A good number of our customers come just to ride our handcars, but there are other activities to do on the Monterey Peninsula. The various travel sites list dozens of activities, but many of them are not interesting enough to justify a visit for a short visit to the area. We put together our own list of activities and local restaurants that are worthy of attention while you are visiting.
Marina Attractions
We are the only rail touring provider offering authentic handcar tours. Our six mile tours travel alongside sand dunes, through cypress and Monterey Pine forests.
There are not many places where a person can jump out of an airplane, but the Monterey Peninsula is one of them. At Marina Airport Skydive Monterey Bay offers a complete skydiving experience for those wanting to check this off their bucket list.
Our handcar tours proceed next to and through Fort Ord Dunes State Park and after their tours a number of our customers visit the park for a walk in the Dunes and down to the beach. It has a paved trail that runs between Sand City and Marina that is particularly good for bicycle touring. If you bring your bicycle this is a good place to ride.
Marina Area Restaurants
El Palmar – 3102 Del Monte Blvd, Marina
This is a full service independent Mexican Restaurant where many of our guests visit after their tour. It is located a block north of Handcar Tours on Del Monte Blvd.
Daddy’s City Diner – 265 Reservation Rd, Marina
Independent restaurant in Marina open for breakfast and lunch. This is a fantastic breakfast restaurant and we eat here in the morning when we have time. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays.
Annie’s House – 204 Cypress Ave, Marina
This is a small independent restaurant that serves both American and Americanized Chinese Cuisine. The owner operates the restaurant with her husband and it is truly a mom and pop restaurant.
English Ales and Brewery – 223 Reindollar Avenue, Marina
This is one of those places that is a local gem and this is our main recommendation for out-of-towners looking for a unique casual sit down place to eat. They make their own ales and have a satisfying food menu too.
Food Court – The Dunes on Monterey Bay
If you are looking for variety of quick serve food choices then the Dunes on Monterey Bay Center located off the Imjin Parkway Highway 1 exit is probably where you want to go. A lot of our customers visit the food court that offers a variety of locations that include Blaze Pizza, 360 Health Café, Poke Bar, Chipolte, Deli Delicious, MoonScoops Ice Cream, and Smash Burger. We often get a Smash Burger after the last tour and we often see our customers here.
Outside Marina
Monterey Bay Aquarium – 886 Cannery Row, Monterey
The Monterey Bay Aquarium is the main attraction for the region. Located on Cannery Row in Monterey, the facility is considered one of the world’s most respected aquariums. It is considered a must visit when coming to the Monterey area.
Cannery Row – Monterey
This tourist shopping district includes gift shops and restaurants that occupy former fishing canning factories that hit hard times in the 1950s when the fish population declined. Many of our customers come here after their tour.
Fisherman’s Warf – Monterey
This tourist shopping district is situated on the former Monterey Warf. There are a number of whale watching tour companies that depart from Fisherman’s Warf. If seafood is what you seek, Old Fisherman’s Grotto restaurant is considered Monterey’s best seafood place.
Raven Wolf Sky Sports – Sand City
Looking for something as unique as our handcars? Try paragliding. During our handcar tours you will see parachutes blowing up and down the coast. There is a small business that provides guided paragliding experiences and the Monterey Peninsula is one of the few places you can do this.
Monterey Zoo – 400 River Road, Salinas
The region has a small zoo that is not exactly in Monterey, but closer to Salinas. The zoo offers up close experiences that are not available from the larger zoo parks.