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Steinbeck's Cannery Row Monterey: Self-Guided Audio Tour

walking tour

Duration: 90 minutes

Overview

Tour host, Lynn Momboisse, leads you a fascinating walk to the historic sites along Cannery Row where John Steinbeck was inspired to write great works of fiction. The audio tour of Monterey plays automatically as you near its popular landmarks and hidden gems.

Included

GPS-activated audio guide plays on your phone

Lifetime access to this self-guided tour in English

See Steinbeck Plaza, Monterey Plaza Hotel, San Carlos Beach, Monterey Bay Aquarium

Find hidden gems like Ed Ricketts Biological Laboratories and real locations from Steinbeck’s famous novels

Local insider commentary and guest interviews

Easy pause and play to go at your own pace

Excluded

Ticket for the Monterey Bay Aquarium

Meals or beverages

Transportation

Important information

Where is the starting point?

701 Wave St, Wave St, Monterey, California, 93940

Can I download the tour in advance?

You can download the tour at any time, before or after your booking date. It’s best to download the tour before you set off for the starting point.

How long does the tour download take?

The download should only take a few minutes to complete. If it takes longer, please cancel the download, go to Account, select Purchased and download the tour from there.

Once I start the tour, can I pause it?

Yes. Simply hit pause on the tour and do what you’d like. Hit play when you return, even the next day if needed.

Where does the tour end?

Prescott Ave, Prescott Ave, Monterey, California, 93940

How close is the Monterey Bay Aquarium to the ending point for the tour?

Very close. It is an easy 5 minutes walk to the aquarium from Steinbeck Plaza.

Is the route hilly?

The route takes you along the waterfront which is relatively flat for the entire 2 mile path.

What should I bring?

Remember to bring your own headphones. Please charge your phone as well.

What is weather like in Monterey?

LIke much of the California coast, Monterey has a temperate climate with highs between 55 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit (12 to 24 Celsius) all year around. Winter storms, however, can make it feel much colder, so visitors should dress in layers and bring a warm rain jacket.

Where is the closest parking to the meeting point?

There are two options for parking along Cannery Row. Parking along the street of Cannery Row is metered. Each meter lists the hours of enforcement. These accept dollar coins, quarters, dimes and nickels and runs about $1.50 per hour. If you prefer a parking garage, we suggest the Cannery Row Parking Garage. The entrance is 601 Foam Street between Hoffman and Prescott Streets. Foam is a one way street so enter Foam from Hoffman in order to get to the Cannery Row parking garage entrance. A flat rate is charged at entry, cash, Visa or MasterCard are accepted. At the time of this writing the rate was $10 per day, no in and out privileges.

Are there public restrooms along this walk?

There are two public restrooms along this walk, one at San Carlos Beach and the other at the Monterey Bay Aquarium.

Highlights

More information

We’ll walk in the footsteps of John Steinbeck on historic Cannery Row in beautiful Monterey, California as we discover together the real-life people that inspired him to create his vivid characters.

We’ll learn about marine biologist Ed Ricketts, the man who had the greatest influence on Steinbeck’s life, and the basis for one of the main characters in the novel Cannery Row. You will also get to visit locations Steinbeck used as backdrops for his stories.

While walking, you’ll learn about the fascinating events that caused Cannery Row to go from quaint fishing village, to a booming commercial sardine industry, then to economic collapse, only to be reborn as the popular tourism destination that it is today.

On this roughly 2-mile walking tour, you will see these popular landmarks: Steinbeck Plaza, Monterey Bay Aquarium, Monterey Plaza Hotel, Monterey InterContinental Hotel and San Carlos Beach.

The tour makes a loop and ends near where it started at the Steinbeck Plaza located at the intersection of Cannery Row and Prescott Avenue in Monterey.

Departure

The starting point is diagonally across the street from the Sardine Factory restaurant (701 Wave Street) at the corner of Prescott Avenue and Wave Street.

Duration

At a leisurely pace, the tour will take about 90 minutes. If you decide to do any shopping, wine tasting or dining (which we encourage!) the tour will take longer. If you decide to add the Monterey Bay Aquarium to your day, plan on about 2-3 hours - there is a lot to see!

Know before you go

This is a self-guided audio tour. Entrance fees to all attractions mentioned on the tour are excluded from the price.

Remember your headphones and charge your phone's battery. The way the app uses GPS to play audio automatically can be battery intensive.