Such a beautiful beach! Lots of empty pockets to have space, and also lots of pockets where you can…read morebe in a other group's company. Parking available on the street level via parallel parking along the side of the road. I didn't see any bathrooms available where we were.

This is such a beautiful beach with miles to meander while enjoying the sea breeze. I absolutely…read morelove the tide pools.

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.

Bird Rock is situated along the 17-mile drive in Monterey, CA…read more It's a beautiful spot to observe various birds, seals, and sea lions resting on the same rock, about three to five hundred yards offshore. This location provides visitors with a great opportunity to see wildlife up close in their natural environment. Unfortunately, the fog rolled in quickly and was thick during our visit, making it hard to see the animals clearly. The area offers parking for 20 to 30 vehicles, along with clean men's and women's restrooms.

8/18/25 and this guy claimed this as His Rock Simply,…read morebeautifully stunning! Slowly driving through this wonderful scenic route, we stopped at Bird Rock. You can't mistake the smell once you're there, bird poop! But the view is spectacular as you listen to the crashing waves against the rocks Leave no trace behind, keep this place as pristine as possible for the rest of the visitors & Mother Nature. Enjoy the lovely sights

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.

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!

Stop #4 of the 17-mile drive. This picturesque location offers stunning views of restless waters…read moreamidst rugged rocks peeking out from the ocean. This is one of the roughest parts of the water along this coastline, and is known to be the resting place of several ships that crashed along these shores. A testament to the power of mother nature, and a captivating memory against the backdrop of turbulent seas. There are some limited parking spots available here along the turn-in. Although we've seen some people park along the road as well and simply walk over.

Stop 4 on the 17 mile drive, and this was my favorite stop on our drive. Aptly named the Restless…read moreSea, this was probably the most active we saw the ocean in all the stops. The waves seemed to be pounding in from both sides is an apparent show of chaos. That being said, it was still somehow calming and peaceful here - standing at the edge and just watching the ocean. There was a light breeze, and I spent more time here than I intended to. So beautiful. Definitely plan to stop here while exploring Pebble Beach. It will easily become one of your favorite stops on the journey.

Such a beautiful spot to lay a picnic out and walk around catching beautiful scenery of the sun set…read moreand wildlife. We saw many chipmunks, seagulls, and otters! I will say if you bring food, beware of the very brave and bold seagulls and chipmunks who are not scared of humans! We lives how accessible it was as we were able to stroll around with our stroller very easily.

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.

Something truly amazing about this rock. I went there to check it out, and sure enough, i got…read morekissed! Don't know what it was but it was happening to other people too. Maybe something in the air there. Rock is on the path near lovers point. Easily reachable by bike from hotels from cannery row to Asilomar. Walkable from the aquarium as well. The rocks below are great for kids to scramble. Lots of tide pools. You can find hermit crabs, anemones, and more. That day we saw a pod of dolphins loitering nearby, but my phone camera couldn't get a good enough snap. Picnic area across the street. Lots of benches trash cans and parking. Poop bags for the pups, so dog owners have no excuse. Keep Monterey beautiful!

Retaining the moniker of "Kissing Rock" since Victorian times, these two massive slabs of granite…read morealong Ocean View Boulevard look very much like a couple kissing and was at one point dubbed by Life magazine as the most romantic spot in America. The view here is quite gorgeous and it's very peaceful with the waves crashing in the background. Plus there's a bench here as well if you want to sit for a spell. Public parking is available along designated areas of Ocean View Blvd.

Asilomar State Marine Reserve is one of 4 marine protected area's (MPA's) on the California coast…read more It's location is on the southern end of Monterey Bay. These area's were established on September 2007 and are all part of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. The sole purpose of these marine reserves are to conserve and restore wildlife and habitats in our oceans. Asilomar State Marine Reserve is approximately 1.51 square miles and extends from Oceanside of Point Pino all the way to Point Joe. It is also the largest (MPA) of the 4. Asilomar State Beach happens to fall into the protected area. All marine resources within these area' including shell's and rocks are protected , and as such should not be removed. Thousands and thousands of jobs are reliant on the beauty of the California coast. Tourist from around the world come here to enjoy spectacular scenery/ fine dining/ 5 star hotels/ whale watching/ camping/ hiking/ biking/ shopping/ and the list goes on and on. The passing of the "California Marine Life Protection Act in 1999 was the first step In trying to preserve natures wonders for generations to come. Enjoy !

What is there not to love about this gorgeous piece of real estate. The beautiful seagulls. The…read morecolorful ice plant at certain times of year. The deep blue ocean. The crashing of the waves. The smell of the salt air. The beautiful rock formations. And its all protected by the state. Such an awesome place And there are no crowds here. And it is so close to many fine restaurants and hotels. Another great California landmark

Both breathtakingly beautiful and serene, this stretch of natural beauty can only be accessed via…read morethe 17-mile drive. There are 17 marked stops along this route, each with its own unique history and memorable view. The beach areas are gorgeous, albeit rather cold. And the crystal blue waters remind me of Hawaii; just without the tropical weather to go with. Much of the waters along this coast are in a protection zone, and large sections are designated as marine preserves. Although we were not so lucky in our timing, if you visit during the right times of the year, there are supposedly a plethora of marine wildlife to observe including seals, sealions, otters, dolphins and whales. At the end of this drive, we found ourselves at the famous Pebble Beach Resort. Here you can dine, shop, or even play on the world-renowned golf course that plays host to the PGA Tours, as well as other professional golf tournaments.

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.