Have you ever experienced a beach bonfire before? The Monterey Peninsula is one of the few places where they still allow you to have an open fire out on the beach. A local company called Romantic Room Designs will set-up a complete bonfire for couples and also for families. For more details, give them a call at toll free 1-888-871-3248 ext 1 or visit their site at Romantic Room Designs.
Take the Ocean Avenue exit off of Hwy 1 and follow it all the way down through downtown Carmel until it dead ends at this beach.
Hours:
Sunrise-10pm
Description:
Locally, this is widely considered as the nicest area beach with deep, white sand, beautiful Sunset vistas as well as views of Pt. Lobos and Pebble Beach (homes and the golf course). It is also great because you are just steps away from a host of great restaurants, shops and art galleries. There is also typically at least one person doing a painting or building a sandcastle or something of artistic value. Note: Parking can be difficult so be patient. For volleyball enthusiasts, there are a couple of sand courts located near the restrooms/top of the beach.
The best way is to take the scenic drive along Ocean View Blvd in Pacific Grove and follow it as it hugs the coastline. This will turn into Sunset Drive and then Highway 68. There are several places to park along the road and access the beach.
Hours:
Sunrise-Sunset
Description:
This is a huge sandy beach in Pacific Grove with a lot of character -- good sized waves, sand dunes, and a rocky shoreline (great for tidepools!). Although it is not officially permitted, many people will take their dogs off-leash at the very end of the beach. There is also a boardwalk that you can take along the beach.
From Hwy 1 heading south into town, the beach is located just off of the Canyon Del Rey/Seaside exit adjacent to the Beach Resort / Monterey Beach Hotel.
Hours:
Sunrise-Sunset
Description:
When people ask us to recommend an easy to find, large beach this is the one we speak of most often. Easy accessible, there is a large parking area and access to acres of sand (and despite its easily visible location is rarely crowded). The Beach Resort is located at the beach (in case you want to have lunch or dinner in their ocean front cafe or restaurant). For a quieter, less touristy time on the beach you can either walk towards downtown Monterey (the beach will then become named the Del Monte Beach -- this harder to get to beach head features a picnic area, small boardwalk and fire rings) or drive to the first Fisherman's Wharf and park on the pier.
Keep your eyes peeled for an unmarked dirt turnoff which is just past the Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge on Hwy 1 at Sycamore Canyon Road (1/4 mile south of the Ranger Station).
Hours:
Daily from 9a-8p
Description:
I was a little hesitant to put this beach in here at first -- it is quite a drive away - but well worth it. It is definitely not crowded because it is so hard to find. The unique thing besides the solitude: It is the only National Forest Beach in California. There are large and interesting rock formations which jet out of the ocean which people enjoy climbing or just watching the water break against. Be prepared for wind -- my wife and I were caught in a bit of a sandstorm once (but still worth the effort).
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