Monterey is a historical city located on the central coast of California, boasting breathtaking cliffs, sandy beaches, and nearby mountains and forests.

The Beauty of Monterey

Our campus is conveniently located in the heart of downtown Monterey—with beaches, restaurants, shops, and cultural sites just a short walk away. Monterey’s average year-round temperature is about 60°F (15°C), perfect for outdoor sports and adventures! The city maintains an intimate, small-town charm that cultivates a sense of community among students, faculty, and locals. Create your personal travel itinerary using See Monterey.

Cultural Highlights

Monterey provides contemporary entertainment such as the world-class Monterey Bay Aquarium, the annual Monterey Jazz Festival, and excellent water sports such as scuba diving and kayaking. You can also stroll down the Recreation Trail to Fisherman’s Wharf, where sea otters and seals are often found swimming and sunbathing.

Historical Monterey

The city of Monterey tells the story of California’s rich cultural past through its historic architecture and museums displaying the lives of Native Americans, early Spanish explorers, and the original Californios. The town is traditionally an artist’s paradise—inspiring creativity with its beautiful landscapes and tranquil waterside overlooks. Once the original stomping grounds of writer John Steinbeck, Monterey features beautifully preserved historical remnants such as Cannery Row, which was the hub of the sardine canning industry in the mid-1900s, as well as Steinbeck’s inspiration for his novel. Cannery Row is now a touristic hotspot lined with hotels, shops, restaurants, and fun activities.

Environmental Sustainability

Our students can take advantage of Monterey’s central location of environmental policy, business, and technology. The city features top-notch environmental resources such as the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, which is one of several marine protected areas that serves as an example of ocean conservation. Additional local environmental organizations include the Center for Ocean Solutions, the Center for the Future of the Oceans, the Ocean Conservancy, and Oceana. Neighboring Salinas Valley is known as the “Salad Bowl of the World”, providing organically grown produce weekly at the Monterey Farmers Market. Slightly further north, Silicon Valley serves as the heart of the Green Tech revolution.

Language Capital of the World

Monterey is known as “The Language Capital of the World” as it is home to both the Middlebury Institute and the Defense Language Institute, the U.S. Armed Force’s language training facility. The Naval Postgraduate School, a military officer training institution, and California State University Monterey Bay and nearby Monterey Peninsula College also contribute to an enriching educational international environment, often finding ways to share resources.