Top-flight golf. World-class whale watching. Five-star scuba diving. Some of the best produce in the country, ready to be paired with fresh local seafood down at Fisherman’s Wharf. Stunning nature, from Big Sur redwoods to white sands at Carmel Beach.
We’ve done the deep research for you on the best things to do on the Monterey Peninsula including museums, cultural events, food tours, golfing, hikes and more. Speaking of food, we also have an extensive list of our best restaurants on the Monterey Peninsula, and if you’re planning a weekend, the the best places to stay.
Within the Monterey Peninsula hospitality industry, the start of February is treated like the start of a second holiday season, and the beginning of the tourist tides.
That’s because the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am packs bars, restaurants, shops and hotels.
And away we go.
The Pro-Am takes on some major changes this year (see below), but certain things around these parts don’t change much when mid-winter arrives.
The Monterey Bay will continue to burst with whale-watching, golfing, scuba diving, nature romping, fresh dining and beach combing opportunities, which might be best enjoyed when lower level winter crowds — AT&T week aside — are in play.
Here appear LG’s top picks for the month of February:
Featured Photo: Courtesy of Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival
AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am
Dates TBD
“Two iconic courses,” an AT&T promotional teaser reads. “One reimagined tournament.” Arguably the most popular professional-amateur event on the PGA Tour, the Pro-Am has been designated a Signature Event in 2024, which means top ranked players incentivized to compete at Pebble Beach and Spyglass Hill. Celebrity amateurs like Bill Murray and Macklemore will play fewer rounds, shifting the focus to pros like Justin Rose, who won by three strokes over Brendon Todd and Brandon Wu last year.
More info: attpbgolf.com
The Curious World of Seaweed
Dates TBD
Here come captivating color “portraits” of seaweed, inspired by Josie Iselin’s book of the same name. The exhibition also unlocks surprising tales highlighting Indigenous peoples’ and women’s connections to superpowers of seaweed, and examines its foundational role in the oceanic food chain in poetic ways.
Free Music Fridays at Carmel Plaza
Date TBD
Yes, the live performances are nice, but better yet is the synergy it enjoys with standout restaurants (like the breakout hit Nicolás Cocina de Herencia), wine and cheese tasting stations (we see you Cheese Shop) and other shopping and snacking venues (hello Anthropologie and Alvarado Brewing Bistro). Johnny Tsunami & The Shoulder Hoppers play.
More info: carmelplaza.com
Mardi Gras with Dirty Dozen Brass Band
Date TBD
New Orleans’ Dirty Dozen weaves traditional brass band music with bebop, jazz, funk, soul and rhythm and blues. You wouldn’t be the first to call it delicious “musical gumbo.” They’re joined by Nathan and the Zydeco Cha-Chas for a special evening of swampy energy and sound waves.
More info: sunsetcenter.org/event/mardi-gras-mambo
An Evening With Leo Kottke
Date TBD
Let’s just let the host Golden State bring the knowledge. “Leo Kottke (born September 11, 1945) is an acoustic guitarist. He is known for a fingerpicking style that draws on blues, jazz, and folk music, and for syncopated, polyphonic melodies. He overcame a series of personal obstacles, including partial loss of hearing and a nearly career-ending bout with tendon damage in his right hand, to emerge as a widely recognized master of his instrument.” Like Kottke, it’s an understated and outstanding way of understanding art.
More info: goldenstatetheatre.com/shows/leo-kottke
Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival World Tour
Date TBD
The seats at Golden State do not have seat belts. On a night like this, they would help. Here comes all the extreme climbing, biking, skating, flying, sailing, skiing, exploring, fill-in-the-blank action. The Banff film tour brings on the most reliably FULL SEND series of flicks on the planet, which is why this is a world tour.
More info: goldenstatetheatre.com
Annual Clam Chowder Cook-Off
Dates TBD
Key deets for the country’s largest and longest-running clam chowder competition, beyond the right balance of shellfish, potato, garlic, butter and cream: Amateur chefs will compete on Saturday, followed by professional chefs on Sunday. Admission to Boardwalk is free. Tasting kits are $15 and include six tastes plus a People’s Choice ballot. Organizers recommend early arrival, as supplies are limited. One hundred percent of tasting Kit sales benefit Santa Cruz Parks & Recreation.
More info: beachboardwalk.com
Event Venues
Looking to see what’s happening right now on the Monterey Peninsula? Our comprehensive list of venues across the city below will help you find what you need to know what’s going on.
Looking for more things to do in the area?
Visit our What to Do in Northern California page!
