Trade in your mountain views for the misty beaches of central California for an authentic travel experience that taps into a truly local experience with a getaway from Denver to Monterey. Stay where the locals play, immerse yourself in nature and taste your way through a food and wine scene that focuses on local ingredients and sustainability practices, making a trip here good for your soul. And easy 2.5-hour direct flights from Denver to Monterey will have you there in no time.
Travel like a local with a stay at the Monterey Beach Hotel
Start planning your escape from Denver to Monterey by booking your stay at the Monterey Beach Hotel. Originally opening in the 1960s as a Holiday Inn and until recently an independent hotel named the Monterey Tides, the Monterey Beach Hotel has recently gone through renovations and is now a part of the Marriott Tribute Portfolio collection.
But don’t let the corporate name fool you, as the Monterey Beach Hotel has all the indie vibes of a local hotel. With a focus on the surrounding community, the Monterey Beach Hotel has taken on a local flavor all its own that doesn’t feel cookie-cutter or corporate.
The property centers itself around sustainability and the local community, partnering with over 65 local businesses to deliver an authentic Monterey experience. From art installations by local creatives and custom-made furniture to a carefully curated wine list featuring local wineries and culinary concepts sourced from nearby farmers and businesses, every detail at the hotel celebrates local craftsmanship and culture. Sourcing from this tight-knit community means something to the hotel’s owner and staff. It’s a community where everyone knows everyone else, and there is a sense of pride in keeping it local and supporting those who work hard to make Monterey a unique place to visit.
One of the best ways to get to know Monterey is by tasting its many indigenous flavors. Much of the hotel’s food and beverage concepts are influenced by the local food, farmers and other restaurants who have made Monterey a hub for the farm-to-table movement. The hotel’s restaurant, The Lantern Room, showcases a menu filled with local produce from the Salinas Valley, top-quality meats and seafood and other specialty items from local food purveyors, including coveted bread from Ad Astra Bread Company— secured for the hotel after a two-year waiting list.
In classic California fashion, you can also taste your way through the local vineyards of Monterey County by sampling regional wines from their pour-it-yourself wine wall. Each guest receives a daily $25 food and beverage credit, which can be used towards your wine tasting.
Blend in with the local vibe, and enjoy your wine in the hotel’s lobby with other locals. As the only beachfront property in town, the hotel doesn’t gatekeep its stunning waterfront views. You’ll find just as many guests as you do locals mingling in the lobby for the front-row sunset views through the floor-to-ceiling windows that frame Monterey Bay. The lobby’s living room vibes create the perfect space to gather with its low-slung ceiling and comfy furniture.
Outside, you’ll find the hotel’s outdoor gathering space; Tidewater. Oceanfront decks outfitted with seating, firepits and endless ocean views are the ideal backdrop for enjoying crafty cocktails, and coastal cuisine crafted from hyper-local ingredients from the Monterey Peninsula.
Settle into one of 192 rooms, including four suites, each decked out in neutral hues, modern decor and elevated amenities. Choose from garden or ocean-view rooms, complete with large windows and NOCS Provision Binoculars— the perfect combination for spotting whales and other wildlife. From your doorstep, the hotel’s open concept naturally draws upon the area’s landscape making sea breezes and crashing waves all a part of the experience.
The property offers an impressive menu of amenities and local experiences to immerse yourself in Monterey. Guests of the hotel pay a $25 a-day resort fee which includes the $25 food and drink credit, daily 2-hour e-bike rental, yoga on the beach, nightly beach bonfires with smores, access to the secluded outdoor pool and hot tub and coming soon, outdoor barrel saunas and a cold plunge pool.
Things to do in Monterey, CA
Located along the famous HWY 1, the Monterey Beach Hotel is perfectly placed for indulging your senses in the local flavor and fauna and exploring all of Monterey and its surrounding locales.
Bike the Monterey Bay Coastal Trail
Grab your complimentary e-bike from the hotel and explore the 18 miles of the paved Monterey Bay Coastal Trail nearby or take a bike ride into town to see the famous Cannery Row and Monterey Bay Aquarium.
Kayaking at Moss Landing
The Monterey Bay is teeming with wildlife and one of the best ways to see is with a kayaking tour. Take your adventures off dry land with a kayaking tour at Moss Landing or the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Book a two-hour tour with Monterey Bay Kayaks to sift through the waters of Moss Landing. Restoration efforts by the Elkhorn Slough Foundation have breathed new life into the area making it a haven for local wildlife and human visitors. Watch for curious friends like sea lions and sea otters pop up above the water’s surface for a quick hello while brown pelicans and seagulls fly above you for a truly unique wildlife experience.
Taste your way through Monterey County
Venturing out, you’ll find the town of Monterey, and its nearby locales aren’t filled with many chain restaurants or hotels. It’s mostly local home-grown establishments offering a real sense of place with every bite.
For breakfast or lunch, don’t miss Alta Bakery. Housed in an 1800s historic adobe building, the local bakery is now one of the most coveted breakfast and brunch spots on the coast. Dining underneath the outdoor flowering pergola is a true treat that pairs well with everything listed on the menu, including goat cheese frittata and garden herb mimosas, which are all made in-house.
For dinner, you won’t have to go too far. Next door sits a culinary highlight of Monterey; Cella Restaurant. Arguably one of the best places to eat along the Monterey Peninsula, Cella blends coastal flavors, seasonal favorites and an extensive wine and drink experience, all with historic charm and local ambiance.
Or step into a world of Italian fare and fanciful plates that make dining at Maligne an event to be celebrated. An intimate dining space opens to a world of good food and conversations while slurping up oysters, savoring fresh wagyu steaks and savoring the best chicken parmesan you’ve ever had.
Wine tasting in Monterey County
You can’t go anywhere in Monterey County without passing by a vineyard or two. In fact, it might surprise you to know that more acres of wine grapes are found in Monterey County than in Napa Valley. The county’s abundant farmland, coastal winds, cool climate and rocky soils yield some of the country’s best wines and are the perfect complement to the area’s farm-fresh foods. And one of the best places for wine tasting is in the coastal town of Carmel-by-the-Sea.
You won’t want to miss the million-dollar views and homes in neighboring Carmel-by-the-Sea. A leisurely drive along Ocean Drive reveals a world of extravagant homes, rugged coastal views and a charming downtown flooded quaint streets, storybook cottages and world-renowned restaurants catering to the local taste. Try some local favorites like The Stationery and sip your way through the 18 wine-tasting rooms.
Exploring the town’s countryside, you’ll find Folktale Winery—where coastal wines shine in the only facility that combines a tasting room, vineyard and production in one location on the Monterey peninsula. The 15-acre property of sustainability-farmed vineyards likes to experiment with its wines. David Baird, the head winemaker at Folktale Winery, says that, unlike Napa wineries, places like Folktale can experiment with different kinds of wine because climate change is warming inland vineyards, unlike coastal vineyards, making it more expensive to operate. Because of this, you’ll find unique, experimental blends, such as their orange wines—an amber wine whose origin can be traced back thousands of years from Georgia the country.
Down the road, be sure to stop in at I. Brand and Family Winery. Pouring several varietals, the winery prides itself on primarily sourcing its grapes from Monterey County. Owner and winemaker, Ian Brand was named “winemaker of the year in 2018” by the San Francisco Chronicles and still serves as one of the most influential winemakers in the state. As one of the Monterey Beach Hotel’s local partners, the winery features three of its labels along the hotel’s wine wall. Or be sure to stop in their tasting room in Carmel Valley.
Hacienda CV
Round out your local experience in Monterey County with a visit to Hacienda CV. A community staple for locals and curious travelers, Hacienda makes it easy to enjoy a local experience without any tourist traps. Support local businesses by shopping at its feed store and market. Hacienda also prides itself on being an incubation for the arts where visitors can tap into their creative side and learn from local creators and artisans with pottery, blacksmithing, sand sculpting classes and more.
Whether you’re escaping Denver’s winter chill or seeking a refreshing summer retreat, a trip from Denver to Monterey County is just what you need to feed your soul.
*all images taken by Jessica Hughes