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Monterey Walking Tour: Explore Historic Adobes
4.8
44 Ratings
Monterey
Discover the rich history of Monterey on an engaging and informative walking tour. Explore the Cradle of California with Original Monterey Walking Tours.
Discover the rich history of Monterey on an engaging and informative walking tour. Explore the Cradle of California with Original Monterey Walking Tours.
Duration:
2 hours, 15 minutes
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Monterey State Historic Park - We will see and visit many historic buildings and sites, including some State Park properties.
- Colton Hall Museum - Visit California’s “Constitution Hall”.
- The Original Monterey Walking Tours - guided tours of historic Monterey and Cannery Row - The best tours of historic Monterey are up close and on foot…
- Monterey State Historic Park - We will see and visit many historic buildings and sites, including some State Park properties.
- Colton Hall Museum - Visit California’s “Constitution Hall”.
-
The Original Monterey Walking Tours - guided tours of historic Monterey and Cannery Row - The best tours of historic Monterey are up close and on foot with the Original Monterey Walking Tours.
Visit historic buildings and sites on a highly rated experience that’s interesting, informative and fun for all ages.
What's Included
- Personable and knowledgeable tour guide
- Personable and knowledgeable tour guide
What's Not Included
- gratuities
- gratuities
Additional Information
Uncover the Authentic Monterey! Experience historic adobes and captivating stories on a journey with the Original Monterey Walking Tours!
Avoid the typical tourist attractions and discover what many overlook – the hidden essence of Old Monterey. Stroll through serene garden courtyards, explore historic adobes, and witness Monterey’s own “Plymouth Rock.”…
Uncover the Authentic Monterey! Experience historic adobes and captivating stories on a journey with the Original Monterey Walking Tours!
Avoid the typical tourist attractions and discover what many overlook – the hidden essence of Old Monterey. Stroll through serene garden courtyards, explore historic adobes, and witness Monterey’s own “Plymouth Rock.” Stand at the birthplace of the State of California and be captivated by the exciting story of “Sloat’s Landing” – a single daring act that altered the destiny of a nation.
The ultimate way to truly understand Monterey? Up close and personal, on foot, with the Original Monterey Walking Tours.
Location
3 Portola Plaza
Portola Plaza
At the statue of Portola , in front of the Portola Hotel, in Portola Plaza.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.8
(44 Ratings)
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Teclag_12
Jan 29, 2026
Great historical tour of how Monterey developed over time from discovery to today - Tom was personable and very informative. It turned out I was the only one who booked the 2:00 tour today, so I had a private tour. Tom brought his friendly, adorable dog, Baxter, who was well-behaved and fun to have along. I used my rolling walker so I could sit while he explained how the events unfolded, bringing Monterey and California from Spanish to Mexican to American possession, and then to become a State. This is a great tour for history buffs and for 4th graders and up. Interesting how the politics, military, and different peoples interacted. Not the best for younger children--although Tom might have something up his sleeve for them as well.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Tyler_c
Jan 18, 2026
Highly recommend - Thom made history fun! He is a wealth of knowledge and loves California history and you will too after his walk. Loved his beagle, Baxter!
Review provided by Viator
Susan_f
Jan 15, 2026
The tour guide’s tour guide - I learned SO much on this tour, and as a major history and architecture nerd, that means a LOT to me.
Thom is the tour guide’s tour guide. His encyclopedic knowledge of Monterey’s storied past, combined with his unique storytelling ability, make for a fun and engaging afternoon. Please take this tour!
Review provided by Viator
Heidek2026
Jan 4, 2026
Informative. Entertaining. Wonderful! - Tom shares his love of Monterey’s history, architecture and its people in an informative and entertaining manner for a very reasonable price. We’ve been passing by historic buildings in Monterey for many years while on vacation. Little did we know the significance of this part of the world. Tom weaves the tale Monterey’s location and history so well, that the time flew by.
Our tour group was a small group of 6 people, two families of three. We enjoyed the other family and the questions they asked. Touring with people we didn’t know added a richness to our experience and Tom included us all.
Cheers to you Tom!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
H5502nzveronicae
Jan 2, 2026
Incredible tour! - Tom was an incredible story teller! We really enjoyed the pace, and since our group asked SO many questions, he graciously extended our tour by 30 minutes. Highly recommend him to anyone in the area! There’s SOO much more to learn about Monterey than I thought.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
311zoedog
Sep 27, 2025
Great experience - Had a great time! Thom was knowledgeable, friendly and entertaining. Interesting history of Monterey and how this city helped shape our country today. Would recommend.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Goplaces478129
Sep 21, 2025
Great historical walking tour - This was a GREAT tour! Tom and his assistant Baxter the beagle gave me a walking history of Monterey from about the 1500s through today. Tom shared great facts about Montereys critical importance in California's development. The architecture throughput the city shows the history and changes and I got to see where the California constitution was written. Thanks for making the tour informative and fun! The whale bone path was a fascinating insite into the Monterey history.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jeriv81
Sep 15, 2025
A beautiful walk while learning about West Coast US history. - We have lived In Monterey for 43 years and enjoy learning about the history of the area. Today we took Thom’s tour of historic Monterey adobes and learned so much! Thom is a wealth of knowledge about the history of Monterey from the first explorers to modern day Monterey. You will learn things you never learned in history class! He knows the stories of buildings that I have driven by many times giving me a new perspective on them.
This tour is well worth your time whether you are a local or a visitor to the beautiful Monterey Peninsula.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
X3077lpanthonym
Sep 14, 2025
What a great tour! - What a great tour! Tom did a fantastic job. I was very impressed that he proceeded with the tour when I was the only who signed up. His knowledge of the city and it's history is awesome. He weaves past and present into a delightful narrative. I learned so much about California's history that I had either forgotten or was never taught. Just a delightful afternoon with a fun, highly knowledgeable guide who very obivously enjoys what he does! Highly recommend!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Coder
Aug 29, 2025
Fascinating. - After a period of nine years since our last visit my wife and I decided to revisit Monterey. While we usually stick to the familiar haunts of Cannery Row and Carmel, we wanted to shake things up this time. A walking tour seemed like the perfect way to get a fresh perspective, and it turned out to be a fantastic choice.
We spent two hours strolling the historic downtown, delving into the fascinating stories of the area's first settlers and indigenous populations. The highlight for me was walking right up to the building where California’s first constitution was signed—a moment that felt like stepping back in time.
Our guide, Tom, was incredible. He made history feel alive and engaging, not like a dry lecture. In the past, I'd get my history fix at the now-closed Spirit of Monterey Wax Museum, but this tour was ten times more interesting. Learning about the military history of the area, in particular, was full of surprising facts I had never known before.
A huge thanks to Tom for a truly great tour that showed us a whole new side of Monterey.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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