Want to get away, but you don’t have much vacation time to spare. It’s a perfect time to plan a local road trip.

Travel enthusiast Dana Rebmann shows the wonders of Monterey. Dana says winter is a great time to head to Monterey.

Crowds are light, wildlife are plentiful. Yes, there can be rain, but overall temperatures are mild, and it’s just a quick drive away.

Dana visited the famous Monterey Bay Aquarium. Dana showed the Aquarium’s new Animal Care Center that opened in November.

The Kelp Forest, at 28 feet, is one of the tallest aquarium exhibits in the world. The jellyfish are mesmerizing as ever. You can even pack your sleeping bag and spend the night.

The Monterey Bay Aquarium hosts a sleepover on average once a month. ($49.95 adults, $29.95 kids, $125 sleepover).

Dana recommends wandering around the neighborhood near the Aquarium. It’s as easy as picking a direction and walking parallel to the water on the Monterey Bay Coastal Trail.

South will lead you through Cannery Row toward Fisherman’s Wharf, with plenty of coastal viewpoints along the way. Head north into Pacific Grove and you can be at Lovers Point Park before you know it.. if you don’t get distracted by the harbor seals.

The beach alongside Hopkins Marine Station is a popular resting spot for harbor seals.

2019 is a big year for Pebble Beach. They’re counting down to The U.S. Open Championship in June, but 2019 also marks a century of Pebble Beach. In honor of 100 years, a new Pebble Beach Visitor Center opened in mid-November. It’s loaded with history and fun facts, and it’s an easy stop when you’re rolling along the 17-Mile Drive.

We often talk about Big Sur when we talk about iconic California road trips, but the 17-Mile Drive shouldn’t be forgotten. And rain or shine, the Bagpiper puts on a show at the end of day at Spanish Bay.

It’s a nice way to end the day, and you can head inside to grab a drink or something to eat.

Dana says Monterey Bay is unique in that you can go whale watching all year long. Boats depart from Fisherman’s Wharf.

December through April is typically the time when you’ll spot migrating gray whales. Dana saw a few playing play hard to get, and they tend not to put on the show that you see when watching humpback whales. But there was plenty of entertainment to found watching other not so famous, but still entertaining Monterey Bay residents like sea lions, sea otters, harbor seals, and dolphins.

WHAT OTHERS ARE CLICKING ON:

>>MORE STORIES