After You're Here Finding a hotel, things to do, places to eat ...
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Finding a Hotel
- The reception will be held at the Monterey Plaza in Cannery Row We have blocked off rooms at a discount in the Plaza. Rooms are blocked for the nights of Friday, Saturday and Sunday, that's September 1st, 2nd and 3rd. To get the special discount:
- Call 1-800-334-3999
- 7AM-10PM PST
- Refer to the "Gianella/Briski Wedding"
It WILL be a big holiday weekend so reserve early, Rates are as follows:
Standard non-ocean View $209/night Ocean View $342/night Ocean View w/ Balcony $370
- There are also many hotels within walking distance. You should try to book the hotel as soon as possible since it will be Labor Day weekend and Monterey is a big destination.
- Click here for nearby hotels, rates and booking!
- List of nearby hotels provided by The Plaza (we have not been to all of them, but have tried to do some investigating - read our comments below)
Numbers 1 through 6 are located RIGHT in the thick of things - VERY close to Rehearsal AND reception sites, walking distance to tons of action
- Holiday Inn Express Cannery Row: 443 Wave Street (831) 372-1800
- Monterey Bay Inn: 242 Cannery Row (831)373-6242 (I personally felt this hotel was too pricey and you get a better deal at The Plaza through wedding booking)
- Spindrift Inn: 652 Cannery Row (831) 646-8900 (Shan and Bob McDonald are staying here-this place looks REALLY nice - found prices starting from $219/night)
- Victorian Inn: 487 Foam Street (831) 373-8000 (This place is owned by Best Western - but also looks REALLY nice - found rooms starting from $139/night)
- The Cannery Row Inn we found rooms from $159/night and is VERY close to the Plaza - you should grab a reservation now!
- The Otter Inn we found from $139/night also right on Cannery Row (this place said there is another wedding in town that weekend and they are almost booked, the hotel office looked quite run down)
- Quality Inn Cannery Row: 200 Foam Street (831) 649-8580
- Portola Plaza: 2 Portola Plaza (831) 649-4511
- Holiday Inn Express Cannery Row: 443 Wave Street (831) 372-1800
- Clickable Map with information of close hotels.You can also click on the hotels for availability and booking
Getting Around
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Maps
- Map: A High-level map of Pacific Grove, Montery, Carmel
- Map: Another High-level map of Pacific Grove, Montery, Carmel
- Wine Map: Map to Monterey Wine attractions
- Car: While you'll most likely rent a car to get Monterey, most everything you need to do, eat, drink, tour and drink ;-) are all within walking distance of Cannery Row. However, we highly reccommend touring Pebble Beach and Big Sur which you would need a car to get to. If you know other people coming, it would be a good idea for a group to pitch in together for the car.
Avis has a nice system called "Avis Assist", free to gold members or available as an upgrade. While it's not as sophisticated as a graphical map, it will definitely help cure the battles over directions
- Hotel Courtesy:Most hotels in Monterey have courtesy vans that can get you to local attractions
- Bike:Bikes are available for rental by the hour or even day. There are many bike paths along the coast both in Monterey and Pebble Beach. There are multiple renting zones and bike rental can be booked ahead of time through Adventures by the Sea
- Surrey:Surreys are available for group fun and are available on a first come first serve basis, also through Adventures by the Sea
Things to Do
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Within Walking Distance
- Monterey Bay Aquarium
- Wine Tasting
Don't have time to drive around Carmel Valley? Wineries bring their wine to you! This way you can stumble home! There are 4 tasting rooms on Cannery row.- Clos LaChance Tasting Room, 400 Cannery Row, Suite E
- Silver Mountain Vineyards Tasting Room, 381 Cannery Row Ste Q
- Baywood Cellars Tasting Room, 381 Cannery Row, Suite C
- A Taste of Monterey (Save going here for our "Toast and Roast" rehearsal wine tasting)
- Whale/dolphin Watching
- Drive through Big Sur
- Cannery Row Shopping
- Rent a Roadster
- Bike or Surrey Rental
- Kyacking
- Asilomar State Beach and Park - Catch the sunset here - one of the best places to see it, state beaches normally require a fee per carload to enter
- 17 Mile Drive
- Carmel Art Galleries
- Carmel Beach
- Carmel Valley Wineries (see map)
- Rocky Point Restaurant
- Big Sur
Within Biking Distance or Short Drive
Within 5-10 minute Drive
Within 15-20 minute Drive
Places To Eat
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Monterey
- Sea Harvest: 598 Foam St; This place doesn't look like much, but it's good food. A little cafe lets you order any kind of fish - ANY way you want it, plus a selection of sauces for your fish. Pick a bottle of wine from their wine market and ask what the fresh catch of the day is. We love this place. Apparently there is also one in Carmel, but we haven't been
- Sardine Factory: This restaurant looks like nothing on the outside but the inside is decked out like NYC's Tavern on the Green. At night it gets busy so reservations are a must and the lounge has live music (the soothing kind not the annoying kind) while you wait for your table. Meals are great - and wine pairings are excellent be sure to ask their sommelier.
- Tarpy's Roadhouse Restaurant website Local's favorite place, though it's 3.5 miles out of town. Cozy ambiance in a 1917 homestead. Menu should fit all wallet sizes.
- LALLApalooza Airy, hip restaurant/martini bar serving updated versions of American classics
- Forge in the Forest: Restaurant website This restaurant is nestled in the heart of Carmel and has firepits that you can sit around or near. Serves a good sandwhich, a nice place to enjoy lunch outside.
- Hog's Breath Restaurant website This restaurant has a famouse former owner - Clint Eastwood. Casual and cozy with two fireplaces and a back patio.
Carmel
Wedding Details (so far)
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Saturday, September 2, 2006
| WHAT | WHEN | WHERE | WHO |
| Rehearsal: | 5:30 | Lover's Point Park | Wedding Party, Parents of the bride and groom, ushers/usherettes, readers |
| Rehearsal Wine Tasting: | 6:30-8 | A Taste of Monterey 700 Cannery Row Suite KK (831) 646-5446 |
Anyone is invited to join us for heavy hors d'oeurves, regional wine and many many toasts. If you do think that you'd like to come, please give us a heads up so we can order enough food! |
Sunday, September 3, 2006
| WHAT | WHEN | WHERE | WHO |
| Ceremony: | 4:30 | Lover's Point Pacific Grove/Monterey California |
Invited Guests: Please arrive by 4PM. This is a public park and could be crowded |
| Adult Cocktail Reception: | 5:30-6:30 | Monterey Plaza Hotel Lower Terrace | Invited Guests |
| Adult Reception: | 6:30-10:30 | Monterey Plaza Hotel Montery Bay Room |
Invited Guests |