My son literally said "this sand feels expensive" hahaha. Seriously though, the sand is so fine…read moreand soft. White smooth sand. A bit of a hill to climb back up from the beach, but the views are gorgeous. Nice walk from the shops and restaurant area. Very lucky for those that live around. Definitely detected auras of either a rich local, rich tourist speaking foreign language but can afford to go on international trips, or out of town visitor like me who can't afford to live there or anywhere near 'by the sea'

Briefly stopped by the beach after having lunch in downtown Carmel. Now clearly understanding why…read morethe beach is loved so much. Carmel Beach is recognized as having the 'whitest' sand in the United States, and number 14 globally. This color comes from quartz deposits eroded by the waves. There is a parking lot at the north end of the beach on Ocean Avenue (maybe 30 spots or so), that is usually filled, meaning people are constantly idling in the parking lot, waiting for a spot. The parking lot is elevated from the beach, requiring carefully going down a sand bank. My wife and her mom decided to admire the view by sitting on a retaining wall at the top of the bern, while I happily went down to the shoreline to admire the views. The sand here is more golden than white. The road that runs parallel to the beach and boardwalk in Carmel is Scenic Road and we took it as we headed back to our cottage. There was street unmetered parking spots available and I noticed how much brighter/whiter the sand was in this area (a lot less crowded as well). Thinking back, wish we had stopped so I could have admired this part of the beach a bit more.

Cute and inviting store. Conversation was good with the guy that works here but noticed the item I…read moregot that was 30% off was in fact not at the register. Didn't notice until I left. Didn't want to detour back for $25 bucks but still. Whatever-Santa Cruz has better surf shops.

Great shop. It's awesome that the owner is a great surfer and big wave rider too. Family-owned and…read moreoperated...

Absolutely beautiful park! If you love hiking and walking, I recommend spending a full day here…read morebecause you can explore the entire park on foot If you're short on time, drive to the end and walk to the last viewpoint -- the view is absolutely stunning

One of our favorite places in the world and a place I'm certainly glad is in our proverbial…read more"backyard." Ok, so it's like 3-4 hours away, but wow, really pretty here. The natural landscape is just phenomenal. God's fingerprints all over this place. Pros: - not a bad drive down here from the touristy parts of Monterey and Seaside where we usually reside for the weekend - a bit windy, but a truly lovely and incredibly scenic twisty, turn-y road that keeps me on my toes - once you're here it's just breathtaking. - trail walk/stroll is pretty easy, nothing real rigorous as long as you're still in decent health. - more challenging "hikes" available for those who are looking for more, I've not stepped up to that (huffing and puffing doesn't sound fun), so I'm not sure where those trails are, but easy to find online. - so much fauna and flora to look at. - the coast here is just so rugged and ridiculously jawpdropping. - kids love this place too. There's a ranger station/little nature stop/house of sorts, not quite a "museum", but it's got the history, the nature, the strange facts you'd not otherwise know about unless you stopped by. - very kind and dedicated volunteers that will tell you all you want to know about Point Lobos - the nature, the creatures of sky, sea, and land, the past, present and future, whatever you want. - Plus they often have binoculars they will let you use to look out at the coast for seals and sealions and otters and more galore, oh my! Cons: - parking is the suck here. It's not too expensive to get in, but most people seem to park along the main road/highway that leads to Point Lobos which is kind of dangerous and a good trek to get to the State Reserve, so you've got your exercise before you even start exploring. That could be a plus? All in all, a magnificent and marvelous natural state reserve, well preserved, more than maintained, must see to appreciate.

Omar is great! I was able to learn the skills on the beach and able to ride on the waves 7 times,…read morethanks to Omar!

Blue was an incredible teacher for our small group lesson. Communication before the lesson was…read moreperfect, with detailed info on what to expect. He was at the meeting location early and explained surfing concepts on land, then guided us through practice on the sand. Then we got in the water and he helped each surfer catch numerous waves. Blue did not pressure anyone and even encouraged us to use the surf boards as body boards if we enjoyed it. The no pressure but strong guidance was the perfect combo for our group to thrive. Excellent gear and mentoring on how to get on and off the thick, warm wetsuits (which we loved in the cold Pacific surf). Highly highly recommend!

My partner and I took our very first surf lessons here. First: I am not a strong swimmer, I have…read morebad experiences with water and the ocean, and I was extremely apprehensive about this experience. It was something my partner was really interested in though, and I figured it was worth it just to try. Now I can say: WOW it was worth it! Our instructor Gavin provided everything I could hope for in a first time surf lesson. He was knowledgeable, encouraging, and above all else - patient. The water was rough and the waves were bigger than I had expected, but Gavin's energy completely put me at ease and made me feel safe in what otherwise would have felt like a terrifying place to be for me. He took his time to explain what sets are and how swim under the stronger waves. He was very intuitive to my comfort levels as well. My partner is much less timid than myself, and he was ready to "dive right in". Gavin was just as patient with my partner's excitement as he was with my anxiety. He made conversation easy with his friendliness and relaxed spirit. Thank you SO much Gavin for everything we learned, for building my confidence throughout our lesson, and for helping us discover a new favorite hobby. Not a moment went by without smiles on our faces. We will absolutely be return customers.

Always wanted to take surfing lessons and when there was a Yelp Elite event I decided to go for…read moreit!! Noah was super helpful in the booking process where you put your name, height, weight, and sex. We were originally going to surf at Carmel beach but surfing conditions were rough there so we ended up at Del Monte Beach in Monterey. Prior to the lesson we were instructed where to meet, come in your bathing suit, and bring your own beach towels. As far as valuables go, they can lock it up in the truck or you can lock it in your car. I was weary but they had someone sitting in their truck so I felt safer. Wetsuits are provided and you don't really feel cold even in that Monterey water! The end of the lesson you can rinse off with warm water they provide which is nice! Kelly was our instructor and he was so patient and kind! They teach anyone from 4 y/o and up! I am in no way athletic and hella out of shape but I had a blast! At the end of the lesson, both of us were beat up by those waves but we stood up!!! It's a great workout that will leave you sore the next day! So I recommend not eating a big breakfast prior. My boyfriend is not a big fan of open water and the ocean but we both felt very safe! I highly recommend trying out surfing at least once in your life! Something to check off my bucket list. I can't imagine you could pick up surfing without instruction so I'm glad we did this!

I dropped by for a Melin hat and they have an amazing selection, also there's a massage chair…read moreupstairs that saved my calves from all the walking I had done that day and it was an added bonus. The lady running it with her dog was incredibly sweet too. If you need a hat or a nice new polo, give this place a try!

Terrific golf attire and golf hats they are immeasurable in quality and selection. Del Mar new…read morestore off Del Mar Heights Road has fantastic customer service . Leonard M was knowledgeable and we had a great shopping experience. I have referred numerous friends

Did 2 more lessons with Zane, and I learned and grew a lot. 10/10 would recommend. Here's what…read moreworked great for me: -Very sharp eye for analyzing exactly where my attempt went wrong -Specific, individualized feedback for what exactly to do different next time -Endless creativity in coming up with strategies and solutions to get me to the next step -Positive, supportive community where everyone celebrates each other's successes

Booked a group lesson for my son. The location was never given, but was able to schedule and get…read morecharged for it. Not sure this business is still operating or a scam? Called the business and never got an answer or call back. Drove to the physical location, which was a storage facility... definitely sketchy to say the least. Will dispute charges.

Hi everyone I was at…read morea comedy evening at Sunny California in Capitola on 5/9, the store was newly opened. I brought a steel wine cup (included but in the color green) and it was unfortunately left behind. I contacted the store via the published phone number and left a message, used the contact me form online through their website, and also stopped in. I was told by the owner that his wife DID find the cup and stashed it somewhere. He asked me to leave my name and number and he would call me. He hasn't. I have since used the same methods (contact us form, left a voicemail, also have send an Instagram message) and once again stopped in to pick up my cup. I was told by the employee today that they had not found the cup. This seems small and you may be thinking I should let it go. Well, it was my husband's and he died in 2024. I used it at an event and it didn't get placed back in my bag, I was told it was found. I just want the cup returned to me, can you please help?

I did a 2-hour private with Ryan this morning and it was awesome!!!! He provided excellent…read moredirection to this old man and it made for a great time on the water. I highly recommend this school! We went out by Jack O'Neill's house and it's a perfect place for beginners. The surf was gentle at low tide and Ryan helped me get into the waves with a push. I was du ally able to get up and ride a few waves all the way to shore. It was also cool to spot the local wildlife. I saw some otters and also dolphins cruised by. And what a great and unique view of the pleasure point coastline. I can see why so many surfers sit on their boards looking to shore. It's really gorgeous. I will definitely be back to this school! Try them you won't be disappointed.

Awesome experience going out with Sam! Has a a great understanding of the conditions and helped me…read moreget on countless # of waves - great confidence building & hope to be back soon.

So much fun with beautiful scenery and wildlife. We saw tons of seals and otters and we caught a…read moreperfect weather day to do it. The staff were friendly and helpful especially when we went to the wrong location to meetup for our kayaking trip. I will definitely go again next time I'm in Monterey

We rent kayaks from this company whenever we are in town. They are efficient. They provide us with…read morewater-resistant pants and a waterproof bag for personal items. This past time, a dolphin, an otter, and a sea lion swam close to us! What a treat!!!