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    Monterey State Beach

    4.1 (53 reviews)

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    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...

    Kathy T.

    This is a gorgeous beach with lots of street parking. Admittedly, it is off season right now but if you want a nice stretch of scenic sands to walk the dog , this is the place. The water is beyond blue and the beach is clean and just beautiful. Dogs are allowed, on leash. But if you are there early enough in Winter, there is literally very few people around to care. Just be sure to pick up after your pup!

    A sunny day at a beautiful beach

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    8 years ago

    Can only give 2 stars as parking is impossible. Also there is a bunch of sand in the parking lot that takes up a bunch of spaces:

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    Page 2 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
    (331 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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    Riptide Charters

    Riptide Charters

    3.5
    (104 reviews)
    113.2 km
    Private events
    Certified professionals

    My family and I just went on a whale watching trip today…read more It's always part luck. Thankfully, we got lucky. Spotted a couple Gray Whales from a distance, and after a tip from another boat were able to get closer to two others swimming together and ride along with them for a while. Captain Smitty and Lee were great! Knowledgeable, friendly, informative, and great stewards of the sea, and marine life. We definitely recommend these guys. Go with an open heart, patience, and have fun!

    We had the best time with Riptide Charters. The F/V Riptide is a 40' fiberglass hull, equipped with…read morea turbo diesel, and is licensed and inspected by the United States Coast Guard. It was so clean, well until we all made a mess. It is a lovely boat. We felt so safe with the crew. The Riptide is owned by Capt. William Smith. He has been a licensed captain for over 30 years. You will find it located on "H" dock at Pillar Pt. Harbor in El Granada (near Half Moon Bay), California. The Captain was with us and he was able to help the weak ones, like me, without making me feel like I did not belong. The boat leaves super early in the morning so get some sleep the night before. I had to nap after. Go to their website to see what type of fish is in season or you will not be happy. We went for Rockfish and caught a few and were so happy. We grilled it all up and it was great and we were able to serve a lot of people. I was hoping to see a whale, but sadly, did not. I think they are pretty rare to see in that area. They have clean bathrooms. We will be back, this time for salmon.

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    Riptide Charters
    Riptide Charters
    Riptide 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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    McAlpine Lake & Park
    McAlpine Lake & Park
    McAlpine Lake & Park

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    Monterey State Beach - beaches - Updated July 2026

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