🇺🇸 Monterey｜Ultimate Sea Otter Watching Guide 🦦

Went kayaking last Saturday morning and spotted 6.5 adorable sea otters — way more rewarding than the aquarium!! 🛶💙 Even saw a mama and baby otter — absolutely heart-melting 🥹❤️ We booked our kayak rental online with a shop located right on Cannery Row. Signed a safety waiver in-store, then headed to the shore to get our kayak. We chose a 2-person tandem kayak — $80 for 2 hours (pre-tax). ✅ What’s included: Life jacket, dry bag, kayak & paddle, plus a full splash gear set (jacket + pants). 📦 What to bring: Water, extra layers, sunscreen, towel, hat/sunglasses. 🧴☀️🧥 During the paddle, we saw so many animals! The most active were the sea lions — super curious about humans 🦁🌊. They’d pop up suddenly near the boat — kinda scary but amazing! They gather mostly near piers and beaches, often hunting in groups. Harbor seals 🦭 are shyer — they hide in kelp-rich areas, peek up quietly, then slip back underwater. Sea otters 🦦 hang out in kelp beds, floating on their backs while grooming (rubbing their faces and paws to maintain their fur and stay warm!). They usually don’t approach humans, but still — keep a safe distance! 📸 (All my otter photos are zoomed-in!) ⏰ Timing: We booked 2 hours and went a little over — no issue. We explored both left and right routes, returned exhausted… right at the 2-hour mark. 🗺️ Route options: Paddle left toward the aquarium 🐠 or right toward the second wharf. 📍 Check-in location: Kayak Rentals & Tours (299 Cannery Row, Monterey, CA 93940) 🚣 Launch point: Adventures by the Sea Breakwater Cove (32 Cannery Row, Monterey, CA 93940) 🌐 Website: Adventures by the Sea #Monterey #MontereyBay #SeaOtter #BabyOtter #Kayaking #California #CaliforniaLife #TravelGuide #StudyInUSA