Coastal Living Names Monterey, California as One of the Top 10 "America's Happiest Seaside Towns" in 2015

News provided by

Monterey County Convention and Visitors Bureau

Feb 13, 2015, 01:00 ET

MONTEREY, Calif., Feb. 13, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Monterey County Convention & Visitors Bureau (MCCVB) is proud to announce that Coastal Living has selected Monterey, California as one of its Top 10 "America's Happiest Seaside Towns." The honor reflects Monterey's reputation as one of America's best places to live and visit with the beautiful Del Monte and McAbee beaches, active lifestyle, scenic Coastal Recreation Trail, the nation's #1 Aquarium, historic sites including Cannery Row, great culinary offerings and role as a leader in sustainable seafood. The top 10 list will be featured in the March 2015 issue of Coastal Living (available on newsstands now), and voting to select the No. 1 Happiest Seaside Town in America will take place from February 13 through March 31 at www.coastalliving.com/happytowns2015, with the winner announced in the July/August 2015 issue.

"Monterey is a happy place because the people who live, work and visit our city experience stunning natural beauty, the California coast, rich history and warm hospitality every day," said City Manager Mike McCarthy. "We are honored by the national recognition Coastal Living brings Monterey as a top destination for coastal travel and one of the best places in the country to live."

"This designation from Coastal Living reinforces that Monterey has some of the most incredible outdoor adventure, scenic beaches, innovative casual and fine dining restaurants and memorable attractions in the county," said Tammy Blount, CEO of the Monterey County Convention & Visitors Bureau. "We are excited but not surprised as our travelers have told us for years what a uniquely soul invigorating destination we have here on the California Central Coast."

To celebrate this honor, the Monterey County Convention & Visitors Bureau launched a contest today where travelers have a chance to win a two-night stay at one of Monterey's most scenic hotels, the Portola Hotel & Spa, and includes dining at the exceptional Alvarado Street Brewery & Grill, whale watching on Fast Raft and a visit to the famed Monterey Bay Aquarium. Instagram followers are invited to post an image that shows why they think Monterey is the Happiest Seaside Town with the hashtag #HappyMonterey. Participants can enter the contest by visiting the MCCVB website: SeeMonterey.com/happyMonterey. The promotion will continue through March 31st, and the winner will be announced on April 2, 2015.

The list of America's Happiest Seaside Towns was compiled by Coastal Living editors by reviewing all of the destinations that have been Coastal Living Dream Towns, along with towns that were nominated by readers via social media. Coastal Living then collected each town's rank on the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index, percentage of sunny days, air quality, healthiness of beaches, commute times, crime ratings, walkability, standard of living and financial well-being of the locals, geographic diversity and Coastal Living editors' assessment of each town's "coastal vibe."

Voting to name the No. 1 Happiest Seaside Town in America will begin on February 13 at www.coastalliving.com/happytowns2015 and will continue until March 31, 2015.

For more information regarding Monterey, please visit SeeMonterey.com

ABOUT MONTEREY COUNTY
Monterey County is located 120 miles/192 km south of San Francisco and 345 miles/552 km north of Los Angeles along the classic California corridor. The region boasts 99 miles of prime Pacific Coastline, the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, three historic missions, 40,000 acres of premium vineyards, more than 40 tasting rooms, 26 golf courses and over 250 lodging properties. Monterey County includes the Monterey Peninsula, Big Sur, North County and the Salinas Valley. The Monterey Regional Airport (MRY), just three miles from historic downtown Monterey and minutes from the area's major attractions, is served by non-stop flights to and from Las Vegas (LAS), Phoenix (PHX), Los Angeles (LAX), San Diego (SAN) and San Francisco (SFO). www.SeeMonterey.com. Visitor info: www.SeeMonterey.com