The Journey

We came into Monterey on Pacific Grove. Traveling down Highway 156 the GPS gave us a choice; stay our usual route and get stuck in traffic, or risk going down the backroads. We made the right decision by choosing the backroads. We turned down Almeda and drove on it for a bit before making a right on Crazy Horse. Some of the roads weren’t exactly in the best condition and the path got pretty wind-y, so not something I’d really suggest doing in snow or rain weather. At the time we were driving down, the winter rains had made everything green and we were treated to a lovely scenic drive past the rounds and dips of the vastly spread hills. For anyone likewise looking to avoid highway traffic, or just wanting to do something a little special off the beaten track, I’d recommend trying it.

The Sanctuary

We knew we’d reached Monterey when the hills of grass turned to sand. When we first came in, it looked like a random L.A./San Francisco Street. A bunch of barely kept up shops with their paint peeling all smooshed up against each other in a row of dirty rectangles. But once we got up to the Aquarium, the route took us past a trove of pretty, old-fashioned, stately homes. Finally, we reached the Monarch Sanctuary.

The Sanctuary was made in the 1990s. Monarch butterflies were in decline, so as part of conservation efforts to help save them, a small grove was purchased and turned into a sanctuary for them. This place was chosen specifically because it fits right into the Monarchs usual migration patterns. We came not knowing if we would see any, but oh did we see butterflies! Clusters hanging off trees, skies of them flittering all about, the occasional lander who needed a rest (and also, to get their picture taken).

Signs along the trail warned guests to watch their step, and seeing the amount of monarchs it seemed well warranted. It felt like there were hundreds, or potentially even thousands of them. There were also plaques of information about the butterflies, such as how to tell male and females apart. The trail itself was relatively short, but that just means you can take all the time you want on it without feeling like you need to rush. Believe me, it’s well worth it.

Where We Stayed

There were a couple of hotels/inns within a one-to-two-minute walk of the sanctuary. One of them was right on the property. The address for that inn and the monarch trail is 1073 Lighthouse Road. Rather than stay in Monterey we opted instead for an inn in Carmel. The ‘Carmel Bay View Inn’ was nice and clean with a fridge. From our rooms in the low 400s, we got an ocean view and a balcony. Be aware, we’ve stayed here before and not all the rooms have this. Best of all, it’s within walking distance of Ocean Ave. We were also able to get a good deal for booking early, and also probably because it was the off season. The only true failings of the inn were that there was no microwave and the blankets are really thin. But unlike other places I’ve been to the heater wasn’t absurdly noisy, so it balanced out.

I’ve spent a good chunk of my life visiting the Carmel area and will give my tips for people going there in an upcoming future post.