June 15, 2006

TIMESTRAVELS

TravelTalk
By Mike Cleary

‘Historic’ Monterey isn’t just a PR moniker

I plead guilty to the overuse of two very popular travel descriptives. The adjectives are award-winning and historic. The former I am really going to try to avoid. I am, though, hanging on to the latter. I will just use it more judiciously.

The decision to drop award-winning was an easy one. I can’t think of a restaurant, winery, or for that matter, any other business in the hospitality industry that doesn’t claim to be the recipient of some kind of award. The odd thing is I have placed the word award-winning in the front of any number of these organizations without having the slightest inkling as to what it is they actually won. Obviously, if they can brag about having a number of Michelin stars or AAA diamonds, it’s worth a mention.

Historic is a different matter. In one respect, it is redundant as every place comes—as the media likes to say—with a back-story. However, some are admittedly more interesting than others. So, when I think a place’s past ranks high on the fascination scale, then I’m going to insert it for no other reason than to help promote the idea that this particular area has a colorful and rich history that’s worth checking out on your next visit.

Take, for example, Monterey.

There are myriad reasons to visit this engaging Central Coast city. Among its attractions are breathtaking scenery, attractive lodging, excellent dining, major music festivals, a noted wine region, recreational activities galore and the world’s cutest sea otters. Speaking selfishly, how can you not want to visit a place that has a festival honoring calamari? This time, though, I want to sell you on historic Monterey.

This year the Monterey History and Art Association celebrates its 75th Anniversary. While the party continues through the year with all sorts of exhibits and events, June has been singled out as Historic Monterey Month.

It’s fitting as just a few days ago the city celebrated its 236th birthday. I might add California’s first capitol is looking very good for its advanced age. One of the reasons for that is city officials, residents, businesses and the History and Art Association all keenly understand the value of maintaining the physical evidence of the city’s amazing history. As a result, Monterey’s past is all around you. The city is, in fact, one giant museum.

Free admission all month long to the Maritime and History Museum
Underwritten by First National Bank of Central California, visitors to the Maritime and History Museum will be admitted free of charge through June 30, which is open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

John Bailey is the executive director of the History and Art Association. Quite some time ago, he read my column on exploring the historic city of Boston. He sent me an e-mail reminding me of their upcoming celebration and pointing out that right here on the West Coast we have in Monterey the most historic and best preserved city in the western United States.

First to sail into Monterey Bay was Sebastien Vizcaino, who claimed California for Spain. In 1846, Commodore Sloat and his crew arrived in the harbor, an act that led to California and seven other states becoming part of the United States. Then in 2003, Mary Ann and I sailed into the bay on a cruise ship. I tried to claim Monterey for ourselves but no one would listen.

One of the many activities planned for this year’s Monterey History and Art Association birthday is the Sloat Landing Ceremony planned for July 7. It marks the 160th anniversary of the Commodore’s famous shore excursion.

On June 24th, an event worth attending is the Adobe Fiesta tour of historic buildings and cultural exhibits. Interestingly, Monterey has the best-preserved collection of original historic buildings west of Williamsburg and most of them are on their original sites.

How much history can you find in Monterey? The first mass in California was said by a Carmelite in 1602. Monterey is also the site for California’s first printing press, custom house, secondary school, theater, library, fort, marketed cheese and scenic highway. And I wish I had time to tell you about the time Argentine brigands sacked the city.

To better plan your next visit to Monterey, visit the History and Art Association’s Web site at www.montereyhistory.org or the Monterey Visitors and Convention Bureau’s site at www.montereyinfo.org. Both are rich with information. Cheers.