The dramatic coastline of Big Sur and the pristine, picturesque beaches of Carmel, Monterey, Sand City and Pacific Grove are some of the main reasons visitors come to the Monterey Bay, and return year after year. From the white sands of Carmel Beach, the oceanside recreational trails in Monterey, down to the lush state parks and unparalleled vistas of Big Sur, our coastline offers a range of outdoor activities and attractions for people of all ages and interests.

Known to have some of the finest dining establishments in the country, the Monterey Peninsula boasts a variety of award-winning restaurants to please even the most sophisticated palate. With the freshest produce and seafood right in our backyard, local chefs create epicurean delights, often matching their menus with outstanding wines from the region. As the home of the Masters of Food and Wine and to some of California's most renowned Chefs, the Monterey Peninsula truly offers a dining experience to remember.

Monterey is widely becoming a favorite stop on tours of California's abundant wine country. As the fourth largest wine grape growing region in the world, Monterey County wines have won widespread acclaim as some of the best our country produces. Local award-winning wineries include Bernardus, Ventana, Chateau Julien, Jekel, Chalone, Durney, Galante, Smith & Hook, Paraiso Springs, Cloninger and Joullian.

From the small, eclectic boutiques and art galleries in Carmel to the larger, well-known retailers at Del Monte Shopping Center, the Monterey Peninsula offers some of the finest shopping in California. Among the many places to find spectacular art, unique crafts, handmade clothing, couture fashions and elegant household furnishings are Carmel Plaza, The Barnyard (pictured), Carmel Crossroads, Del Monte Shopping Center, Ocean Avenue, Sand City Center and Cannery Row.

The following are just a few of the many wonderful attractions to be found in the area: scenic 17 Mile Drive and the Lone Cypress, historic Fisherman's Wharf and Cannery Row, the Monterey Bay Aquarium, Salinas Valley's new Steinbeck Center, Point Lobos, the Carmel Mission, Pacific Grove's Lover's Point, Garland Ranch Park in picturesque Carmel Valley, breathtaking Bixby Bridge and the Point Sur Lighthouse, and exciting Laguna Seca Raceway.

A wide array of tours and sight seeing venues are available on the Monterey Bay through various tour and event companies. Local scenic and historical tours include Pebble Beach's 17 Mile Drive, tours of the Big Sur Coastline, Monterey Bay Aquarium group tours, tours of John Steinbeck's Cannery Row, wine tours of Carmel Valley and the surrounding wine country and the Adobe "Path of History" Tour.

A truly unforgettable experience, the Monterey Bay Aquarium introduces visitors to residents of Earth's largest habitat – the dark, cold ocean waters that make up 80 percent of the available living space on earth. With their stunning "Mysteries of the Deep" exhibit, a three story live kelp forest, hands-on tide pools and unprecedented live exhibits, the Monterey Bay Aquarium researches, protects and explores sea life and the many worlds above and below our magnificent oceans.

One of the most exciting venues on the Monterey Peninsula, Laguna Seca Raceway hosts some of the top auto and motorcycle races in the world. Races include the Honda Grand Prix, the AMA National Superbike Championships, the Superbike World Championships and the Monterey Historic Automobile Races. Nestled in the rolling hills of Monterey, auto and motorcycle enthusiasts alike consider Laguna Seca one of the most spectacular and thrilling racing venues in the world. Located just 10 minutes from the track.

There is nothing quite as awe inspiring as watching the beautiful and massive California Gray Whales in their annual migration along the Pacific coastline, especially from only a few yards away! The Gray Whale's migratory path is alongside the nation's largest marine sanctuary, the Monterey Bay. It is the perfect opportunity to view these magnificent mammals in their natural habitat as well as a chance to see Killer Whales, Dolphins, Porpoises and our beloved, playful sea otters – an animal that with the help of national legislation and the work and research of the Monterey Bay Aquarium has made a triumphant return from near-extinction.

SunBay sits amongst some of the most impressive golf courses in California. Known for having some of the best golfing opportunities in the world, as well as hosting the AT&T National Pro Am, the Monterey Peninsula is the ideal place to walk the fairways. SunBay is nestled between two championship, PGA qualifying courses – the newly renovated Black Horse course and the ever-challenging Bayonet course. Other world-famous greens, such as Pebble Beach, Spyglass Hill, Poppy Hills, Carmel Valley Ranch and San Juan Oaks are just a short drive away.