common!
Next, set your sights on Point Lobos State Reserve. You can’t plan a romantic getaway to Monterey Bay without stopping at the spot that is considered by many to be the greatest meeting of land and sea in the world! Yes, it’s that beautiful here. Here’s a look at the possibilities when you come:
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Diving and Snorkeling – The offshore portion of Point Lobos is part of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Divers from around the globe come to experience one of the world’s richest underwater habitats! Just be sure to make diving reservations ahead of time to ensure that you’re following the park’s stringent process.
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Wildlife Spotting – This is a popular spot for whale-watching trips in the winter. The local sea lion population is present all year long. The best area for viewing them is a spot called Sea Lion Point that is accessed by hiking Sand Hill Trail and Sea Lion Point Trail.
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Hiking – Point Lobos offers a number of official trails that take you along coastal paths that are peppered with beaches, coves, cliffs, and hidden caves.
Insider Tip: Plan a beach visit early in the morning to watch early sunlight illuminate the craggy coastline! This also tends to be the time of day when wildlife is most active.
6) See The Butterflies Of Pacific Grove
Did you know that Pacific Grove’s nickname is Butterfly Town, USA? Perched on Monterey Bay’s southern edge, this charming town offers sweeping panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean from its curving coastline.
However, most people know Pacific Grove as the meeting place of thousands of monarch butterflies! From October through February, these fluttering wonders pile into the Monarch Grove Sanctuary on Ridge Road to shelter inside the fronds of pine, cypress, and eucalyptus trees.
Good To Know: Monarch Grove Sanctuary is open from sunrise to sunset. Peak viewing takes place between November and January.
7) Spend The Day Golfing At Pebble Beach
Add a little friendly competition to your couple’s getaway with a round of golf! While this is one of the most elite golf resorts on the planet, Pebble Beach is actually open to the public. Yes, you can stand on the same turf that has been used by Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, and many more legends.
Pebble Beach Golf Course has hosted the U.S. Open, PGA Championship, U.S. Amateur Championship, U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship, and AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.
Plan More Than An Ordinary Romantic Dinner In Monterey County
Carmel Food Tours offers the perfect experience if you’re looking for a way to celebrate a wedding anniversary in stunning Monterey County! Based on your itinerary, we can offer you daytime or evening food tours showcasing the best of Carmel’s acclaimed food scene.
Rest assured that we’ll take care of every detail to ensure that you can relax while savoring amazing flavors. Dazzle your partner with one of the most romantic things ever! Book your culinary adventure with Carmel Food Tours!
