Artichokes & Monterey Aquarium

and oh yes, they were worth it. Crispy, salty, golden perfection. No regrets.

From there, we rolled straight to the Monterey Bay Aquarium, and wow—it really lives up to the hype. Housed in a former sardine cannery right on the oceanfront, this place isn’t just beautiful, it's bursting with life. The aquarium holds over 35,000 creatures from 550+ species, including playful sea otters, mesmerizing jellyfish, and a massive kelp forest that sways like an underwater ballet. Almost 4 hours later we decided to run the RV campsite to slow down and relax.

Monterey Cookhouse, Dinner came with real wood smoke in the air. I had ribs, brisket, and pulled pork; Anna Maria tackled The Beast – a half-pound burger topped with another half-pound of brisket and cheese, plus fries. We shared a bottle of red.

The waitress saw my unfinished plate, then Anna Maria’s empty one, and just said, “But she did well.”v