Monterey is at the heart of the Monterey Peninsula, serving as the region’s business, financial, government, and services core with urban amenities common to a city of much larger size.  Monterey is home to the region’s community college (Monterey Peninsula College), hospital (Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula), largest shopping center (Del Monte Center), largest business park (Ryan Ranch), Monterey County Fairgrounds, the U.S. Army Garrison Presidio of Monterey (home of the Defense Language Institute), Naval Support Activity Monterey (home of the Naval Postgraduate School), Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey, Cannery Row, and Monterey Bay Aquarium. Monterey’s waterfront is second-to-none, featuring Municipal Wharf No. 2 (serving as the region’s commercial fishing hub), Old Fisherman’s Wharf (attracting 3.9 million visitors per year), the Coast Guard Pier, Breakwater Cove, and U.S. Coast Guard Station Monterey.

The Monterey Regional Airport services the community and is located less than 10 minutes from historic Downtown Monterey, offering over 40 daily flights to Los Angeles, Dallas, Denver, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Portland, San Diego, Seattle, and points beyond. 

The City of Monterey maintains and offers a variety of community amenities and services, including the Monterey Bay Coastal Recreational trail, over two miles of beaches, a harbor and marina, two wharves, the Monterey Sports Center with two indoor pools, the world-class Monterey Conference Center, California’s first public library, four community centers, 36 dedicated parks and open spaces, three fire stations, one police station, multiple parking facilities and garages, over 100 miles of public streets, the Veterans Park Campground, and El Encinal Cemetery.