This park is great for a first stop before heading out for an adventure or watching the sunset…read morewhile dining on some pizza from Gianni's. Lover's point offers plenty of opportunities for the kids to get worn out, like a public beachside swimming pool, beach volleyball, an actual beach area just inside the cove, and a grassy area for picnicking. even though this beach/park was packed, the vibe was still super chill and didn't feel overcrowded. This beach also offers some great opportunities for people to enjoy tide pools, watch wildlife, and take-in gorgeous views. There is a public bathroom here, but if you can avoid. Not the most clean.

The waves were calm early in the day then began to rage as the day went on. Wind was low and the…read moresun began to shine bright, forcing the appearance of our tent. There were not many people out around 11a, as the day went on both sides of the beach filled quickly. There were three places on site to grab a bite to eat, caffeinate or cool down from - Creama (6:30a-2:30p), Lovers Point Beach Cafe (9a-4p) and Snack Shack (10-6). There was a clean, public restroom for men and women to the left of the cafe. Look for the yellow awnings and follow it to the black gates. Turn into that area and you will locate the restrooms. There is a volleyball court directly across from the beach, two sandy beach areas separated by a tall wall of rocks. The beach area furtherest from the parking lot had so much sea life to experience first hand - our daughter was amazed as were we. It was also quieter with fewer people using that side. There are 15 steps leading down to each beach area. The wildlife is everywhere and SO comfortable with people. A squirrel stood in front our daughter while she ate her cracker, a seagull stared at me while I opened a wrapper for our daughter. There was a parking lot that fits 20-30 cars and street parking. People were still arriving around 5p looking for parking in the lot unsuccessfully. I would definitely recommend arriving early to secure a parking spot and a preferred spot on the sand. Our daughter existed here for six hours and was still not ready to leave. She's a young one. There were lots of kids on the beach, most playing with each other and sharing buckets, shovels and seashells. We will definitely return before the summer is over. So breathtaking and fun for all ages to enjoy in and out of the water.

What an amazing site along the ocean. Ice plants and ocean trails on one side and homes on the…read moreother. Beautiful pink floors on a sandy path. Very steep drop offs are close to the edge.

Beautful picturesque park and coastal walkway to take in the stunning seascape. Bright & colorful…read morevegetation, contrasting with the crystal blue waters & friendly critters too! Great way to get your steps in while exploring!

While visiting the Carmel/Monterey area a month ago we wanted to take in some of the local scenery…read more Point Lobos State Natural Reserve came highly recommended, and it did not disappoint Located just 10 minutes outside of Carmel, this incredibly picturesque seascape is a must see while visiting. There are multiple trails through the Point, and each of them showcase stunning views of the sea and saw well as flora and fauna It was barely raining while we were there and it never dampened our spirits. The trails got a little slick, but nothing too dangerous. In fact, this is more of a seaside walking path than a physical intensive hike We saw many seals and otters on our hike. There was also a rest stop that had park rangers and an interactive exhibit that was very cool. You could feel the skin of a seal, otter, and even the baleen from a whale Some tips: If you haven't explored Carmel or Monterey you are just a short drive away There are many coastal hikes and scenic points/beaches to explore. We also enjoyed a more physical hike at the Pinnacles, but that is an hour or so away Cheers!!

Adj: beautiful, breathtaking natural reserve…read more Always a nice place to visit and "hike" (really just trail walking). I love coming here. It's so serene, scenic, natural, cool, and both the botanical plantlife as well as the animals (air, land, and ocean wildlife) you can find and view here are just so amazing. Being it's in the Monterey Bay, it's almost always cool when it's hot in the valley, so it's another great place to escape to. It's just a very nice and unique point in the bay and although you can spend the whole day here, or even several days, a couple of hours will also be very rewarding for a change of scenery for those of us who are urban dwellers who want to reconnect with God's natural wonders once in awhile. Overall, Point Lobos is an authentic, breathtaking, and calming place for those who enjoy seeing the ocean and taking in all the native plants, vegetations, and all the air, land, and sea creatures one can encounter or at least observe here.

A bit rocky but such a spectacular piece of property along the Pacific coast. An awesome…read more place for scuba diving and never crowded with other divers bumping into you. Fabulous picture taking and just soo much beauty.

I dare you to find a spot along this coast that isn't gorgeous. No- I double dare you. No- I…read moreTRIPLE DOG DARE YOU! As with all spots in the area, it's a gorgeous site with great opportunities to see some sea life. Usually birds, but I HAVE seen (hence the aptly named area) otters! There's really not a bad beach or cove in the area, but we tend to frequent this one most often!

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.

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.

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!

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!