"Gateway to Wine Country" Monterey by TRimer

Monterey is the most historic city in California. It has been a capital many times over. First in 1776, the Spainish named Monterey the capital of Baja (lower) and Alta (upper) California. Later in 1822, when Mexico gained its independence from Spain, Monterey became the Mexican capital.

In 1902, Otosaburo Noda, an early Japanese commercial venturist with ties to the Japanese abalone cannery at Point Lobos, founded the first canning operation on Ocean View Avenue. By the 1920s, the sardine market had grown greatly and the section of Monterey (now known as Cannery Row) was established. During the next two decades, a score of canneries and reduction plants grew up in the area. Workers processed an estimated 250,000 tons of sardines each year. Unfortunately, by the late 1950s the Sardines had disappeared! Economic devastation settled in on Monterey's fishing and canning industries, ending it forever as Monterey's major economic engine.

Walking around Monterey you cannot miss all the shops selling t-shirts and other nick-nacks bearing a pirate motif. Local lore says Robert Louis Stevenson’s stay in Carmel inspired him to write Treasure Island, the classic tale of pirate ships and buried treasure. In fact, the famous golf couse- Spyglass- names each of its holes after the book. So I was curious as to how exactly Monterey and pirates relate.

Monterey holds the dubious distinction of being the only city in California to have been sacked by a pirate. It happened in 1818, during the Spanish-American wars of independence. Privateers from South America attacked Alta California, which was under Spanish control. French sea captain Hippolyte de Bouchard from Buenos Aires led the attack and plundered Monterey. It was the only time California was conquered by an enemy—and a pirate.

I also discovered that there are numerous movies depicting Monterey with pirates including: The Pirates of Monterey and Stowaway.

• Pros:Less expensive lodging then Carmel
• Cons:More of a tourist destination
• In a nutshell:Gateway to wine and golf