Doc Rickett's Pacific Biological Laboratories
Doc Rickett's Pacific Biological Laboratories
Doc Rickett's Pacific Biological Laboratories
4.5
About
A landmark on Cannery Row, this is the spot where John Steinbeck's good buddy and biologist Ed "Doc" Ricketts prepped the marine life he collected before shipping it to schools and medical facilities.
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listingTours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
What is Travelers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Top ways to experience Doc Rickett's Pacific Biological Laboratories and nearby attractions
The area
Address
Reach out directly
Best nearby
Restaurants
324 within 3 miles
Attractions
274 within 6 miles
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
55 reviews
Excellent
32
Very good
15
Average
7
Poor
1
Terrible
0
JillClardy
Redwood City, CA870 contributions
Feb 2020
If you’re not a Steinbeck fan, Doc Ricketts Pacific Biological Lab probably has little meaning to you, but I’ve read almost all of his books, and got a private tour during a Steinbeck class that I attended at nearby Hopkins Marine Station about 5 years ago. So today, when we were walking by after visiting the aquarium, we saw the sign for an open house and stepped in. The docents greeted us warmly, and at 1:00 the very entertaining narration began. The man who spoke must have a thespian background because he spoke eloquently and humorously about Ricketts and Steinbeck, as well as the evolution of Cannery Row, the collapse of the sardine population and many other historical events that formed this area. The building represents an important part of the history of the Row, but many people walk right by, because the wood-shingled 2-story building is so nondescript. There was no charge for the tour, but a tip jar in located on the bar, and books are available for sale.
Written February 8, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
localguy
10 contributions
Oct 2020
Growing up reading Steinbeck, I thought that Doc (Ed) Ricketts was a fictional character... I learned otherwise. Ed Ricketts was the grandfather of modern Marine Biology, and he was a real character. They only open up his lab once or twice a year for visits, but I can't remember when. If you're interested in Steinbeck and/or Marine Biology, this is a MUST SEE! Fun fact: Ed Ricketts was the man responsible for frog disection in high school biology classes.
Written October 13, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
OzzyKO
Santa Maria, CA11 contributions
I'm a teacher and chaperone for an annual "Monterey Trip" for junior high students. Prior to the trip we require students to read Steinbeck's Cannery Row in which are vivd descriptions of the row and its inhabitants. Steinbeck describe Doc's place, "Lee" Wing Chongs place, and the "Bear Flag Restaurant"in great detail. To actually see all of these places is amazing but to see Lee Chongs and the Bear Flag from inside Doc's place looking out is unreal. I felt as though I saw through Steinbeck's eyes what he described in this classic novel. It was incredible to see the living quarters but even more fascinating to see his lab with bottles that have original Pacific Biological labels.
To view the holding tanks out back that he used for his specimens was outstanding and the ocean view and the sounds of the waves crashing in the back was breathtaking. I have been fortunate enough to get inside Doc's place for three years in a row now. I actually just got back from my 3rd trip yesterday. I'd encourage anyone to go...but you have to read the book!!!!
To view the holding tanks out back that he used for his specimens was outstanding and the ocean view and the sounds of the waves crashing in the back was breathtaking. I have been fortunate enough to get inside Doc's place for three years in a row now. I actually just got back from my 3rd trip yesterday. I'd encourage anyone to go...but you have to read the book!!!!
Written December 15, 2003
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tom G
Oceanside, CA41 contributions
Jul 2015
From a historic standpoint it is a must see because it is one of the last original buildings on Cannery Row. If you are a Steinbeck fan and read Cannery Row this is really where Doc Rickett lived and worked. What is left isn't much. For more than 50 years it was privately preserved as a small club that did big things for the community. Many a cultural and political fund raiser was held here. It was the place for writers, cartoonists, painters, sculpturists and the supporters of the arts to gathered. In the inside it is really just 2 rooms and a bath. Storage for Docs specimens where in the small garage which opened out to the ponds behind. There are nice plaques to the right side of the building to give you some history. If you continue down the small alley to the right it opens up to a beautiful veranda and from there you can appreciate what the view from Doc's porch use to be when the building was near the end of the row and stood almost alone, Before the Aquarium and hotels were built. enjoy the little bit of History
Written August 27, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sloped_Bench
San Jose, CA108 contributions
Oct 2018 • Friends
If you are a Steinbeck fan, this is 5 stars. If you're not, it's 4 stars.
To enhance the tour experience, break out a copy of "Cannery Row" and read it before the tour. It will get you in a mood and help you "see" Cannery Row in the 1930s and 1940s.
It's a physically easy tour with minimal walking. The docent that led our tour was very interesting and kept us engaged with stories about Ricketts, Steinbeck and the history of the lab.
Unless your kids are in high school AND have read some Steinbeck, it's not recommended.
To enhance the tour experience, break out a copy of "Cannery Row" and read it before the tour. It will get you in a mood and help you "see" Cannery Row in the 1930s and 1940s.
It's a physically easy tour with minimal walking. The docent that led our tour was very interesting and kept us engaged with stories about Ricketts, Steinbeck and the history of the lab.
Unless your kids are in high school AND have read some Steinbeck, it's not recommended.
Written October 14, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
CHCNV
Los Altos, CA206 contributions
May 2017 • Friends
There is not that much to actually SEE at this nondescript ramshackle building next to the Aquarium, but soak it in: Ed Ricketts lived and worked here. You do get to see some of his specimen jars, his note taking system (genius), a desk he used, and other mementoes. The tours of the building (which is in a state of arrested decay, in a way) are led by cheerful and dedicated local volunteers and enthusiastic Ed Ricketts experts. Depending on your guide (they apparently each have their own focus and prepare their own material), you will learn about how Ricketts was a sort of muse for John Steinbeck, how Ricketts studied the aquatic life of the Monterey Bay Area--and predicted the crash of the canneries due to overfishing, and how Ricketts was the center of the circle of a mixed group of writers, musicians, philosophers, artists, and gadabouts. Probably best to make an appointment for a tour in advance, held on weekends only, because space is small. Going up and down stairs is required for entrance, so not disabled-friendly, unfortunately. The tour would probably not be of interest to kids, since it's mostly a "sit-and-listen" tour. If you like Steinbeck, read "Cannery Row," or want to know the back-story of the Cannery Row neighborhood, this is worth an hour of your time.
Written May 13, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Pnemiller
Kutztown, PA2,184 contributions
This is strictly for Steinbeck fans--it is one of the main locales for "Cannery Row", the lab of Doc Ricketts. It is a plain wooden building that sadly is being surrounded by development, with a few reminders of the 1940s nearby. There is no sign or indication of what the building was. It used to be offices, but when we visited recently it did not seem to be occupied. It is not really a place to tour, but to see and to relive the great Steinbeck books.
Written July 11, 2007
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
mswiseguy
Carmel, CA354 contributions
Mar 2019
First off I admit I'm a bit biased as my husband and I had the good fortune of being able to get married on the decks behind Doc's Lab while it was still a private club. This location is historic for many reasons - least of which being it was the original lab that Doc Rickett's of Steinbeck's Cannery Row. The concrete tanks where he collected specimens are still located out the back overlooking Monterey Bay. In addition, the Lab was purchased by some Monterey businessmen as their private club in order to save the lab from being redeveloped or destroyed. The members included artists, cartoonists (Hank Ketchum, Gus Arriola, Eldon Dedini and others) as well as politicians, judges, doctors and others who maintained it much as Doc had left it. It was there that the founding members of the Monterey Jazz Festival first organized. It has had a rich and varied history and is one of the few remaining structures of the original Cannery Row.
Written August 27, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Moira49
Chicago, IL112 contributions
Sep 2013 • Couples
This small building on Cannerey Row has a lot of history viewed from the little sidewalk on the south side of the house. There are signs that tell the whole story. The biggest surprise is the great view of the ocean behind the building. The sounds of the surf going right under your feet is amazing. Great place to visit.
Written October 4, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Traveldawg2
Monterey, CA46 contributions
Jun 2018 • Couples
This is not open daily. You have to be there when they do a tour. Very interesting to see but hard to plan due to limited open times.
Written July 9, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
No questions have been asked about this experience
*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing