Sure, San Francisco has the Victorian architecture and the cable cars, but Monterey Bay is the purist’s California. Henry Miller once said of the area, "This is the California men dreamed of years ago ... The face of the earth as the Creator intended it to look." And so it is. Monterey Bay has inspired artists from John Steinbeck to Ansel Adams.

To get a little inspiration in your life, drive just north of the city of Monterey to your resort at Marina Dunes. As you do, roll down the windows and take in the sweet coastal air. You’ll hear the sea lions and the roaring surf drifting on the wind. After you check in, check out Cannery Row and the unbelievable Monterey Bay Aquarium. There’s plenty to see and do as you sink into the history and beauty of this unique stretch of California coastline.