Getting There -- The region's most convenient runway, at the Monterey Peninsula Airport (tel. 831/648-7000), is 3 miles east of Monterey on Highway 68. American Eagle, Northwest, United, and US Airways run daily flights in and out of Monterey. Many nearby hotels offer free airport shuttle service. If you take a taxi, it will cost about $12 to $18 to get to a peninsula hotel. Several national car-rental companies have airport locations, including Dollar (tel. 800/800-3665) and Hertz (tel. 800/654-3131).

Visitor Information -- The Monterey Peninsula Visitors and Convention Bureau (tel. 888/221-1010 or 831/649-1770) has two visitor centers: one in the lobby of the Maritime Museum at Custom House Plaza near Fisherman's Wharf, the other at Lake El Estero on Camino El Estero. Both locations, open daily, offer good maps and free pamphlets and publications, including an excellent visitors' guide and the magazine Coast Weekly. Two other good sources for Monterey information are the Monterey Peninsula On-Line Guide and the Monterey-Carmel website.

Getting Around -- The free Waterfront Area Visitor Express (WAVE) shuttle takes passengers to and from the aquarium and other waterfront attractions from Memorial Day to Labor Day. It departs from the downtown parking garages at Tyler Street and Del Monte Avenue every 10 to 12 minutes and runs all day between 9am and 6pm. Other WAVE stops include many hotels and motels in Monterey and Pacific Grove, which eliminates the stress of parking in crowded downtown. For further information, call Monterey Salinas Transit at tel. 831/899-2555.