We stopped to walk along this trail in Pacific Grove for a while, and it was a gorgeous day for it…read more Our 13-year-old dog, Zoey, cannot walk far anymore, so we brought a stroller. This path is not the best place for one, but we made do. First, though, we took her down to the water. We did not explore the tidepools on this occasion, but Zoey had a great time walking in the ocean water. In this area, the tide moved in a gentle motion, yet it still managed to sneak up on me and get my shoes wet! The path was alive with vibrant color today, and offered lovely views. Unfortunately, some cars drive faster than they ought to on this road considering how close the walking path is situated to it.

Nice trail with bike lanes. Lot of things to see. There are lots of seals laying on the beach after…read moreyou passed the Hopkins Marine Station. It's a pleasant walk along the shore.

A very nice place to walk with good views and mostly peaceful surroundings. The two downsides are…read moreits lack of safe walking access to the main entrance, being located right on the edge of a busy road, and the fact that the noise from the cars tends to permeate the otherwise wonderful atmosphere unless you get deeper into the preserve. Other than those two things, it's a wonderful place to walk, particularly in the evenings.

Short quarter mile hike in the heart of Del Rey Oaks, California. Heck, most people don't even know…read moreit's here. In the rainy season there is a small pond and running creeks due to water run off in the surrounding areas. In the summer time, it is really weird. The pond has dried up and the poison oak is abundant. Great little hike with lots of flowers and birds to see IMHO: wait fir a good rainstorm.

If you're in the Carmel/Monterey area with kids, you have to stop here. It's a total hidden gem…read more There are so many wonderful play structures that kept our kids (ages 2 and up) entertained for hours--everything from the suspension bridge to the hedge maze and the classic steam engine. The park is also very well-maintained and clean, which isn't always a guarantee with public playgrounds. It's the perfect place to let the kids burn off some energy in a safe, fun environment. Highly recommend!

PLEASE place updated schedule on website/Yelp!!!!!…read more Went on a Tuesday and it was closed. Other than the aquarium this was the main reason we chose to come to Monterey and stayed an extra night just to have the day to visit the park. Lucky (I guess) I saw a worker and asked why it was closed. He said if kids are in school, then Tuesdays is when they close for maintenance.

A calm, peaceful and clean beach. It's located next to the…read morepier - which has good food places. The parking near the beach is paid and has a relatively clean washroom.

A very beautiful beach where my partner and I went towards the end of the day to catch the sunset…read more It ended up being quite foggy - so, the views far off into the ocean were very difficult . We were still able to appreciate the beach - and were even surprised to see some California Sea Lions close to the shore. Overall, a beautiful beach with literally power soft sand!

This beach is beautiful and not crowded. The parking is very limited. I don't like the porta potty…read morebecause it's very dirty and no where to wash your hands.

Beach about 10 minutes north of Monterey. We've seen paragliding out here and always wanted to stop…read moreby to check it out. The parking lot is small and gets packed quickly and getting in and out can be challenging with the amount of people parked in the parking lot waiting for someone to leave. There is an estuary right next to the parking lot so if you bring swim clothes or roll up your pants you can walk across it for pretty quick access. If you don't the walk is longer to get to a secluded part of the ocean. It's much colder near the water than at the parking lot so bring warm clothes. A lot of the beach is littered with burnt firewood even though fires aren't allowed and there are small sections that are roped off for fragile native plant habitats so you feel less integrated with nature. There are some driftwood logs I saw couple leaning on and watching the waves together. For some reason this is very romantic to me and it looks like a good place at sunrise or sundown for a date.

I wanted to take a local stroll. The path is asphalt running adjacent to M... street. Busy street…read moreso not the most scenic path. More of a bike path to get somewhere such as the DelMonte Mall at the end.

I've walked through Don Dahvee Park a number of times. Fun, easy hike -- but it is a bit upsetting…read morethat it is being used as a homeless camp.

Staff were organized, friendly, and fast! We went straight out across the street and were kayaking…read morewithin 10min of checking in! Advice for a simple trip, bring flip flops/water shoes, a change of clothes (at least pants), and a towel. They have a restroom but more importantly they have dressing rooms and complimentary HEATED towels! Only problem is there really isn't a "secure" place to store your stuff, but it is pretty safe behind their counter! Great adventure!!

We rented a two row bike to get some excercise and ride around Cannery row. It was a nice cruise…read morestarting from Lover's point beach. The girls working here were friendly and helpful. We took a few breaks to just take in the views. Of all the times I visited Monterey, I'm glad we did this with our kids this go around. There's a basket in the front with a seatbelt for the younger kids. It was an enjoyable activity for our whole family and the weather was beautiful. We got to see the seals the Monterey bay Aquarium are trying so hard to keep safe. We rotated so all of us got to ride in the back and enjoyed the cruise. I recommend this activity if you have other adults, older kids (teens and up) or if your little ones can fit in the basket. Not the in between ages, there aren't any seatbelts or safety restraints. If you are in the area keep this activity in mind. It's cost friendly and the views are beautiful.

Quaint little beach area and park just south of Cannery Row where you can catch some beautiful…read moresunsets and listen to the sea lions in the distance

A news release and television report in late August 2025 talked about a sea lion takeover at this…read morebeach. When I checked into my hotel, the reception person mentioned the sea lions were still on the beach so I walked here shortly after putting my luggage in my room. Being my 1st time in Monterey, I wanted to make the most of my time while here. About three blocks from my hotel, it was an easy stroll on Cannery Row that took about ten minutes. With the sun fully shining, most of the sea lions found refuge on the shady rocks with many already sleeping while other sought a cozy comfy spot (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q&start=120&select=297vYH9CqB5Uk6Zu8NT59w). The smell is distinct aside from the obvious saltwater aroma. There were not many on the actual beach, sea lions or people, mainly observers like me standing along the railings above the rocks (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q&start=96&select=1qFPLvh2p35M1YrzeafGMg). Though I've seen them many years ago at Pier 39 in the city where I'm from, but I've yet to be this up close and personal with sea lions. With the aquarium about fifteen minutes away, it's easy to see why Monterey is a landmark for people who appreciate sea life.

Have rented bikes in past here, but the attention to detail on the bikes upkeep / maintenance has…read morediminished.

Going kayaking in the bay is 1000% more worth the time and money than going to the aquarium. If you…read moreonly have time to do one thing, go kayaking