Pigeon Point Lighthouse

Pigeon Point Lighthouse is one of the tallest lighthouses in the United States, at 115 feet. (Most California lighthouses have to be short -- your tour guide will explain why!) It’s named after the Carrier Pigeon, a ship that sank there in 1853, which is why they decided it would be a good place to build a lighthouse! Our stop is from a viewpoint a short distance away so you can see the full height of the lighthouse surrounded by the rugged coastline.

Monterey Historic District

Monterey was the capital of California when we were a colony of Spain and later an outpost of Mexico, and it’s where the State of California was born. Many historians consider it the most important historic town on the West Coast. We’ll see reminders of this historic past including many adobe (mud brick) buildings constructed in the 1820s-1850s. Other tour operators skip the Historic District completely, in fact they drive through a tunnel so guests don’t even see it! But San Francisco Comprehensive Shuttle Tours takes you on a walk through the Historic District to see many of the important buildings up close. Highlights include the Custom House (1827), which has been designated California Historic Landmark #1, the Old Whaling Station (where we will show you a special surprise), and California’s First Theater. Each building is surrounded by beautiful gardens.

Cannery Row

Cannery Row was made world famous by the novels of Nobel Prize-winning author John Steinbeck, who grew up nearby. Your tour guide will tell you about the history of the sardine canning industry as we arrive for our lunch stop. (The Monterey sardine industry was the largest fishery of a single fish in the history of the world!) We’ll give you lots of free time to enjoy the many restaurants and shops that overlook Monterey Bay. For those who have a special interest in John Steinbeck, your tour guide is happy to lead you on a short guided walk before lunch to see sites related to Steinbeck’s famous novels, such as Doc's Lab and the Wing Chong Market.

Monterey Aquarium

The Monterey Aquarium was named the #1 aquarium in the U.S. and the 3 rd top rated family attraction in the country according to the Zagat U.S. Family Travel Guide. Highlights include sea otters and sharks (luckily not together in the same tank!), and touch tanks where you can touch a starfish or bat ray. The aquarium is the first in the world to have a living kelp forest and Great White Sharks (though the Great Whites are not always on display). The aquarium is offered as an option on our tour, and we give you express entry, so you don't have to waste any time standing in line!

17 Mile Drive

The 17 Mile Drive is a scenic road that features the Pacific Ocean on one side and world famous golf courses and mansions of the rich and famous on the other. We typically make stops such as the Lone Cypress, a single cypress tree perched by itself over the ocean; Ghost Tree, an area of bleached white trees and rock formations above the waves; and the Great Tidepool, where you can see the crashing surf up close. We'll also drive past the Crocker Mansion, which is so opulent that its beach is heated by steam pipes under the sand! To reach the 17 Mile Drive we travel through Pacific Grove, a lovely town of Victorian houses overlooking Monterey Bay.

Carmel

The village of Carmel-by-the-Sea began early in the 20th century as a weekend retreat for college professors, and then became an avant garde writers colony. Today Carmel is a quaint town with nearly 100 fine art galleries, plus boutiques and cafes. The town has a large collection of hidden courtyards, all decorated with flower baskets. We'll take you on a short guided walk through some of the best courtyards, and then give you free time to browse the galleries, or enjoy a glass of wine. Your tour guide will recount many interesting stories about the town, including the years when Clint Eastwood was mayor.

As we depart Carmel we'll make a photo stop at Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo (better known as the Carmel Mission), which was the second of the 21 Spanish missions of California, founded in 1770. It was the favorite of Padre Juniperro Serra, the father of the missions, who asked to be buried under the altar.

The Return Trip

After a full day of sightseeing, relax on our luxury shuttle during the drive back to San Francisco. We'll put on a movie and provide snacks! (During peak season we may substitute a larger vehicle.)

How About the Competition?

When you're choosing among tour operators for a Monterey tour, be sure to ask these questions:

• Do they use an expert tour guide, or is the person more of an expert as a bus driver? Do they actually read books about Monterey history and nature? Will the person speak clearly so you can understand what they're saying?
• Considering that the Monterey Historic District is the most important historical area on the West Coast, do they take you on a walking tour through the Historic District, or just drive through it quickly in a tunnel?
• When you're at Cannery Row for lunch, will they offer to take you on a walking tour of sites from John Steinbeck's novels (for those who are interested), or do they just drop you off and leave you while they get their own lunch?
• Will they use a modern, luxury shuttle?
• Do they give you the opportunity to stay overnight and come back the next day - at NO EXTRA CHARGE?
• For the ride back to San Francisco at the end of the day, are they going to put on a movie and bring out snacks?