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    Monterey State Beach

    4.1 (54 reviews)

    Monterey State Beach Photos

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    Angela G.

    This was a nice little beach for me and the kids to spend the morning at. There is a small parking lot with room for maybe 40 cars or so. There is also some street parking. But it's 2 hour parking. There are 2 port o potties in the parking lot. Ugh. Of course they're gross and there is no place to wash your hands. So have sanitizer or sanitizer wipes handy. Also there were a lot of dogs off leash there. Fortunately all of them were well behaved and they didn't bother me or the kids at all. But that's something to keep in mind. There is a hotel right by it. But if you want food or something like that you'll have to bring it or go out to get it. There is no lifeguard on duty anywhere near here. So be cautious. All in all we had a nice time there.

    Monterey Tides hotel in the background
    Annabelle R.

    This Seaside beach was a beautiful setting for enjoying a lovely evening with family this past weekend. Watching the sun set was amazing, perfect for photo ops with the kiddos. So much space to run around and feel the smooth sand beneath our toes, endless shoreline to cool off in the water, and plenty of scenery to appreciate, without difficult crowds even on a hot day. It's the first time in a long time that I've seen lifeguards on duty and a lifeguard tower in use, and they were all very friendly. With high tide at 9:20pm on Saturday, they warned us in advance so we could move our belongings and avoid getting all of our stuff wet. Beach campfires were allowed (even with the "no fires on beach" sign), and we had a blast taking advantage. I didn't see any public restrooms, but I had family members staying at the Monterey Tides (hotel literally on the beach), so it wasn't a problem. The tiny parking lot was not sufficient on a hot day, we had to wait a while to get a spot even in the late afternoon, and note that they ticket vehicles parked after hours (they don't have a curfew at the beach though).

    Beach Princess on 2/26/22
    Angie R.

    I came to Monterey State Beach on 02/26/22 for a day trip with my family. Since my family didn't want to stay at the beach I was only able to get less than 10 minutes of beach time. My nieces were bummed out as well as their parents didn't want to hang out on the beach at all. My dad who the driver for this trip was able to find parking easily and I paid for the parking as my parents do not know how to navigate that area and it was honestly cheap. The machines were a little difficult to operate but I was able to figure it out. What we didn't realize was that the parking for Fisherman's Wharf was different so I had to pay for parking again as peoples didn't want to make that walk. Anywho, the 10 minutes I was there was so lovely. I consider myself to be a beach Princess as I love the beach - being on the edge of the world observing God's creation! It couldn't get better than that. It was so magical just watching the waves roll in and out. I wanted to feel the water on my feet but knew the family wouldn't be about that especially in my dad's new car xD so it probably worked out for the best. I took a few pictures as pictured to capture the moment and hopefully come back one day and actually take it all in. It was a short and lovely experience . They have bathrooms. Family used them I didn't. Will need to come back for the full experiences . Ample parking. No complaints. The little of Monterey Beach that I saw is just beautiful.

    Misty F.

    This was our second time at this beach. First time I was very impressed (couple years back). This time there was not easy access to the beach, my elderly parents had to hike forever to get to the water. We finally set up and then noticed the foul smell was because a dead sea lion was right next to us on the beach shore. No bathroom access near the beach. Had to hike back up and no TP (I should've been prepared my fault too). I do love they have lifeguards on shore though. Because I was worried for my parents after the tough hike for them. We won't be returning unfortunately.

    Darlene M.

    We had a nice experience at this beach. It was a little cold the day we visited, but that's what is to be expected at a Northern California beach in the spring. The beach wasn't very crowded that day so parking along the street was easy.

    Amy C.

    I remember coming here after dinner at an Italian place called "Gusto...", I think. I was on a weekend getaway in Monterey/Carmel area with my (now former) boyfriend back in September. So when we were at the beach, it was already kinda of dark as the sun had already set during our dinner. We found parking immediately and easily as there was no one else on the beach at that time. The weather was chilly, but we wore jackets to keep us warm. It was pretty lovely to walk a little on the beach and just listen/watch the waves.

    Monterey Beach!
    Kyshia M.

    What's not to like about the beach? Other than having a horrible parking lot structure, Monterey beach has always been one of my favorites to visit. Unfortunately during time of year there tends to be a lot of sea lettuce, which is a bright green algae build up that floats on top of the water and washes to shore. Not to be confused with seaweed. However the scenery, the sounds of the ocean waves clashing, and feeling the sea breeze can still provide an amazing serene vibe on a chill tip. We sat and enjoyed the view for a few hours to enjoy the warm temps. We even spotted a sea lion swimming in the ocean. It was pretty cool.

    Kimberli R.

    Beautiful area. The beach was very pretty and the smells of salt and ocean were wonderful. The beach was not too crowded. It was difficult to find parking. The beach was clean. Monterey Beach is the perfect place for a day trip. The ocean was roaring on a windy day and this was a nice place to spend some time with Brian. I had been looking for pelicans on this trip and this is where a found them searching for their dinner around 5pm...

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    Nice beach to relax, or sunbath. Was not crowded the day we visited.

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    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - Monterey State Beach

    Review Highlights - Monterey State Beach

    We bring our dogs with us, always on the leash, and they like this beach too!

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    Lovers Point Park

    Lovers Point Park

    4.6
    (333 reviews)
    5.5 km

    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.

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    Lovers Point Park
    Lovers Point Park
    Lovers Point Park

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    Monterey Bay Charters

    Monterey Bay Charters

    4.6
    (53 reviews)
    41.1 km

    Wow, what a trip!…read more My son and I came to Santa Cruz for a beach weekend and a little fishing off of the wharf. When we arrived on a Friday night, I got a wild hair and started looking around to see if we could hop on a chartered boat to up our chances of catching anything. I am SO GLAD I found Monterey Bay Charters!!! I was lucky to find spots on Sunday morning for the two of us, and Tom called to confirm the trip on Saturday afternoon. Tom answered all my questions via text the night before, was prompt at the meeting spot the next morning, and was an amazing captain. He was affable, fun, and awesome with my kid. We caught over 15 fish and had a blast. The boat is very comfortable, with a proper bathroom and hot water for the sink. The indoor seating was great and plentiful, and on the deck we had plenty of room to move around and fish. My son and I enjoyed the views of the different seabirds as well as sea lions who rolled around behind the boat as we left the docks. We will definitely be back, and often. Tom and Tyler were superb in their patience, courtesy and support. Thank you both for making our vacation absolutely fantastic.

    2023 is the first time in decades that the deepwater rockfish grounds have been open. Took the…read moreopportunity to charter a trip with Capt Tom Dolan and check out the "new" fishery. Leading up to the trip, Tom was very responsive, informative and flexible. This helped greatly with preparations. Definitely recommend renting one (or more) of the electric reels if you are going on a deepwater excursion. On our trip we had an 11 and 15 year old, neither who had ever fished before. The capt and crew are very friendly with kids. The boat is very well equipped from a navionics perspective. We caught plenty of deepwater rockfish and picked up pelagic rockfish on the way home and a bonus of multiple petrale sole in the box.

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    Monterey Bay Charters
    My catch of the day!
    My catch of the day!
    Monterey Bay Charters

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    McAlpine Lake & Park

    McAlpine Lake & Park

    2.4
    (70 reviews)
    39.1 km

    I've had nothing but positive experiences here. It's definitely more focused on the beginner…read moreangler, as the lake is small in size ( approx 7 acres?) and stocked regularly with trout during the cooler months. Small bass, bluegill and catfish are present in the lake also. The lake is maintained by the McAlpine Family, with Chase and Randall providing advice on techniques, tackle and water conditions. Chase is especially well known for his depth of knowledge in the aquatics of the lake and he is responsible for stocking the trout on a regular basis. Sister Scarlett and her husband Rob are managing the lake and also staff the General Store. All are super nice people and customer-friendly. The staff of Chris and "Tahoe Joe" keep the lake and facilities clean and in good order. Shout out also to "Paq" who is a multi-species angler and claims McAlpine Lake as his testing grounds for "Frenzy Spoons", which is his lure manufacturing businesses. Paq also assists at the lake and is quick to share his expertise with novice anglers. Some people "complain" that McAlpine Lake charges both an entrance and overage fee. Listen up folks, this is a private lake that has overhead costs including employee payroll, property/income tax, insurance and $$ per pound of Mt . Lassen Trout (10-12 Hour roundtrip) that Chase picks up and delivers every two weeks or so during Trout Season. There are other places to fish for free, if this doesn't work for you.

    It said you will catch fish. 5 of us went here for a birthday. No one caught anything at all. Never…read morego here. So expensive too

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    Dinner
    Dinner
    McAlpine Lake & Park
    McAlpine Lake & Park

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    Monterey State Beach - beaches - Updated July 2026

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