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.

Monterey’s beloved My Museum – that’s code for Monterey County Youth Museum – is now open at 425 Washington Street, in Downtown Monterey, conveniently by the Monterey Sports Center and Dennis the Menace Park. This 8,500 square foot museum is packed with a variety of hands on exhibits, making each visit unique and exciting. It compliments any visit to the Monterey area or makes a good day into a great day for those who are fortunate to visit on a regular basis.
For more about My Museum’s zillions of activities, please visit www.mymuseum.org.

Did you know? The entire Gray Whale population migrates past the Monterey coastline every winter and spring. These whales have one of the longest animal migrations known, traveling over 12,000 miles from their summer feeding grounds in the Bering Sea to their winter breeding grounds in Baja California and back again. Killer Whales have recently been spotted along the Monterey Coast as well!

Monterey is an ideal destination for business meetings and corporate events. The Inns of Monterey offer a selection of hotels within walking distance to Monterey Conference Center, beach activities, , and restaurants that accommodate groups and make it easy to combine a business getaway with a Monterey weekend vacation.

Surprise your sweetheart with a romantic weekend getaway to stunning Monterey. Quaint boutique hotels offer rooms with panoramic ocean views, a fireplace and whirlpool hot tub. Couples enjoy leisurely weekend strolls on the beach, romantic candlelight dinners, and scenic vistas along 17 Mile Drive.