InterContinental The Clement Monterey

When you vacation in Monterey, Calif., you want to get as close to the water as possible. Why waste any time away from that magnificent view? For a front-row seat right on the edge of Monterey Bay, get a room at the InterContinental The Clement Monterey.

The hotel is in the heart of Cannery Row, right next to the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Even during busy times, the nature of this hotel is so calm that it’s like taking a deep breath of salty ocean air.

The 208 guest rooms and suites include natural wood, marble and glass. All include bathrooms with soaking tub and separate shower, 37-inch plasma TVs, iPod docks, Wi-Fi (for an additional fee), coffee maker and enough desk space to get work done if you really have to work (come on, just tell the boss you’re going to Monterey). My favorite thing in the rooms, however, is a plush otter in place of a teddy bear on your bed. Winter weekday rates start at $159 per night, and weekend rates start at $209 per night.

Of course, you’ll want to spend plenty of time watching the water, and you can do it in a few ways. First, get a room with an ocean view. Second, spend time out on the Pacific View Courtyard (lounging around two fire pits) or hang out along the railing and watch for marine life.

Warm up on the Pacifc View Courtyard

The third way to get an eyeful of ocean views at the InterContinental The Clement Monterey is to eat a meal at the C Restaurant. Sticking to the standards of the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch program, the dishes here include sustainable fresh seafood, premium meats and organically grown local produce.

Don’t leave without some down time in the hotel’s spa, where a long massage is the perfect thing to get you ready for the rest of 2012.

InterContinental The Clement Monterey, 831-375-4500
750 Cannery Row, Monterey, CA 93940

Photos courtesy of InterContinental The Clement Monterey

More Monterey area-related information:
Fandango: Fine dining in Pacific Grove, California
Monterey, California’s Sardine Factory