Monterey is a town in the Monterey Bay area of California. Monterey was established in 1770 by Father Junipero Serra. During its long history it has been notable for numerous things, including having been the state capital of California for a brief period. Today it is most commonly known for having been the setting for many of John Steinbeck's novels including Cannery Row and Tortilla Flat. Monterey is one of the more beautiful coastal cities of California and can make for a great two day trip for those visiting San Francisco or a weekend getaway for California natives. Monterey soon became a Spanish military base with a small fort or presidio located near a calm harbor that could provide shelter to supply ships.The military presence eventually gave way to a thriving commercial trade that brought in many enterprising foreign merchants.The Monterey Peninsula has the largest population of sea otters on the California coast. The abundance of marine wildlife visible from the shoreline is one of the primary attractions of the region. Seals, sea lions, sea otters are visible year-round, and migrating whales are commonly seen in the fall and spring months. http://wikitravel.org/en/Monterey_(California)