I love this area. The wildlife spotting is amazing, and the views are spectacular. The beach is…read morenice, but really, it is all about the wildlife here. On one side, you've got sea otters playing in the water, on the other side, you've got deer wandering through the neighbors front yard. It's currently warm, and it's just such a cool spot. Definitely one of my favorite spots of all time. I love coming back here.

Beautiful place to walk or watch the sunset, it's dog-friendly & there's tide pools at low tide. We…read moreeven saw deers nearby.

I absolutely love Carmel Beach. Some of my happiest memories are here with my great-grandparents,…read moreBarbara and Montford Bryan, so coming back always feels special and nostalgic. Getting to bring my daughter now makes the experience even more meaningful. Watching her enjoy the same beautiful beach and scenery that meant so much to me growing up is such a cool and rewarding experience as a parent. Carmel Beach is just magical, with beautiful views, peaceful vibes, and the perfect place to slow down and make memories. We'll keep coming back every chance we get.

Our visit was a good experience. We parked super far though because we didn't want to risk not…read morehaving a space down at the beach lot but it turned out there were plenty of spaces there. Anyway, scenic walk allowed us to tour the shops there. The steep walk back up to our car was challenging though so a great workout. Aside from people letting their dogs run around unleashed, it was a pleasant time.

Beautiful spot in Pebble Beach to take a stroll and enjoy the magnificent ocean views! If you're…read morechecking out the entire 17 mile drive, this is a great spot to stop and get out at! We really enjoyed it here and also got some great photos. 5 stars for sure!

8/18/25 and this guy claimed this as His Rock Simply,…read morebeautifully stunning! Slowly driving through this wonderful scenic route, we stopped at Bird Rock. You can't mistake the smell once you're there, bird poop! But the view is spectacular as you listen to the crashing waves against the rocks Leave no trace behind, keep this place as pristine as possible for the rest of the visitors & Mother Nature. Enjoy the lovely sights

This is one of the most gorgeous state parks in California!! I've been wanting to visit for years…read moreand we finally made it here this past weekend. We were staying in Monterey, so it was about a 25 min drive to get there, we arrived before 11am. We parked before the park entrance along Highway 1 where there were NO signs saying "No parking at any time" THIS IS IMPORTANT because as we were walking towards the entrance, there was a parking enforcement officer giving tickets to all the other cars parked where the signs were clearly posted closer to the entrance. So make sure you pay attention! There is parking inside the park too for only $10. Once inside there were park rangers helping you with questions and guiding you on deciding which trails to go on, which was very nice and convenient! We took a picture of the map and choose to do the Cypress Grove, and the Sea Lion Point Trails. We only had about 3 hrs to hang out at the park, so those two were perfect easy hikes and roughly about 2.5 miles if you do both loops. We got spectacular views everywhere, you could hear the Sea Lions and see so many beautiful birds flying around. Wish we would've brought binoculars, so bring some with you if you remember. We can't wait to come back another time and do a full day of hiking because there are so many other trails! The park and restrooms were clean and well kept too, it's definitely a must visit once in your lifetime at least!!

Absolutely stunning scenery! Easily one of the best hiking trails I've experienced! I've visited…read moretwice now, and both times have been fantastic. The coastal trails are well marked and offer breathtaking lookout points throughout the hike. Today was a little foggy but we were still able to enjoy the beauty. It's definitely worth arriving early to secure parking. The main lot was full when we got there, but we were able to find a spot along Highway 1. While it was a bit crowded, the variety of trails helps spread people out, so it never felt too overwhelming. We hiked about 3.5 miles and made it to the cove where seals birth their pups, Bird Island, hidden beach coves with beautiful blue water and tide pools. There were also docents and volunteers we spotted along the way. Next time I'd like to go further down the trail and explore more of the park.

Gorgeous. Easily accessible and kids love it. Keeps them occupied all day. At one end is a grill…read morefor hamburgers fries etc. Low tide has great tide pools

When it comes to appreciating California's Pacific Ocean shorelines, Monterey has some of the best…read morevisual scenery in all it's glory! For ecologists, environmentalists, biologists and just plain nature lover's alike, you can't beat Pacific Grove for it's breath taking beauty, and an admiration for Mother Earth. Joe K and I were lucky enough to walk here from our hotel and hike along the state provided trails & paths. Many look-out points can be found along the way, with it's rocky shores or sandy beaches. Visitors can leisurely walk, bicycle, picnic, photograph, or visually take in all that nature puts on display. An abundant amount of wildlife can be seen with it's numerous species of birds, sea lions, sea otters, ground squirrels, tide pools, and even the seasonal Monarch butterflies! Among the points of interest along the Monterey Bay Coastal Trail, (which are Marine Protected Areas), include but not limited to: Hopkins Marine Station of Stanford University Marine Life Refuge, Monarch Grove Sanctuary, Lover's Point, Marine Life Sculptures by local artists, informative signage and paintings on the history of the area, public picnic park with children's pool, small beach, restaurant and plenty of sitting areas for relaxation. Just listening to the continuous crashing ocean waves can bring a sense of peace and serenity to anyone's life! Definitely a "must see" location!

Stop #4 of the 17-mile drive. This picturesque location offers stunning views of restless waters…read moreamidst rugged rocks peeking out from the ocean. This is one of the roughest parts of the water along this coastline, and is known to be the resting place of several ships that crashed along these shores. A testament to the power of mother nature, and a captivating memory against the backdrop of turbulent seas. There are some limited parking spots available here along the turn-in. Although we've seen some people park along the road as well and simply walk over.

Stop 4 on the 17 mile drive, and this was my favorite stop on our drive. Aptly named the Restless…read moreSea, this was probably the most active we saw the ocean in all the stops. The waves seemed to be pounding in from both sides is an apparent show of chaos. That being said, it was still somehow calming and peaceful here - standing at the edge and just watching the ocean. There was a light breeze, and I spent more time here than I intended to. So beautiful. Definitely plan to stop here while exploring Pebble Beach. It will easily become one of your favorite stops on the journey.

My 1st review of 2026!!!…read more I've visited Lovers Point Park twice so far, and I love it here. :) My first visit was back in April of 2025, and I remember that I parked in the residential street and walked two blocks to get to the park. The place has nice walking paths, beautiful ocean views, and pretty park area with picnic tables. The squirrels are so friendly and will approach you without any fear. So friendly! My 2nd visit was today with my boyfriend and his doggie. It was his visit here, and we got a nice walk in plus we enjoyed our bagel sandwiches here. There's a long walking path, but we didn't get to walk all of it. Next time we will do it! :) You can also walk down to the beach area and climb the rocks if you're feeling adventurous!

Great little picturesque beach area and park to visit both during the day and even at night for a…read moredifferent vibe. As with most places along the coast on the peninsula, the weekends can be pretty busy, so visit mid-week if you can.

Something truly amazing about this rock. I went there to check it out, and sure enough, i got…read morekissed! Don't know what it was but it was happening to other people too. Maybe something in the air there. Rock is on the path near lovers point. Easily reachable by bike from hotels from cannery row to Asilomar. Walkable from the aquarium as well. The rocks below are great for kids to scramble. Lots of tide pools. You can find hermit crabs, anemones, and more. That day we saw a pod of dolphins loitering nearby, but my phone camera couldn't get a good enough snap. Picnic area across the street. Lots of benches trash cans and parking. Poop bags for the pups, so dog owners have no excuse. Keep Monterey beautiful!

Retaining the moniker of "Kissing Rock" since Victorian times, these two massive slabs of granite…read morealong Ocean View Boulevard look very much like a couple kissing and was at one point dubbed by Life magazine as the most romantic spot in America. The view here is quite gorgeous and it's very peaceful with the waves crashing in the background. Plus there's a bench here as well if you want to sit for a spell. Public parking is available along designated areas of Ocean View Blvd.

Asilomar State Marine Reserve is one of 4 marine protected area's (MPA's) on the California coast…read more It's location is on the southern end of Monterey Bay. These area's were established on September 2007 and are all part of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. The sole purpose of these marine reserves are to conserve and restore wildlife and habitats in our oceans. Asilomar State Marine Reserve is approximately 1.51 square miles and extends from Oceanside of Point Pino all the way to Point Joe. It is also the largest (MPA) of the 4. Asilomar State Beach happens to fall into the protected area. All marine resources within these area' including shell's and rocks are protected , and as such should not be removed. Thousands and thousands of jobs are reliant on the beauty of the California coast. Tourist from around the world come here to enjoy spectacular scenery/ fine dining/ 5 star hotels/ whale watching/ camping/ hiking/ biking/ shopping/ and the list goes on and on. The passing of the "California Marine Life Protection Act in 1999 was the first step In trying to preserve natures wonders for generations to come. Enjoy !

What is there not to love about this gorgeous piece of real estate. The beautiful seagulls. The…read morecolorful ice plant at certain times of year. The deep blue ocean. The crashing of the waves. The smell of the salt air. The beautiful rock formations. And its all protected by the state. Such an awesome place And there are no crowds here. And it is so close to many fine restaurants and hotels. Another great California landmark

It is Pebble Beach - enough said right there. The location is perfect, the grounds are immaculate…read moreand planning a golf outing and stay soon.

Both breathtakingly beautiful and serene, this stretch of natural beauty can only be accessed via…read morethe 17-mile drive. There are 17 marked stops along this route, each with its own unique history and memorable view. The beach areas are gorgeous, albeit rather cold. And the crystal blue waters remind me of Hawaii; just without the tropical weather to go with. Much of the waters along this coast are in a protection zone, and large sections are designated as marine preserves. Although we were not so lucky in our timing, if you visit during the right times of the year, there are supposedly a plethora of marine wildlife to observe including seals, sealions, otters, dolphins and whales. At the end of this drive, we found ourselves at the famous Pebble Beach Resort. Here you can dine, shop, or even play on the world-renowned golf course that plays host to the PGA Tours, as well as other professional golf tournaments.