Monterey, California: This city is the true star of 'Big Little Lies'.

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Editor's Note – spoiler alert! For those who have not watched any of the episodes yet, this story contains some intrigue from the first season.

Monterey, California (CNN) – Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman, Laura Dern, Zoë Kravitz and Shailene Woodley are the human stars of "Big Little Lies", the television adaptation of the story of the same name by Liane Moriarty.

Originally located in a fictional suburb of Sydney, Australia, the storyline was transferred to the Monterey Peninsula, California, for the television series. The place also plays a leading role in the series.

Shaylene Woodley, Zoë Kravitz, Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman and Laura Dern (from left to right) play the lead role in

Shailene Woodley, Zoë Kravitz, Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman and Laura Dern (from left to right) play the lead role in "Big Little Lies".

Jennifer Clasen / HBO

When Meryl Streep signed to play in the second season, which will debut on Sunday, June 9 on HBO, the peninsula had a new chance to shine. (CNN and HBO share WarnerMedia's parent company.)

Streep, who plays the mother of a character who died in the first season, is not convinced that this death is accidental, and his piercing gaze and sharp questions upset the balance of the new name "Monterey Five". women who were all present at the death of his son.

She is uncomfortable during her visits to the Monterey Bay Aquarium, at local cafes, at her daughter-in-law's house facing the ocean.

An impending sense of unhappiness hangs over the steep cliffs, breaking waves, and sometimes foggy cities of the California coast, and we wonder if Streep could discover the truth behind the death of his son.

Meryl Streep (right) joins the cast as Nicole Kidman's mother-in-law.

Jennifer Clasen / HBO

"We wanted to make an American version of history, especially California, because it fits the mood and tone of the book's places," executive producer Gregg Fienberg told The Hollywood Reporter. "Monterey is one of the most beautiful places in the world and probably the most beautiful place on the California coast, so it was the perfect match."

The peninsula, which includes the cities of Monterey, Pacific Grove and Carmel, among others, is already filled most of the year with visitors coming up and down the iconic coast 1 road, spending a day at the famous aquarium from Monterey Bay and exploring Cannery Row made famous by the book of the same name by John Steinbeck.

And many other movies and TV shows have been shot here. Now he's just a little more famous because of all the lies that have been told in this little piece of heaven.

Bixby Bridge and Highway 1, Big Sur

Bixby Bridge in Big Sur is part of California's famous Highway 1.

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The Bixby Bridge is one of the visual signs of the peninsula in the opening credits of the show. It also allows rich and even wealthier families to take their children to their primary school. (In fact, the Monterey Bay Aquarium Bridge is 32 km away).

If you head north from Los Angeles on Coastal Road 1 to Monterey, stop at Big Sur to take pictures of one of California's most beautiful bridges between the impressive cliffs and the canyon Bixby Creek.

We do not know if the stars of the show ate there, but Nepenthe at Big Sur is a great place to buy an ambrosia burger and a three berry pie.

State Park and beach Garraparta, Big Sur

Locals swim and sunbathe at Garrapata State Park in Big Sur.

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Production designers added new stairs to Garrapata National Park, where scenes were shot showing the cliffs, the mighty waves of the Pacific Ocean and the beautiful coastline. This is also where wildflowers are in season in spring and summer. Tourism officials recommend the West Coastal Trail starting at Gate 19 on Highway 1.

Fisherman's Wharf, Monterey

The view from Old Fisherman's Wharf, in downtown Monterey, was often part of the landscape of Blue Blues, the fictional cafe of the first season.

Courtesy Michael Troutman / DMT Imaging / Monterey CVB

There is no doubt that the old fisherman's wharf located in downtown Monterey is a tourist trap, with many t-shirts, chocolates and tchotchkes for sale. But it's also the perfect place to enjoy Italian cuisine on the water at Paluca Trattoria, inspired by the Blue Blues, the fictional café where the main characters of the series met for a coffee and an occasional battle over the course. of the first season. (Blue Blues only exists on a sound stage in Los Angeles.)

Wait, this coffee is not real?

Get your coffee and jam at Happy Girl Kitchen in Pacific Grove.

Katia Hetter / CNN

Forget the fictional Blue Blues. Witherspoon, who was also co-executive producer of the show, was spotted at Happy Grove Kitchen in Pacific Grove, a café serving breakfast and lunch, as well as homemade jams, marinated products and shrubs for sale.

Our current favorites are strawberry summer jam and pink grapefruit marmalade oh-so-tart. And if you look closely at the first episodes of Season 2, you'll be able to spot jars of Happy Girl jam in the kitchen of Madeline Martha Mackenzie (the character of Witherspoon).

Monterey Bay Aquarium, Monterey

The spectacular "Open Sea" exhibit at the Monterey Bay Aquarium is magical.

Courtesy of Randy Wilder / Monterey Bay Aquarium

This world-renowned aquarium, where one of the characters works during the second season, houses more than 35,000 plants and animals, representing more than 550 species found locally and in other marine habitats around the world.

Nearly 200 galleries and exhibits are open to the public, but the Monterey Bay Aquarium is a leader in many important conservation efforts. This is the only aquarium to have introduced sea otter babies rescued in the wild with a surrogacy program and the construction of a living exhibition on the kelp forest (water-fed incoming from the ocean).

Go ahead before opening the aquarium: it is often filled every day, just an hour after it's opened. And look for discounts at local hotels or consider becoming a member if you plan on going there more than once a year.

Lover's Point Park, Pacific Grove

Lovers Point Park in Pacific Grove is a local meeting place.

Courtesy Michael Troutman / DMT Imaging / Monterey CVB

The Lovers Point Marine Reserve was used as a backdrop for several scenes, starting with the first episode in which Madeline's Witherspoon meets Jane, played by Shailene Woodley. For locals, Lovers Point Park has long been a place to relax, picnic above the beach, swim and even pose for wedding photos.

Monte Beach, Monterey

Locals, visitors and actors all like to run on Del Monte beach.

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A popular beach with locals for swimming, sunbathing and surfing, Del Monte Beach is part of Monterey State Beach. The show featured a lot of fun and dramatic dance and dance along the beach, and that's where some of these scenes were filmed. Visitors can bring a swimsuit, towel, sunscreen and water.

Other joints we like

If you prefer a hole in the wall for breakfast or really good tacos for lunch, we know where to go (and where the stars should also go). Nestled at the back of a shopping center in the nearby Seaside neighborhood, The Breakfast Club offers the finest pancakes and no-frills breakfasts on the peninsula. There will be a line, of course. Have a cup of coffee and wait. Papa Chano's is the favorite tacos seal in the wall in Monterey. Again, no fuss, but good tacos.

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