Located on Cannery Row, the site of a number of now-defunct sardine canning factories and the setting of two John Steinbeck novels, the Monterey Plaza Hotel and Spa is part of an area steeped in local history and local activity. It’s located just a few blocks from the Monterey Bay Aquarium, snorkeling, sailing, and whale watching.

Until the 1950s, there was an abundant sardine fishing and canning industry, but overfishing led to the decline of the fishing industry. More than a prime fishing location, Cannery Row was also a haven for artists and authors. The street name, formerly a nickname for Ocean View Avenue, became official in January 1958 to honor John Steinbeck and his well-known novel Cannery Row. 

Concentrated efforts in the last 30 years to care for Monterey Bay have helped re-build the fish populations, which has increased populations of other aquatic life"otters, dolphins, sea lions, orcas, and humpback whales. Now, Monterey Bay is one of the best places for observing ocean life in the world. On this week's Travel Today with Peter Greenberg, we head to the Northern California town of Monterey to discover and hear about the rich history of the area first hand from the locals.