Having experienced San Francisco, Oakland Jack London square and Bodega Bay recently, I was ready for a return to Monterey and the wharf.

It is touristy, but in relation to San Francisco and Oakland this is like night and day.

Many sites, beautiful in all respects. We visited at night, so the allure was wonderful.

One visiting in the fall and winter the climate can be cold, and the waves amazing against the shore and buildings/restaurants. The temperature this night was comfortable.

In conversations with other people on the wharf, they found the experience in Monterey wonderful more relaxing and felt safer then Oakland and San Francisco.

There are changes here from when I grew up the area, but I was surprised to see old businesses still around, with new generations taking over for parents.

We stopped at Dominico's for a drink, and then the Grotto for some appetizers, calamari and oysters and clam chowder. Excellent as always at the Shake's restaurant.

I didn't see the diving bell for tourists. I don't know if it's still there, but boating excursions and fishing excursions still exist. Very reasonable in price IMHO.

The calamari specialty shop was closed. That was to bad for us.

In all a great visit. Lots of things to see and do with the family. Bicycling, mopeds, electric bikes, the coast guard wharf with seals. The beauty of Monterey Bay. Lots of shopping for the ladies (LOL)

I will be reviewing the old fishing wharf, Pacific Grove, Carmel, cannery row and the naval postgraduate school in the next reviews.