New client: Welcome to Monterey
NeoLux is delighted to be working with Monterey County Convention & Visitors Bureau in California.
Known as being home to some of the Golden State’s must-sees including Big Sur, Highway 1, Pebble Beach, Carmel-by-the-Sea and the world-renowned Monterey Bay Aquarium it is also home to much, much more. So here are six lesser known facts about the county that should give you reason to stay one more night.
Located just south of San Francisco many people don’t realise that you can also fly direct from the UK to San Jose in nearby Silicon Valley daily with British Airways. As a less busy airport it’s quicker to get through immigration and onto the road to start exploring.
Monterey is best known as Steinbeck country and there are many ways that visitors to can follow in his footsteps, including renting his cottage in Pacific Grove. However, this is a place that has inspired many more creatives. Henry Miller made Big Sur his home and at the Henry Miller Memorial Library you can enjoy a game of ping pong, one of his favourite pastimes. It’s also said that one of Robert Louis Stevenson’s inspirations for Treasure Island was Point Lobos - this classic tale celebrates its 140th anniversary this year.
Artichokes are one of the oldest known superfoods, going back 3,000 years, thanks to their powerful medicinal properties. Castroville is known as the ‘Artichoke capital of the world’ and is where Norma Jean (or Marilyn Monroe) was crowned Artichoke Queen aged 22. Aside from artichokes Monterey County is home to thriving agricultural industry in the Salinas Valley which feeds restaurants across the region.
Pinnacles National Park was elevated to National Park status by President Barack Obama 10 years ago. Home to the 4 Cs - caves, camping, climbing and condors without the 5th C ‘crowds’ - it’s set to enjoy a superbloom this spring due to the heavy rainfall over the autumn and winter. It’s also the only National Park Service site that manages the release of captive bred California condors. At their lowest numbers there were just 27 remaining in the wild - Pinnacles now co-manages 86 wild California condors as part of their programme.
Monterey County is home to 10 wine growing AVAs and just under 350 wineries and 53,000 acres of vineyards. The varied microclimates and terrain are influenced by the Blue Grand Canyon, an enormous submarine canyon 60 miles long and 2 miles deep that creates a climatic pathway that connects the deep sea to Monterey’s wine growing regions.
Accommodation here ranges from the sublime to the seasonal - many with deep roots in sustainable and regenerative practices. In Big Sur alone there’s the Post Ranch Inn, a luxury icon that was designed by an architect who camped out on the land to ensure it blended in the with the environment; Deetjens, an historic guest house which is the legacy of Grandpa Deetjen and recently successfully crowdfunded to rebuild two rooms lost to fire; and Treebones’ Autonomous Tents, two stunning and striking tents that push off-grid glamping to new levels.
Once again we’ll be working with Rocket Travel Marketing to promote this incredible destination in the UK&I.
Watch this space for more reasons to stop and savour Monterey County as part of a Highway 1 road trip or an immersive Monterey experience.
Find out more about Monterey County.
Photo credit: Monterey County CVB