Most people associate John Steinbeck with Monterey. Many of his famous novels, including Cannery Row, were set in Monterey. Not surprisingly, there are many tributes to him in the toursity little town.
Steinbeck photobombing me
Jack Kerouac also wrote about Monterey. One of the most beautiful passages about Monterey in Big Sur is:
But it is beautiful especially to see up ahead north a vast expanse of curving seacoast with inland mountains dreaming under slow clouds, like a scene of ancient Spain or properly really like a scene of the real essentially Spanish California, the old Monterey pirate coast right there, you can see what the Spaniards must’ve thought when they came around the bend in their magnificent sloopies and saw all that dreaming fatland beyond the seashore whitecap dormat–Like the land of gold–The old Monterey and Big Sur and Santa Cruz magic….
Stephanie Nikolopoulos 
Excellent tribute to John Steinbeck! After seeing this, next time I’m across the bay, I’m going to do my own Steinbeck exploring.
If you do, let me know! I’d love to feature it!
It’s too bad that it’s touristy – on the other hand, it’s nice that they are paying tribute to Steinbeck. I’m getting ready to read Cannery Row shortly!
Yes, I greatly appreciated the tributes to Steinbeck. The sweatshirts and mini license plates with the word “Monterey” scrawled in big letters … not so much. I wish there was actually MORE literary tourism! I hope you enjoy Cannery Row. I enjoyed it a lot!
great photos!! your post made me really miss my hometown. looks like you really enjoyed yourself there though. makes me happy! 🙂
-Quinn
Quinn, I had such a great time! I wish I could go back and explore some more!! I feel like I still missed out on so much.
Well I hope you make it back and get to do all of the things you felt like you missed. If you go back, please feel free to email me! Happy to give restaurant/secret beach recommendations 🙂
Have to make it up there myself some day too, looks splendid and you look very happy in the first photo – who wouldn’t be?
You definitely need to! I was hoping to get to Big Sur, so I still need to get back there too. It’s just hard without a car….
I guess I would take a car – actually I hope to make it there early next year – we’ll see if that happens or not, I’ll keep you posted.
Yes, please do keep me posted. Maybe we could organize a reading from our Kerouac books out there.