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:
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Monterey, California’s Sardine Factory

Get a nice view without the crowds

When I was a kid, playing in the seaside dunes of the Monterey Peninsula, I wondered what it would be like to live in the dunes at the edge of the bay. Close to the beach, yet seemingly miles away from the highway and everything else, it seemed like I was in my own world. After a stay at the Sanctuary Beach Resort in Marina, just a short distance from Monterey, I now know what living among the dunes is like.

The Sanctuary Beach Resort has offered a special 10 percent discount to UpTake readers who call the resort and make a reservation mentioning “uptake.” The offer is good until Dec. 31, 2011, no matter whether you choose weekend or weekdays. The discount is not available for special events or holidays.

Relax in your room with beautiful views

The 60 guestrooms and suites are tucked into 19 acres of dunes like a secret retreat that you can’t really see from the beach. Choose from full ocean or partial ocean view rooms, or get a front row seat with an oceanfront room. Additionally, rooms come in deluxe or junior-suite size, so mix and match to your heart’s content. All rooms have fireplaces, flat-screen LCD TVs, plush robes, iPod docking stations, complimentary Wi-Fi and private patios or balconies so you can watch the sunset. Rates start at $169 and vary, depending on type of room and time of week/year.

Besides the beach being just steps from your room, there’s an on-site pool, spa, a private golf cart for each room for getting around on the property and the Kula Ranch Restaurant—with great Pacific Rim cuisine, including sushi.

Even though adults and kids enjoy the beach, you know who would really love a stay at Sanctuary Beach Resort? The family dog. Be sure to ask for a pet-friendly room if you want to bring your best friend.

I can’t count the times I’ve passed this place while driving on Highway 1, and because I couldn’t see it from the road, had no idea it was there. But that’s a nice requirement for a quiet beach retreat, don’t you think?

Sanctuary Beach Resort, 877-944-3863
3295 Dunes Drive, Marina, CA 93933

Photos courtesy of Sanctuary Beach Resort

I was a guest of Sanctuary Beach Resort during my time in Marina.

More Monterey-related information:
Top Ten Beaches for Collecting Sea Glass
Best Pizza on the Monterey Peninsula