We loved this place more than Cannery Row. Great place to walk around. Lots of shops. Lots of food options. Plenty of parking. The historic Custom House and Pacific House Museum is located at its entrance. Felt very safe. Very clean, not worn down. Great place to walk around. The Monterey Coastal Bike Path bisect it – can go for a stroll along the waterfront as well. One big downside is it’s size….. it not very big/expansive. It’s touristy, but fun.

The pier is the focal point of all things tourist in Monterey. Boat tours and eateries make up the majority of what's here and so there's a bit of a buzz about the place. It's quite a nice place to be. Will be the first place I come back to in Monterey if only to have a wander up and back down.

It was exciting to visit the wharf just before Independence Day as it was really well decorated for the occasion. It really is a bustling tourist destination with soo many shops and restaurants of all kinds, great place for gifts and souvenirs and a place to eat and drink. It has a long history, built in 1870 and untill the 1960s it was still a working wharf, it sure could tell some historical tales.

My family visited the wharf on a Sunday afternoon, and it was bustling with activity. As we entered the wharf area, we were greeted by the sight of several sea lions barking and basking on the rocks right in front of the candy store. It felt like a free Sea World show! The wharf had a variety of nice restaurants and the usual shops selling sweatshirts, souvenirs, candy, and ice cream. My family enjoyed exploring the different shops. Conveniently, there's a parking lot adjacent to the wharf where you can park at an affordable rate. I paid just $3.89 for 2 hours using the ParkMobile app.