Cannery Row — Local services in Monterey

Nostalgia by the Bay: Cannery Row There’s something timeless about walking along Cannery Row in Monterey Bay, where the salty breeze carries echoes of the past. Once the bustling heart of the sardine-packing industry, the Row still hums with life, though the clatter of canning lines has been replaced by the gentle murmur of waves and curious footsteps on the old wooden boardwalks.

The spirit of Steinbeck lingers in the air, as if you might round a corner and spot Doc returning from tide pools, notebook in hand. Rusted remnants of old canneries sit alongside cozy shops and oceanfront cafés, holding stories in every beam and brick.

And just down the way, the Monterey Bay Aquarium stands like a living tribute to the bay’s resilience—transforming a once-industrial space into a sanctuary of sea life and wonder. Inside, jellyfish float like dreams, otters play with boundless joy, and the rhythm of the tides whispers that nothing ever truly disappears, it just changes form.

Cannery Row isn’t just a place—it’s a memory wrapped in sea air, saltwater,...

We didn't intend to spend much time here, having visited Cannery Row multiple times over the years. But, we had eaten at a location on Steinbeck Plaza the day before on Thanksgiving Day & wanted to go back to visit a shop that had been closed. You never know why, but we stopped at a different location & the proprietor asked if we were going to stay for the lighting of the Christmas Tree? We were unaware of it but since we weren't planning on driving back "home" for a few more hours, we went to Steinbeck Plaza & enjoyed the music, lights, excitement & spirit of the season. It was something different we hadn't seen on Cannery Row & I was able to take great photos of the tree because we arrived early. We were seated close to the tree, on a bench near where "Santa" appeared. It made another pleasant memory, one of many. We have always loved the history here. You have to be patient with parking. Don't be afraid to walk. It adds to the experience because you see more. AND TAKE LOTS OF...

Yep you guessed it! I was here. Another man was here with me too. So basically two men walking around the Historic salty Cannery Row! Then to the murals. We saw those! Wow. Took some pictures of my pal by the murals. Really good camera on my phone and he has a film camera for snapshots and he took one of me and I’m all California all the way down to my Crocs. John Steinbeck the writer and man wrote about Cannery Row, Mac and the boys, Frog money, and James Dean was in a movie that was based on a book he wrote and I ain’t seen it. Did see James’s last pit stop before he passed on. Go read another review of mine to hear all about that. So, what else they got at Cannery Row? Toilets. Scuba diving. Crab. Barking sea lions and lil seal bogies. Paid for my parking pass in nickels and quarters. Be sure to read the history on the murals, have a coffee if you want to break the bank, wipe good, and stop by the spots you know and love from the...