A Post-Christmas Day in Monterey and Santa Cruz

We arrived the night before and walked around Fisherman's Wharf, which was still fully decorated for the holidays. Lights and wreaths were strung up over the market stalls, and it felt festive even a couple of days after Christmas.

The next morning, I woke up to a clear sunrise over the city. A layer of mist was settled over the distant hills and the bay, catching the golden light before it burned off.

We spent the daytime exploring Monterey on foot. We went back to the wharf to see the holiday decorations in the daylight, including some big inflatable figures and a tall Christmas tree. The best detail was the monument on Cannery Row, where all the statues had been given Santa hats. The whole waterfront was busy with people walking around in the sun.

Later in the afternoon, we ended up at the beach in Santa Cruz. The amusement park was colorful, with its castle-like facade and the gondolas moving overhead against the blue sky. It was a simple, pleasant day spent wandering around the coast.