This iconic coastal city, which still has the look and feel of a working-class fishing town, is the geographical center of the Peninsula that bears its name.
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Along the water can be found the charming Fisherman’s Wharf, a scenic bike path and jogging trail, first-rate beaches, the legendary Cannery Row with its old canning facilities now converted into shops and restaurants, and the magnificent Monterey Bay Aquarium, an industrial gray temple for viewing, studying and preserving the wonders of the deep.
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Further inland is the busy downtown, numerous parks, museums, the oldest public library in California, the Del Monte Shopping Center for excellent shopping, dining, and movies, the state-of-the-art Monterey Sports Center for recreation, and plenty of charming, comfortable homes, many with ocean views.