Monterey State Beach, Monterey

Monterey State Beach, Monterey

Monterey State Beach in California offers a unique coastal experience, featuring two distinct units with three beautiful beaches along the southern shores of Monterey Bay. Visitors can start at the Number 2 City Pier in Monterey and enjoy a scenic walk north on the sand, spanning approximately 2 miles each way, to explore these beaches.

The northernmost beach of this state park is Seaside Beach, accessible via a parking lot on the north side of the Monterey Tides Hotel. From here, walking north leads out of the state park towards Sand City Beach and The Crater, a hidden gem with high dunes perfect for exploration.

On the south side of the Monterey Tides Hotel lies Houghton M. Roberts Beach, with its own separate parking area. This spot provides another access point to the beach.

Further south, Window on the Bay Beach marks the southern edge of Monterey State Beach. It is situated near a grassy park just north of Municipal Beach on the city's waterfront. This location offers a pleasant blend of beach and parkland.

Connecting the northern and southern units of the state beach is Del Monte Beach, a favorite among locals. Nestled below a housing community on the bluff, Del Monte Beach is renowned for its beauty and serene atmosphere.

The area closer to Municipal Wharf #2 in Monterey is particularly notable for safer swimming conditions. Although rip currents are a common feature along the bay shoreline, the waters near Municipal Beach and Window on the Bay Beach are generally safer for entering the water, though still cold. These spots are also excellent for kayaking, with kayak rentals available behind Municipal Beach. This makes Monterey State Beach not only a place for beachside relaxation but also for aquatic adventures, offering something for everyone.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Monterey. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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Monterey State Beach on Map

Sight Name: Monterey State Beach
Sight Location: Monterey, USA (See walking tours in Monterey)
Sight Type: Park/Outdoor

Walking Tours in Monterey, California

Create Your Own Walk in Monterey

Create Your Own Walk in Monterey

Creating your own self-guided walk in Monterey is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Monterey State Historic Park Walk

Monterey State Historic Park Walk

Monterey State Historic Park is a National Landmark and a part of the Monterey Old Town Historic District. Found on the grounds here are a group of significant old-time houses that once made up California's earliest capital and were the site of the state's first constitutional convention. Today these buildings retain their rich heritage, preserving an important part of Californian as...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.9 Km or 1.2 Miles
Monterey Introduction Walking Tour

Monterey Introduction Walking Tour

Monterey is one of California's oldest cities, having been settled since 1770. The Spanish and Mexican governments both used the city as a capital for Alta California. Monterey offered many important firsts for California during this era, including a newspaper and printing press, public school, library, and theater.

This city was the location for the first constitutional convention in...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.8 Km or 2.4 Miles
Cannery Row Walking Tour

Cannery Row Walking Tour

Cannery Row – the waterfront street in Monterey, California – was once home to a number of sardine canning factories, the last of which closed down in 1973. The former nickname for Ocean View Avenue became the street's official name in January 1958 to honor John Steinbeck and his famous eponymous novel. In the novel's opening sentence, Steinbeck described Cannery Row as "a poem,...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.8 Km or 1.1 Miles