The best way to really see Monterey is from the water. And now that warmer weather is here, it’s time to slip into a kayak and out onto the Bay.

The Monterey Peninsula’s prickly, but delicious artichoke gets it day in the sun with a two day extravaganza in Castroville on May 15 and 16. The Fest includes a classic car show, wine tasting, artichokes served every way you can think of (and some you didn’t), the crowning of the 2010 Artichoke King and Queen and much more!

Every day is Earth Day at Earthbound Farms! Casual and welcoming, the Earthbound Farm Stand is a great (and delicious!) destination when you’re on the Monterey Peninsula. Located in California’s picturesque Carmel Valley, the Farm Stand offers lots of family-friendly fun and sells a wide range of organic produce, groceries and flowers.

Ocean lovers rejoice! One of the world’s best places for marine science research and education is opening its doors to the public April 17 and 18. For free!

Celebrate Earth Month with Hot Pink Flamingos… no, it’s not a John Waters movie sequel - it’s the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s new exhibit.
Come face-to-face with five-foot-tall Chilean flamingos, inquisitive roseate spoonbills and more sea life treats at the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s new Hot Pink Flamingos exhibit.

The 6th Annual Next Generation Festival takes place April 9 – 11 in downtown Monterey. The weekend event, devoted to the future of jazz, includes the Next Generation Festival Jazz Competition with Big Bands, Combos, Vocal Ensembles, and individual musicians vying for a spot on the stages of this fall’s 53rd Annual Monterey Jazz Festival presented by Verizon.

Whale watching season is here and there’s no better place to see these magnificent creatures than the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. This great wildlife migration happens every March when groups of Gray whales can be spotted from shore as they journey northward along the coast, completing the last leg of their 14,000-mile annual round-trip.

Let your eye be fooled at the Monterey Museum of Modern Art, as Pam Carroll’s powerfully real work nearly comes to life on the walls. The Monterey Museum of Art has long honored that which is amazing in the historic and the modern, and Ms Carroll’s work is no exception.

We love going to the movies on chilly afternoons – and we bet you do too. In Monterey though, we don’t just go to any theatre – we go to the IMAX. Next time you’re here, drop into IMAX , grab the 3-D glasses and buttered popcorn and explore the stunning world of the Na’vi in the Academy Award-nominated movie ‘Avatar’.

Monterey is the epicenter of fun outdoor activities.  Our beautiful coast line just begs to be hiked or biked. The Monterey Bay brings out the kayaker in all of us. Whale watching anyone?!
Here’s how to get started - meet our friends Frank and Michelle!
We love our pals at Adventures by the Sea – you will too…..here’s why:
Adventures by the Sea began as just that – with adventurous love of the Monterey Peninsula and the outdoors. Frank Knight, owner of Adventures by the Sea, spent many of his early years bicycling, kayaking, surfing, and generally engulfed in the beauty and serenity of the Monterey area.
Wanting to share his experiences with others, Frank began a small rental business delivering bicycles to the local hotels for the enjoyment of people visiting the area. Continued enthusiasm and success have allowed the growth to add kayaking, surreys, surf boards and beach parties.
Frank and his wife Michelle now have locations on Cannery Row, Lovers Point, Pebble Beach and a fantastic Beach House location in downtown Monterey. Both Frank and Michelle are active in community affairs and in the ecological preservation of the Monterey Bay Area.
The beach house, nicknamed Pirate’s Cove, has also become a favorite if not famous attraction due to Frank and Michelle. Classic California beach parties are their specialty and can they throw a party! The beach house has been the perfect location for corporate groups, schools, weddings, birthdays and more!  Visit www.adventuresbythesea.com to see all the fun.