First time in Carmel with the wife and we decided to walk the beach during the noon time. A nice…read morestroll from the main downtown area. A nice trail to walk around. And views you can't miss. Definitely a spot worth hitting if you want to make your stay worth it. Even the dog got to enjoy the views and walk too!

Nice quiet beach in the Carmel Highlands. We didn't feel like heading downtown and Point Lovos was…read moreway too crowded. I spent Thanksgiving day here for a bit reading a book. It was relaxing. The sand is sandy (lol) with some pebbles, so not too smooth or powdery, but it's a beach, haha! Parking is in the shoulder so be careful getting in and out of your vehicle. Swim at your own risk. I felt safe here as there were handfuls of folks passing through.

Easter sunday 2025, we visited carmel beach carmel, calif…read more it was the most beautiful drive one way along the ocean the white sands the peaceful energy.. i would highly recommend visiting carmel for the ocean views.. there is parking near the entrance and restrooms a bit crowded weekends .. but the drive along to the other end is amazing also available parking at the end it's slower driving one way only and able to enjoy the views . I have many memories as a young teen going to carmel and i'm glad we chose carmel for easter sunday was an amazing peaceful drive. pet friendly place as well. highly recommend this beach as the sand seems softer and looks easier for lounging on a sunny day i've included photos videos to enjoy

Beautiful beach, bathroom on site and parking. Very clean sand. I totally recommend this place for…read moreeveryone!

Had been meaning to check out this park for a long time, but usually got pulled away to Point…read moreLobos. A few weekends ago we were down in Carmel for the long weekend with some friends and got a later start to the morning. Anticipating that Point Lobos would be super crowded, I picked out a few hikes at Garrapata State Park, just a few miles south. We parked near the Soberanes Canyon trailhead and hiked the Soberanes Point trail, first going north, then doubling back to take the loop around (and up) Whale Peak. I was worried about leading a group of 20 astray (with kids who had different tolerance levels for hikes), but my fears were immediately put to ease by the gorgeous oceanside views, full of greenery, wildflowers, and the powerful ocean waves hitting the rocks below. We even spotted a sea otter in the surf. Got some nice photos and everyone made it back. At this point our group split up. A few of us went down to Calla Lily Valley. The lilies were beautiful (though I heard they were cut down recently), but there were a ton of people, and the trail was quite muddy. The beach nearby was really nice - the kids spent some time playing there. Parking immediately near the valley is tight but there is parking at this beach and trails to both the beach and the valley from there. Will definitely be back, love that there's an alternative to Point Lobos so close by.

This was the last stop as part of my Big Sur drive of the day. There are several state parks and…read morebeaches along CA 1 (from Carmel to Ragged Point) and I did not stop at any of them, so this somewhat made up for it. The great thing about this is you can park for free, simply off the 1. There are public restrooms at the entrance, and you can take a walkway to the beach. The beach was awesome, though I enjoyed it in the late afternoon as the sun was about to set. Swimming or water activities were not recommended due to the waves there, but it was great just watching the ocean go back and forth. The beach was very spacious. That's about all I did when I was there for about a half hour.

We stopped by here over 5 years ago, cute spot to see the sea lions, they were all napping, it was…read moreneat to do the 17 mile drive and check out this spot, the weather was good but cloudy, we checked out a few spots in the area. The water is gorgeous color, and its neat to see the seaweed and rock formations. Overall a cute spot to check out.

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.

Known for its white sand, beautiful waters, and an abundance of beach stones that people often like…read moreto stack here, Spanish Bay is a serene, albeit a bit windy and cold beach that backs up into the Pebble Beach golf course. The bay derived its name from Spanish Explorers camped out here in 1769 who were attempting to find Monterey Bay. You can access Spanish Bay beach through several access points, one of which is Sunset Drive in Pacific Grove. This allows you to avoid needing to pay a toll to go through the 17-mile drive. We however arrived during our tour of the 17-mile drive, stop #3. The parking lot is spacious and has ample spaces available for parking. As mentioned, it is windy here so it's recommended that you layer up. Due to its colder climate, we didn't see anyone here with beach towels enjoying the sand. Surfers apparently love the waters here due to the powerful waves, but it is not recommended for swimming due to the cold temperatures and strong rip currents.

Though this is #3 of #17 stops on the 17 Mile Drive, it's where most people instinctually stop for…read morea visit. This beautiful beach is named for the Gaspar de Portola and his Spanish explorer crew, who were not happy campers, temporarily lodging here in 1769 as they took a year to find Monterey Bay because the men would not ask for directions. Though the sand is white and soft, my wife stepped on glass. Stupid campers. Though this is "the beach", it's chilly even on the hottest day (runs up to 15 degrees cooler than Monterey), and the water is perfect for polar bears. The fun is in stacking the big rocks, though nature purists believe that is assault.

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!

Absolutely lovely location.Be careful of High Tides. Cold,cold water right now, so bundle up while…read morestrolling. Will definitely experience it again!! Possibly Summer camping again!!

Beautiful, warm, long clean beach, easy access to ocean. Easy walking along the beach…read more Small parking lot, but parking wasn't a problem on a Sunday in February. It was perfect and relaxing. Bathroom available. Bring your picnic, make sure to clean up your mess. There are garbage cans in the parking lot. Would love to see thi nice place stay nice. For more people and amenities pick a beach closer to Monterey. Gets busier in the summer, but there is more fog.

Containing one of North America's largest deep-water canyons, this breathtakingly beautiful,…read moreprotected area of California's central coast is home to many marine mammals including: sea otters, harbor seals, and bottlenose dolphins. As well as a breeding site for elephant seals and a migratory path for gray and humpback whales. Although commercial fishing and recreational activities such as diving, kayaking, boating, and surfing are allowed, activities that could harm the sanctuary's ecosystem health, such as seafloor drilling, ocean dumping, or seabed mining are strictly prohibited. It's always such a visual treat driving through this coastline. And the clear, blue waters a testament to how humans and nature can coexist with proper education, respect, and legal regulations.

We had time to explore and grab some food. Saw some sea lions, the weather was great! We hit the…read moreaquarium and explored the city. We also treated ourselves to Ghirardelli - their ice cream and chocolate shop was amazing. The staff were super helpful picking out the best flavors, and we got some different chocolates and hot chocolate too.