Historic Cannery Row: A Self-Guided Audio Tour of John Steinbeck's Monterey

4.1 (20 reviews) 1 h 15 min Free cancellation Private tour

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20 reviews

4.1

Cannery Row Cross Overs — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

Pacific Hotel & Spa — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

About this activity

This self-guided, self-paced audio walking tour will explore Cannery Row in Monterey California and the surrounding area as well as a number of hotels and historic sites. There's a separate admission charge for entrance to Monterey Bay Aquarium.

On this tour, you'll hear how the area served as the industrial heart of Monterey in the first half of the 1900s. Its seemingly inexhaustible number of Pacific sardine attracted fishermen, investors and inventors from around the world seeking their fortune. But, (spoiler alert!) overfishing would decimate the industry by the 1950s.

You will also discover the connection between John Steinbeck and this area as you meet some of the colorful characters that were immortalized in his novel Cannery Row and its sequel Sweet Thursday. Finally, you'll discover the incredible story of how Cannery Row quite literally rose from the ashes to what is now a welcoming waterfront of world-class hotels, wine rooms, restaurants and shopping opportunities.

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At a glance

Duration: 1 h 15 min
Confirmation: Instant confirmation
Ticket: Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Group: Your group only
People per booking: 1–15
Audio guide: English
Operated by: VoiceMap Audio Tours

Ages: Adults (0–120 years)

What is included

Included

Included: VoiceMap App for Android and iOS
Included: Lifetime access to this tour in English
Included: Offline access to audio, maps, and geodata

Not included

Not included: Tickets or entrance fees to any museums or other attractions en route
Not included: Smartphone and headphones
Not included: Transportation
Not included: Food and drink

Itinerary

The Cannery Row Monument

Passing by

The tour takes you past the Cannery Row Monument and briefly explains the significance of each person depicted.
Stop 2

Passing by

The tour takes you past the original Monterey Canning Company warehouse. Outside the warehouse is where you'll hear the story of

Cannery Row.
Stop 3

Passing by

The tour passes the Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. restaurant which is the highest-grossing restaurant on the Row. You'll hear about its connection to the Monterey Canning Company.
Stop 4

Passing by

The tour will take you briefly inside the InterContinental The Clement Monterey Hotel where you'll be shown a historic aerial photograph of Cannery Row.
Doc Rickett's Pacific Biological Laboratories

Passing by

You'll walk past Doc Rickett's Pacific Biological Laboratories where you'll more about the man that lived there.
Monterey Bay Aquarium

Passing by

The tour takes you past the Monterey Bay Aquarium.
Stop 7

Passing by

The tour takes you past this environmentally sustainable, 25,000 square foot center. It opened in 2019, to expand and enhance the Aquarium’s educational programs by offering free informative programs for teachers and students.
Stop 8

Passing by

The tour stops briefly outside the Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa where you'll hear about some of its shops.
San Carlos Beach

Passing by

You'll walk along the San Carlos Beach.

Meeting point and pickup

Everyone meets at the meeting point.

Meeting point

The starting point is at the corner of Prescott Avenue and Wave Street. Before arrival, install the VoiceMap app and use the code provided on your ticket. This is a self-guided audio tour that you can start, pause, or restart any time and complete at your own pace.

End point

The tour ends in front of the bust of Steinbeck. It is a short distance from the start location.

Using your ticket

VOICEMAP CODE

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Please check your email at the address you provided when you made this booking. VoiceMap has sent you an eight character code you'll need to redeem your tour.

This code can be used by every member of your party. If you've booked for three people, for example, three people can download this tour using the same code.

DOWNLOAD INSTRUCTIONS

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Once you've received your code, please follow these steps:

1. Install the VoiceMap Audio Tours mobile app

2. Create an account

3. Select Tour Codes from the menu, then select Enter Codes

4. Enter your code then select Download Now

PLEASE NOTE

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You can download the tour at any time, before or after your booking date. It’s best to download the tour before you set off for the starting point.
This tour follows a set route and includes turn-by-turn directions. It works best if you start it in the right place and follow the directions from one location to the next.
When the download completes, you’ll see a screen with a photo of the starting point and directions to it. The red start button will become active when you are at the starting point.
Remember to bring your own headphones, unless you have booked a driving tour.

SUPPORT

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For technical support and other queries, please email [email protected]