The bayfront California Central Coast city of Monterey has a storied past with the Cannery Row historic industrial district, which inspired a novel by John Steinbeck. Modern additions like the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch Program, which sets the standard for sustainable seafood, prove that this city also has its eye on the future. Fittingly, there are both classic and contemporary houses in a community that’s long attracted writers and artists. The city borders the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, and the water there is inhabited by protected ocean wildlife like sea otters.