Walk Cannery Row at your own pace with a self-guided audio tour that links John Steinbeck’s characters to the real-life sardine industry that built Monterey. Download ahead, bring headphones, and expect a 75-minute loop past historic warehouses, the Monterey Bay Aquarium and sweeping coastal views.
More ways to explore the area's outdoor wonders
You begin at the corner of Prescott Avenue and Wave Street with gulls trading cries above and the Pacific tugging at the shoreline below — the city’s industrial past still feels present in the air. The VoiceMap audio guides your steps down Cannery Row, a waterfront strip where machine chatter once ruled and now shops, hotels and the Monterey Bay breathe new life into old brick and timber.
Difficulty
easy
Duration
75–90 minutes
Fitness Level
Suitable for all fitness levels; requires basic mobility for a mostly flat, urban walk.
Wildlife
History
Cannery Row was the heart of California’s sardine-packing industry in the early 1900s; overfishing and environmental shifts collapsed the trade by the 1950s, and Steinbeck memorialized local characters in his novels.
Conservation
The shoreline lies within the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary; visitors are encouraged to follow leave-no-trace practices and support local sustainable seafood and aquarium conservation programs.
Reserve your spot on the Historic Cannery Row: A Self-Guided Audio Tour of John Steinbeck's Monterey today and enjoy a trusted, highly rated experience designed to help you make the most of your adventure.
Download before you go
Install the VoiceMap app and redeem your code at home so you won’t need mobile data on the route.
Bring headphones
The tour relies on audio cues and turn-by-turn narration — wired or Bluetooth headphones improve clarity.
Wear comfortable walking shoes
Cannery Row mixes boardwalk, pavement and occasional uneven surfaces; choose grippy, supportive footwear.
Plan aquarium separately
Monterey Bay Aquarium has its own admission and can add hours to your visit — book ahead if you plan to go in.
Smartphone with VoiceMap app
Needed to redeem the tour code and play the narrated route offline.
Headphones
Improves audio clarity and keeps narration audible in busy waterfront areas.
Comfortable walking shoes
Provides traction on mixed surfaces — boardwalks, concrete, and occasional steps.
Portable battery pack
Keeps your phone powered through audio playback and map use during the 75-minute tour.