Things to Do in Monterey in July

A Monterey Bay whale watching tour places you on the swells of one of the world's deepest submarine canyons, where upwellings of cold nutrient-rich water create a staggering concentration of marine life. You will see the explosive exhalation of a humpback whale's blow before its massive, barnacled back arches into a dive, and hear the captain's excited call over the loudspeaker as a pod of Risso's dolphins surfaces to ride the bow wave. The air smells of diesel and salt spray, and you feel the deck vibrate with the engine's hum as you scan the horizon.

This dolphin and whale watching boat tour from Monterey focuses on the acrobatic smaller cetaceans that frequent the bay, promising the sight of hundreds of sleek, gray bodies churning the water into a froth as common dolphins streak alongside the vessel. You will hear their high-pitched clicks and chirps through a hydrophone dropped into the depths, a haunting soundtrack to the visual spectacle. The boat often cuts engines to drift, letting you feel the gentle rocking of the swell and taste the salty mist in the air.

The guided two-hour walking tour in Carmel by the Sea meanders through a storybook village of crooked cottages, hidden courtyards, and twisting lanes shaded by mature Monterey pines. You will see the unique, whimsical architecture that defines the town, from Hugh Comstock's fairytale homes to the secret gardens behind stone walls, and hear tales of the artists and writers who shaped its character. The air under the pines carries the clean, resiny scent of the forest, a contrast to the floral perfumes from well-tended cottage gardens.

A wine tasting and walking tour of Carmel-by-the-Sea combines the village's charming lanes with stops in its intimate, owner-operated tasting rooms, where you can sample strong Pinot Noirs and crisp Chardonnays from nearby Santa Lucia Highlands vineyards. You will taste the smoky, black cherry notes of a local wine while learning about the region's terroir, and feel the cool, cave-like air of a cellar as you move from one curated stop to the next. The experience engages multiple senses, from the polished wood and leather smell of a tasting room to the visual delight of a sun-dappled patio.

The Carmel-by-the-Sea electric bike tour lets you cover notable ground with ease, gliding silently past the well-known cypress trees of Ocean Avenue, down to the white sands of Carmel Beach, and along the scenic blufftop path toward the rocky coves of Pebble Beach. You will feel the cool ocean breeze rush past as you pedal easily up gentle inclines, hear the crunch of gravel under your tires on a forest path, and smell the wild sage and rosemary scrub that lines the coastal trail. The tour offers vistas of the rugged, cypress-studded coastline that are otherwise reserved for long-distance hikers.

The guided two-hour Point Lobos nature walk examines a reserve so ecologically dense it's called the "greatest meeting of land and water in the world." You will see the startling orange of garibaldi fish through the crystal-clear water of Whalers Cove, hear the guttural barks of sea lions echoing off the granite cliffs, and feel the spongy give of the soil on the Cypress Grove Trail under ancient, wind-sculpted trees. The air is thick with the scent of pine duff and briny ocean spray.