Explorers Program

Every Vacation is a
Learning Opportunity With the Plaza's Explorer Program, Make
Monterey Your Outdoor Classroom

Research marine ecosystems, paddle kayaks for a marine safari, participate in the world-famous Monterey Bay Aquarium digital education program and explore the historic sites of Alta California's first capital, all at your doorstep. Our Plaza Explorers Program engages and immerses kids of all ages in numerous educational experiences tailored to your interests. Get in touch with our Coastal Curator team to plan your next family adventure.

Local Learning Highlights

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Cannery Row

3 min walk

Explore the historic Cannery Row, once a booming sardine canning community and inspiration to Pulitzer Prize-winning author John Steinbeck

Dennis the Menace Park

5 min drive

Designed by the creator of Dennis the Menace, your little Explorers will be entertained for hours with the unique and exciting play structures and paddle boats at El Estero Lake.

Point Lobos State Natural Reserve

16 min drive

Often called "the crown jewel of the state park system" Point Lobos is famous for its scenic hiking trails, unmatched diving spots and old whaler’s cabin. In the winter, migrating gray whales are visible from the shore.

Custom House

4 min drive

The Custom House, at the entrance to Fisherman's Wharf, is the state’s first Historical Landmark and marks the site where the US flag was first raised declaring California part of the United States.

Colton Hall Museum

4 min drive

Built in the late 1840s by Walter Colton, Colton Hall hosted the first California Constitutional Convention in 1849 and is now a historic government building and museum in Monterey.

Robert Louis Stevenson House

5 min drive

The original portion of the Robert Louis Stevenson House dates back to the late 1830s and is where the author reportedly began writing his classic tale of adventure, Treasure Island.

Historic Walking Tours

1 min walk

Allow our Coastal Curator team to provide you with a list of our favorite local, historic, and self-guided walking tours, perfect for a day of family fun and learning for all ages! You will see authentic sardine canneries, the famous Del Monte Express' original route, marine biologist Ed Rickets' home and laboratory and much, much more.

San Carlos Borroméo de Carmelo (Carmel Mission)

15 min drive

Did you know that 4 of California’s 21 missions are within an hour’s drive from our Monterey Bay hotel, including the Mission Santa Cruz, Mission San Juan Bautista, and Mission Nuestra Señora de la Soledad?

Carmel Beach

15 min drive

Carmel Beach is a great spot for family picnics and observing wildlife right in the charming nearby village of Carmel by the Sea. At the end of the beach, you’ll find the Clinton Walker House, designed by the famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright.

Tide Pool Exploring

10 min drive

For the ocean adventurers out there, you can't leave Monterey without visiting at least one of our fantastic tide pool locations. Point Pinos in Pacific Grove is one of the most populated tide pool habitats in the world and is even visible during high tides.

Whale Watching

5 min drive

Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary is one of the largest protected marine areas and offers some of the best wildlife viewings in the world! Join a whale watch tour to spot a Giant of the Deep.

Junior Naturalist Program

5 min drive

The Pacific Grove Natural History Museum's Junior Naturalist Club, geared for kids ages 7-12, meets once a month for an 'Excursion' to investigate a unique local ecosystem or animal.

Surf Lessons

9 min drive

Take to the water with Big Surf Adventures! Each lesson includes a pre-lesson email detailing a few ways in which students can prepare themselves for a surf lesson ahead of time, as well as shorten their learning curve.

17 Mile Drive Bicycle Tour

6 min drive

A must do when you’re visiting Monterey Bay. Cruise down this famous path with an expert guide from Adventures by the Sea. Along the way, you will enjoy the sights of coastal cliffs and breathtaking beaches, feel the ocean breeze, and encounter local wildlife.

Monterey Bay Kayak Tour

1 min drive

A short paddle away from the Monterey Bay Aquarium and the Coast Guard Pier, the Cannery Row Kayak Tour promises wildlife sightings of otters, harbor seals, and sea lions. This two-hour adventure through a scenic kelp forest is great for groups and families.

Activities for the young
and the young at heart

Activities for kids of all ages, with amenities
parents will love.

Explorers Program

Every Vacation is aLearning Opportunity With the Plaza's Explorer Program, Make Monterey Your Outdoor Classroom

Activities for the young and the young at heart

Sign up for specials

Sign up for specials

Every Vacation is a
Learning Opportunity With the Plaza's Explorer Program, Make
Monterey Your Outdoor Classroom

Activities for the young
and the young at heart