When planning our one night in Monterey, I wanted to be sure we were within walking distance of the Monterey Bay Aquarium… our main reason for being there. I found several hotels a few blocks away and right on the water, but they weren’t exactly kid-friendly. I thought I was out of luck, until I came across the just-opened (June 30th!!) boutique hotel, the Wave Street Inn, by Inns of Monterey. Not only is it one block off Cannery Row and four blocks from the aquarium, it is GORGEOUS!!
Newly renovated inside and out from a previous owner, this ultra-hip hotel has been redesigned with a beautiful modern coastal vibe that makes you feel right at home the minute you walk in. The best part is the staff… you can feel they are truly happy to see you… AND your kids! Most of the staff has been here over 10 years, including manager, Christine, who LOVES the younger guests. “I have one family that’s been coming every summer since their son was little, and now he’s in college! It’s so fun to watch them grow up!!” From the sounds of it, there are lots of families like that who have called this place their second home for years, and I can see why.
The location is perfect! Just one block from all the action… but not in the middle of it, which makes it quiet and restful after a full day of fun. While there’s no restaurant on the property itself, there are at least a dozen restaurants, cafes, and coffee shops within a few blocks, leaving no shortage of kid-friendly dining options you can walk to. Some are directly across the street.
The free (yes, FREE!) MST Trolley Shuttle stops right at the corner (Wave & Hoffman) every 15 minutes during the summer, which is fun for kids to watch and a convenient way to get to Old Fisherman’s Wharf and around town without having to worry about parking. You really can park your car here in the safe, on-site parking garage and not need it again until you leave.
The outdoor corridors and industrial accents reminded me of Aspen, which has a cool, ‘modern mountain’ vibe. There’s no mistake you’re on the California coast, though, especially if you’re lucky enough to get a water view of Monterey Bay, which we were. Inside the rooms, the artwork and teal accents are definitively coastal and inviting.
Of course for an upscale boutique hotel, we expected to see a refrigerator, coffee maker, hair dryer, flat-screen TV, and they were all there. But it was such a pleasant surprise to see the coffee maker was a Keurig (so much less messy when making coffee in the morning!), free Wi-Fi (always a bonus), USB chargers on most of the outlets to charge our devices, and the beds and pillows were SO soft and fluffy!!
I’m a sucker for details, and my favorites were in the bathroom… barn door access, waterfall faucets, and rainfall shower heads… heaven!! As an added bonus, upon arrival you are greeted with a welcome basket of hand-selected treats and bottled water! Ours were kid-friendly and included animal crackers, pastries and granola bars… a welcome treat after our 3 hour drive down from San Francisco!
The room are spacious and quiet. We didn’t even hear our neighbors, even though we knew they were there and had met them earlier. Speaking of, everyone is so friendly and warm. Really, everywhere! At the aquarium, at the restaurants, at the hotel, other guests, people on the street… it’s like the best neighborhood ever! Monterey overall may be touristy, but down by Cannery Row it still has a friendly, small-town feel.
Overall, I am SO happy I found the Wave Street Inn!!! I highly recommend this kid-friendly hotel within walking distance of the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Probably in all of Monterey.
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What makes it so kid-friendly?
- 2 beds in the room
- elevators for strollers
- rooms are spacious, as are the bathrooms
- good view of the bay from some rooms
- free wi-fi
- safe on-site parking
- 4 blocks or less to the best attractions and eateries
- hand-selected complimentary kid-friendly snacks upon arrival
- most importantly… the staff loves kids!
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If you go: Wave Street Inn is at 571 Wave Street, Monterey, CA, 93940. For reservations call 831-373-2299, or visit their website: www.wavestreetinnmonterey.com. Rates starting at $159. Tell them Steph from Best Kid Friendly Travel sent you! 😉
Inns of Monterey offers 5 uniquely designed boutique hotels, 2 of which are perfect for families; Wave Street Inn and Victorian Inn. They are dedicated to green initiatives and sustainability and have earned the National Green Seal Award as a certified green hotel.
Full Disclosure: We were given a discounted rate to stay at the Wave Street Inn, but that did not sway my opinion. I would happily stay here again at full price!
My family and I will be staying here in Jan 2018, and I read your article just after I booked the room. I am looking forward to it even more after reading your article. I hope my expectations will be met. I will definitely mention your article upon check-in. Thanks for making me feel more comfortable about my choice in accommodations with your article.
Fantastic!!! I’d love to hear what you think after your stay! 🙂