Outer Monterey - Monterey, CA

Settled by the Spanish in the 1700s, Monterey peninsula was part of Mexico until California entered the United States after the Mexican-American War, during which the Battle of Monterey occurred on July 7, 1846. The fishing industry drove local growth until the 1950s, at which time the fishery collapsed.

While no museums exist in Outer Monterey, central Monterey houses a number, including the Museum of Monterey, the Presidio of Monterey Museum and Robert Louis Stevenson House, where the famed Scottish writer stayed in 1879.

Central Monterey also features numerous art galleries, as well as both locations of the Monterey Museum of Art. An extensive arts scene for a city its size exists in Monterey, with multiple establishments hosting music, theatre and other performing art performances. Annual events in the city include Whalefest, the Americana Music Festival and the Jazz Bash by the Bay.

Most restaurants lie along Fremont Boulevard and Broadway Avenue, with further establishments along Del Monte Boulevard. Cuisine options range from fast food to Mexican, Asian and Americana, with a mix of chain restaurants and local eateries.

Spend your morning at a Monterey classic spot, the Breakfast Club on Fremont Boulevard. Serving up both traditional and innovative breakfast favorites, this diner has something for everyone. Try the recommended bananas Foster French toast or chicken and waffles.

Fishwife Seafood Cafe features pasta and seafood with a Caribbean flavor, including catch of the day selections with freshly caught seasonal local seafood. House specialties include Caribbean seafood salads and king salmon in habanero butter sauce, as well as select vegetarian options. The restaurant also features a full bar and drink specials to pair with your meal.

Limited nightlife exists in Outer Monterey, with a handful of bars and restaurants remaining open late. A wider selection of establishments operates in central Monterey, including venues that host music performances.

Planet Gemini, near the airport, hosts a variety of live entertainment, from comedy to music and karaoke, as well as DJ sets and dance nights. Comedy performances headline most weekends, while each Tuesday, the restaurant features a menu of homemade Italian food before a special, family friendly show at 9 p.m. Other nights feature standard pub fare with happy hour drink and food specials throughout the week.

Most travel in Outer Monterey occurs via personal vehicle, although public transportation, Uber and several cab companies serve the area. Cab riders generally call ahead as opportunities to hail a cab are low. Highways 1 and 218 shuttle the most traffic, with Fremont Boulevard, General Jim Moore Boulevard and Broadway Avenue also handling more traffic than the connecting residential streets. The nearby Monterey Regional Airport provides commercial flights to major cities in California, Arizona and Nevada.

Monterey-Salinas transit operates several routes in the area, including Line 8 and the Jazz A line to downtown Monterey. Bicyclists travel on dedicated bicycle lanes on General Jim Moore Boulevard and Canyon Del Rey Boulevard, with bike trails in several area parks. Residential streets with low traffic remain safe for bikers and walkers, although with a lack of destinations, close walkability remains low beyond neighborhood strolls. Free parking exists throughout Outer Monterey.

A number of large parks exist within a short distance from Outer Monterey, including many points of beach access along Monterey Bay.

Fort Ord National Monument, just minutes east of Outer Monterey, provides over 80 miles of trails through the last undeveloped natural wild lands of the Monterey Peninsula. The trails attract hikers, mountain bikers, horseback riders and nature enthusiasts searching for one of the many rare species that call the monument home.

Work Memorial Park in Del Rey Oaks contains trails through forests and scrub desert and connects to Laguna Grande Regional Park, which features trails, a small lake and public ocean beach access. A few miles west, dogs run free at the Monterey Dog Park, which includes several off-leash areas for your canine friends of all sizes.

Smaller parks in Outer Monterey include Farallones Park, Beta Park, Neil Park and Durant Park, each of which provides playground equipment.

The Laguna Seca Recreation Area, located on the south end of Fort Ord National Monument, houses campgrounds, a shooting range and a number of other recreational activities. The park hosts numerous events throughout the year, including professional cycling races. San Lorenzo Park in Monterey hosts annual Fourth of July and Christmas festivities.

Life in Outer Monterey costs about average for the Monterey area, with one-bedroom residences renting for about $1,200 per month. Transit fares on Monterey-Salinas transit range from $1.50 to $3.50 depending on the route, while at the pump, drivers pay around 20 percent more per gallon than the national average. Patrons at local pubs pay an average of $4 for a pint of beer, with craft beers running around $6.

Beyond a few scattered markets and shops, shopping near Outer Monterey concentrates along Fremont and Del Monte Boulevards, featuring a number of large chain stores, as well as service providers and a few specialty shops. High-end shopping generally requires a trip into central Monterey.

Butterfly Boutique carries a full line of designer dresses, suits and tuxedos for weddings, proms and other special occasions. The boutique also rents tuxedos and stocks a wide supply of accessories, including shoes and jewelry.

Kitchen Studio of Monterey Peninsula specializes in custom kitchen designs that match your tastes, lifestyle and budget. The studio carries a varied selection of artisan cabinetry and unique accessories. Every design begins with a visit to the studio to view samples of previous work and the selection of materials.

A number of smaller grocery stores exist in Outer Monterey, including specialty Mexican and Asian grocers. Grocery Outlet and Safeway serve your large grocery shopping needs. The year-round Monterey Farmers Market at nearby Monterey Peninsula College carries local farm fresh produce, meats and other goods.