Help with Monterey!

[Stitch35]

I've read other threads on monterey, but still have some questions.
We are planning on driving to Monterey after a stay in crescent city to visit the redwoods. We would be arriving about 6pm on August 11. We are aware this is the start of "cars week". We are planning on spending the morning and early afternoon at the aquarium before traveling south to Disneyland. We are traveling with a 7 year old and 4 year old (he turns 5 on the 12th).

1) is salinas a good place to stay or is monterey worth the extra money?

2) is 4 hours enough time to visit the aquarium? We've gone to the Seattle aquarium, but only takes us about 90 minutes. We really want to enjoy the aquarium, but would like to make it to Disney on the 12th, since its a surprise present for our 4 year old's birthday.

3) is 6 hours realistic to get to Anaheim on a Monday at the beginning of "cars week"?

Thank you!

 

[abayaflowers]

I've read other threads on monterey, but still have some questions.
We are planning on driving to Monterey after a stay in crescent city to visit the redwoods. We would be arriving about 6pm on August 11. We are aware this is the start of "cars week". We are planning on spending the morning and early afternoon at the aquarium before traveling south to Disneyland. We are traveling with a 7 year old and 4 year old (he turns 5 on the 12th).

1) is salinas a good place to stay or is monterey worth the extra money?

2) is 4 hours enough time to visit the aquarium? We've gone to the Seattle aquarium, but only takes us about 90 minutes. We really want to enjoy the aquarium, but would like to make it to Disney on the 12th, since its a surprise present for our 4 year old's birthday.

3) is 6 hours realistic to get to Anaheim on a Monday at the beginning of "cars week"?

Thank you!

I live in the South Bay and recommend the following:

1. Stay in Monterey. It is worth the money. Salinas is a farm community. Not much to see.
2. The Aquarium is world-renown. You can spend all day there. I would recommend either packing a lunch and eating on the deck or somewhere along the wharf. The food inside is rather expensive.
3. 6 hours is realistic if you do not hit rushhour traffic, accidents, or road work along highway 5 and any connecting freeways. Remember, LA is known for its traffic jams.

Make sure that the kids go to the bathroom prior to the hitting the grapevine/Glendale area. It's very challenging to stop and find a bathroom in rushhour/standstill traffic in LA.

Hope this helps.

 

[ILUVALASKA]

I just drove from Monterey to LA yesterday. Between fires at the Grapevine and multiple car accidents, it took us 10 hours to get home!

 

[Stitch35]

Would it be better to take hwy 1 or 101? Would this avoid the grapevine nightmare I keep hearing about?

 

[ILUVALASKA]

Hwy 1 and 101 take the same amount of time as it not an expressway. You will be stopping to take pics every twenty minutes as it is a gorgeous drive. I would allow 8-10 hour on that route as well (with lunch). 5 is the fastest without any incidents.

 

[larina]

1 and/or 101 takes quite a bit longer than 5.

 

[BraveMom]

Hwy 1 & 101 are great drives if you have the time. Monterey aquarium is definitely doable in four hours. It was packed when we were there last week and we skipped the most crowded areas (which were the least interesting anyway, it was strange to see what was popular). We went through quickly in two hours and my kids would have liked more time but we had a ways to drive that evening. It is better than Seattle aquarium and I am a seattleite.

 

[Stitch35]

Thank you for the info! May I ask what was popular when you were there?