The Transportation Agency for Monterey County (TAMC) has worked diligently to ensure that residents have consistent access to a safe and efficient transportation network. Monterey-Salinas Transit (MST) also offers comprehensive bus service to the greater Monterey and Salinas areas. In the summer months, MST also operates “WAVE” a continuous, circular express route from downtown Monterey through Pacific Grove to a variety of popular locations. On the roadway, coastal Highway 1 runs from San Francisco to Los Angeles while Highway 101 transverses the valley corridor of the county.

For travel outside the region, the Monterey Peninsula Airport is located just four miles from Monterey and 19 miles from Salinas. With several regional airlines serving the airport directly, connections are available to an unlimited list of global destinations. Offering comprehensive flight schedules and a host of domestic and international airlines, the Oakland, San Francisco, and San Jose International Airports are all located within a two-hour drive from home. On the rails, Amtrak’s Coast Starlight train stops in Salinas daily on its north and south route to Los Angeles and Seattle.

In addition to 24 local public school districts and an impressive selection of private, parochial, and charter schools, Monterey County is home to an outstanding collection of junior colleges and four-year institutions. As part of the outstanding California State University system, California State University-Monterey Bay serves students with a 1,365-acre campus and twelve undergraduate majors. Additional opportunities for higher education include Central Coast College, Monterey College of Law, the Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey Institute of International Studies, and Hopkin’s Marine Station of Stanford University.

For students seeking a convenient and affordable first step towards a four-year degree, several community colleges are located throughout the county. As one of the 107 colleges in the California Community College System, Monterey Peninsula College ensures students an easy transfer to a four-year institution.

Also a popular choice, Hartnell Community College serves over 8,000 students in the Salinas Valley each year with Associate’s degrees in arts and sciences, certifications, and career programs.

Nestled along the pristine shores of Monterey Bay, Monterey County enjoys an ideal location a little more than halfway between the metropolitan cities of Los Angeles and San Francisco. Here, residents are afforded an unparalleled coastal lifestyle complete with a wide range of natural environments, abundant recreational activities, exquisite arts and culture, one-of-a-kind shopping destinations, and unique community festivals. For outdoor adventures, Andrew Molera State Park, Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park and Point Lobos State Reserve offer camping, hiking and picnicking facilities, while Marina, Monterey, and Salinas River State Beaches are popular destinations for fun in the sun.

For golf enthusiasts, Monterey County is a virtual paradise. Graced by gorgeous weather and superb scenery, the greens and fairways in Pebble Beach are among the most highly rated courses in the world. In addition, dozens of other public and private courses are scattered throughout the county.

For shoppers, Cannery Row, The Barnyard Shopping Village, Carmel Plaza, and the Del Monte Center all offer a pleasing mix of department stores, popular name-brand outlets, and specialty shops. If you enjoy artistic delights, few places can rival the streets of Carmel-by-the-Sea, brimming with 90 art galleries and hundreds of unique boutiques.

Heading inland, Salinas Valley, known as the, “Salad Bowl of the World,” treats residents to rolling fields, fresh picked produce, farm tours, and award-winning wineries.