This is a nice park. They have 2 tennis courts and 2 basketball courts and a decent-sized lawn. I…read moreplayed some soccer with one of the little boys who was there. He was pretty good for a fifth grader!

The wheel of change is constantly moving just bringing the BOOM! and aiming to be a better person…read morethan I was the day before. I always make it a habit to stop by here before I go to work or whenever I need time to myself think about life and the progress i have made. A great place to clear your mind, keep yourself focused, play a game of basketball, excersie put in the work before taking on the day. I would love to tell you that this park is disgusting, full of drug addicts and homeless. Then maybe the tourists would stay away. Fortunately, this is not true. This is the only park in the area that is not overly crowded - I usually go in the morning, I live very close, so I'm lucky this park is great! #GoodJourney

Palm Beach State Park seems to be part of Sunset Beach, but this area is dog-friendly. There is a…read moreparking lot, but also free spaces on the road. It's a short walk to the beach. On the day we went, there were tons of jelly fish washed up on the wet sand, so I had to be careful of where our dog, Zoey, walked. In any case, she had a great time there, so I'm very glad we went.

Secluded beach that you access by driving through the mostly agricultural area of…read moreWatsonville/Pajaro. Near Pajaro dunes resort. The park may be good for a quiet and semi private picnic but amenities are limited. From the parks website: FEES - There is a $10 vehicle day-use fee. [Regular Sized Auto: $10 (Senior $9, age 62 or older); OCEAN SAFETY - dangerous rip currents, frigid water and deep offshore dropoffs make surfing and swimming hazardous for any but the most experienced surfers. ALCOHOL is not permitted on the beach or in the day-use area.

This was our first visit to the playground. I saw the size and diversity of structures here and…read moreknew we had to visit. Since we were going to be in the area, it was added to our agenda for the day. From the parking lot, you see a baseball field, life size train behind black gates and restrooms. The parking lot was adequate in size and held about 20-25 cars. We were fortunate to obtain the last open parking space while others circled and departed. At the entrance of Dennis the Menace, there are the restrooms, a case for free books to leave or take, a stand on the background of the playground, an oversized lion who's mouth serves as a water fountain (so cool!) and a Dennis the menace comic strip page. Directly behind the train, to your right as you enter, is an oversized figure of Dennis the Menace enclosed in the gate. There are 2-3 stands sharing the history and significance of the trains presence. There are large rocks to climb with two tunnels to walk through, a rock climbing wall, a cross bridge connecting two large rocks, swings, slides, a maze made from gates leading to a smaller play structure, a tube based slide, an oversized sunshine staircase, a boat, and so much more. This space is incredible to experience as an adult, our daughter ran around for hours allowing us to share in her fun running along side her. There were few spots offering refuge from the sun and seating was minimal. There are a few benches, but mostly the stone structure surrounding the play area was used. The gnats...they were everywhere in swarms making it difficult to navigate and fully enjoy. We were constantly swatting at the tiny buggers, our daughter was existing free as a bird making her way around the park - doubt she noticed. There were a few spots on the park we were able to find relief, very few. It would be great if the park implemented some bug deterrent to lessen the presence of the gnats. Other than that, it was an incredible experience we all enjoyed. We were there for a few hours and only departed because she needed to eat dinner. 4.5 due to the presence of the gnats. In their absence a solid 10.

Dennis the Menace Playground, Monterey…read more August 2026 I've been here a few times with my family. This is an awesome park and it's pretty big! This park is great for all ages even for adults too! I highly recommend going on the weekends, although there are a lot of people, I think they close during the weekday since there's a preschool nearby. Right next to this playground entrance, there's a baseball field and there's a small snack bar, it's called El Estero Snack Bar, they sell hamburgers, fries and drinks. We ordered the nacho cheese fries with jalapeno peppers on the side. It came out piping hot! Although it seems so basic, it was really good on a cold day! Highly recommend this playground and would come back if I'm in the area. This place is awesome!

Nice popular park , plenty of restroom and a community garden. They even have a water refilling…read morestation . The play ground it huge and a cute theme too

Wow! We went to Leo's Haven at Chanticleer Park and it's amazing. I wish this park was closer to…read morehome. It was just built in 2020 so everything is in great condition. It was built in partnership with Shane's Inspiration (if you've been to Griffith Park, it's the same organization). So, many of the park features are universally accessible. The playground area is spacious and a wonderful safe space for children. There are some climbing areas and slides for toddler age but the larger playground is great for preschool-elementary age. There isn't a ton of shade so bring hats and sunscreen! There are some benches scattered around the park and a few tables outside of the gated area. There is a private lot and street parking. They have bathrooms and they are fairly clean!

We recently camped here with our Boy Scout troop and reserved the Youth Overnight Campsite. The…read morecampsite is spacious, with plenty of room for our tents, flagpole, and Scout skill games. The kitchen area is well equipped with multiple picnic tables, BBQ grills, and plenty of trash cans, which made camp cleanup much easier. The restrooms have flush toilets and were very clean for a public facility. Park staff checked and cleaned the restrooms regularly throughout our stay. The park also offers many recreational facilities, including basketball courts, tennis courts, a frisbee golf course, and a volleyball net near the picnic area. The park ranger who checked us in was exceptionally friendly and helpful. She stopped by our campsite several times to make sure everything was going well and provided detailed information during check-in. The only minor drawbacks were that the campfire pit is located across from the campsite, and the hiking trails are relatively short.

Spacious, great for kids to run around and play. They have a large Bbq grill and a lot of small…read moreones.

One of California's bigger and more popular state parks, rightfully so. Not as touristy as Yosemite…read morebut this is on a bigger scale than most other Cali State Parks. I ventured here once before in my early 20s back in my school boy days and felt it was time to see it again with decades worth of a wiser perspective. And I was rewarded in spades. This park is about 30 miles or so south of Carmel on Highway 1, which in my opinion is one of the most glorious stretch of road to drive. Even though it is only 30 miles or so, it still takes almost an hour to travel from Carmel. The road winds around through many curves and undulations so you simply cannot drive freeway speeds here, nor should you want to. Enjoy the views, roll down the window and take in that coastal air, play your favorite tunes and just soak in the moment. Once at the park there are campsites, as well as cabins and even a full service lodge for those that don't want to rough it at all. You are now in mountainous terrain so lots of trees, a big creek and lots of hiking trails. I did a 3 day camp stay and loved it. They keep the park clean, maintain the restrooms and patrol the grounds frequently. Even though they have almost 200 campsites available, they spread it out nice so not everyone is in the same area. I could sometimes hear my neighbors but they were never in my direct view. That is a big plus for me when rating camp sites. People can also just get a day pass and enjoy the trails and creek without having to stay. My camping pass also got me to see a couple other California State Parks nearby on the same trip, so well worth the price of admission. Very lively with animal life which are unfortunately very used to humans. Squirrels and blue jays will not be shy to investigate what they can scavenge so do not leave any food unattended. Upon setting up camp I had a ziplock bag of trail mix on the picnic bench along with the rest of my gear. While I was setting up the tent with me somewhat close by, a stellar jay swooped in and pecked at the bag. It didn't take it but ripped a good hole in the bag. So just a big fyi to keep your food on guard/lock. The big creek runs through many of the sites. Some parts are mellow whilst other parts the water rushes pretty good. I was about 50 yards from the creek so I couldn't see it but I could hear it rolling through the valley. It was very relaxing to hear the cool water rolling downstream, whether at night or waking up at sunrise. And a myriad of birds will contribute with their morning songs, which makes for the best alarm clock. TRUST A little too big for my preference but still beautiful enough that I can revisit every other year. And just outside the park are the California coastline with Highway 1 carving through it. Some of the most breathtaking views Cali has to offer. Pfeiffer thanks for the reacquaintance and the confirmation that you are still indeed one of California's top gems.

Great Stop in Big Sur -- Beautiful Trails, Swimming Spots, & Scenic Views!…read moreThe drive along CA-1 to get here is reason enough to visit--absolutely stunning coastal views the entire way! Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park itself has a lot to offer. There are tons of trails to explore, though keep in mind that there isn't a whole lot of signage. The good news is that if you start from a central area, most paths naturally end up bringing you around in a loop at some point, so it's pretty easy to find your way back. A few takeaways from our visit: Water & Swimming: There are plenty of great spots along the rocks to dip in and swim, which is perfect on a warm day. Accommodations: Great setup whether you like roughing it or prefer comfort. Plenty of campsite options, plus the Lodge if you'd rather stay in a room. Pfeiffer Falls Trail: Honestly, this hike was pretty underwhelming. The falls were down to just a trickle when we went, but at least it was a decent walk to log some good steps! Overall, it's a lovely park with plenty to do. Just keep your expectations low for the waterfall if it hasn't rained recently, and enjoy the river, trees, and incredible coastal drive!

From tennis/pickle ball courts to playgrounds to lots of sidewalks and grass, Sunrise Park has a…read morelot to offer for everyone! I appreciate how walkable it is and how safe it feels. Also added bonus that people seem to clean up after their dogs, which isn't always the case at other parks. There are always families and people of all ages enjoying it. The parking is abundant so you never have to worry about looking. This park has something for everyone :) If they added more tennis courts, it would be a 5! They only have two, and they are often taken.

This is a great park for all ages. My two year enjoys going from the younger side to the older age…read moreside. If you go in the morning, the slides might be wet so bring a towel just in case. There's a basketball court and a tennis/pickle ball court too. There's picnic tables under an overhead for sitting or lunch.

Such a cool neighborhood park with 3 different sets of slides and some shade. One set of slides is…read morea long run, old school metal with several dips and generally there is cardboard at the bottom you can use to help you get more lift. There is a kiddie playground, too. And there is a basketball half court. Benches and picnic tables for snacks. Nice views of the Santa Cruz Boardwalk in the distance.

A beautiful spot to sit in the shade and read, shoot hoops,or just gaze at the Boardwalk and ocean…read more Street parking only (including two handicapped spots), so try to come on a weekday. Several benches, but we take our folding chairs. Bring the dog -- they can be unleashed in part of the park. A functional restroom with two unisex stalls near the entrance -- an outside sink and soap dispenser complete the facility. I'm experiencing a profound sense of peace, despite the occasional screams from people on the rides at the Boardwalk.

I stumbled upon this place yesterday, Sunday around 12:30. I had a 8yo boy who really enjoyed it…read more Unfortunately for us our time was limited but the ladies who were working in the center were very friendly and engaging. The place is packed with a lot to check out but if you take your time to really enjoy process everything, its an awesome way to educate and be entertained. They had kids crafts too & guided nature walks.

From the owner: The Nature Center in Ramsay Park is a great place to bring the whole family! Beautiful interactive…read moreand educational exhibits are appropriate for all ages. Our Kid's Corner is filled with bilingual books, arts and crafts, and nature activities. Sunday afternoons feature free bilingual guided nature walks on our award winning trails. Free Admission and Parking