Marina, California
Marina, California, boasts some of the best outdoor activities and attractions. A must-visit is the Fort Ord Dunes State Park, a top spot for hiking, biking, and fishing. The park offers four miles of scenic ocean views, a boardwalk, and a 1,500-foot trail. The trail is moderately difficult, perfect for those looking for a bit of a challenge. Another fantastic trail is the Marina Dunes Preserve. This trail takes you through unique sand dune formations and offers striking views of the Pacific Ocean. It's a great place for bird watching and beachcombing. If you're up for more outdoor adventures, head to the Locke-Paddon Park. This community park features a beautiful lake, walking paths, and picnic areas. These are just a few examples of the best trails and outdoor activities in Marina, California.
Top Spots in and near Marina
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Marina, California
Marina State Beach
3.5From the moment you turn into the parking lot, you know Marina State Beach is special. Grab a parking spot in the large lot and then run down the dunes and onto the shoreline! The beach feels spacious on this section of the shore and gives plenty of room to run around or to put down a blanket to ...Read more -
Marina, California
Fort Ord Dunes State Park
5.03.08 mi / 141 ft gainOne of the best parts of Monterey is the beaches – but their popularity is also their weakness, so if you want seclusion head to the lesser-known Fort Ord Dunes for solitude and beautiful views of Monterey Bay and the Pacific Coast. Historically, this location was chosen as the location for Fort...Read more -
Sand City, California
Bikepack Highway 1: Monterey to San Luis Obispo
130 mi / 9000 ft gainPlease be aware that this is NOT a route for beginning cyclist. It is a very hilly route and you will be sharing the road with cars for the entire route, the shoulder is sometimes very slim. This should not scare you from doing the trip, just be aware of the risks and dangers you might be facing....Read more -
Monterey, California
Scuba Dive Breakwater Cove
Located near Cannery Row, San Carlos Beach is home to Breakwater Cove. This is a great place for beginner scuba divers to practice their diving, get open water certified, and do their first ocean dives. San Carlos Beach is home to a large colony of sea lions, and also features a reef, anemones...Read more -
Salinas, California
Goat Trail (Trail 41)
4.75.66 mi / 1093 ft gainFort Ord National Monument is a fantastic place to cruise around on your mountain bike, whether you are a beginner or an experienced rider looking for flowy trails to cruise on. Access is easy from the highway and there is ample room in the parking lot even on busy days. Dozens of trails wind t...Read more -
Monterey, California
Sail on Monterey Bay
Few places along the California coast are perfectly suited for a day of sailing. While San Diego, Santa Barbara, Santa Monica, Long Beach, San Francisco, and Catalina Island offer sailing adventures, none of them offer wide open Pacific waters without dangerous commercial traffic to navigate. The...Read more -
Pacific Grove, California
Lovers Point
4.8LOVERS POINT PARK AND BEACH: According to local legend, this park was originally called "Lovers of Jesus Point," back in the era when Pacific Grove was a Methodist retreat camp. Since the late 1800s, the beach at Lovers Point in Pacific Grove has been a popular spot for boating and swimming, and...Read more -
Pacific Grove, California
Paddle Lover's Point
Lover's Point is great place to SUP or kayak. There are tons of jellyfish in the water (so be careful). This beach is also popular for scuba diving and snorkeling. There are rocks surround a small sandy beach and a place to rent kayaks and sups on the beach. There is a small parking lot as well a...Read more -
Pacific Grove, California
Relax at Lover's Point Beach
4.8Getting there: Drive to the bottom of Ocean View Boulevard in Pacific Grove, California. You will reach a small parking lot. Unfortunately, the parking here is limited. On the bright side, this means the crowds never get too big! The ocean has open swells for surfers, diverse marine-life for snor...Read more -
Pacific Grove, California
Monarch Grove Butterfly Sanctuary
1 miThousands of monarchs can be found here October through February. It's a small park with a path through the center. Park near the Monarch Grove hotel at the sign that says "Caution: Butterflies present", and cross the street to walk down the short path (pink houses will be on your right) and to t...Read more -
Salinas, California
East Ridge & Cougar Ridge Loop
5.74 mi / 1483 ft gainJust a short drive from downtown Monterey you will find yourself amongst the rugged yet serene hills of Toro Park. For a day-use admission fee ($) you will have access to 20+ miles of trails that climb through canyons and run along ridgelines to peaks with views of the ocean in the distance. Whi...Read more -
Moss Landing, California
Whale Watching off Moss Landing
The Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary is home to some of the most diverse and rich waters in our oceans, and you have the chance to see it up close and personal! The big prize is getting to see a whale, but these waters are teeming with other wildlife from dolphins to otters to sea lions. F...Read more -
Moss Landing, California
Kayak with Humpback Whales in Monterey Bay
5.0Disclaimer: Please keep a respectful distance from the whales and other sea wildlife for their protection and your own. Note, changing the animal's natural behavior is a violation of federal law.Every year, humpbacks whale migrate north from their winter and breeding grounds down in southern Mex...Read more -
Pacific Grove, California
Asilomar Conference Grounds
Asilomar translates to “refuge by the sea,” a phrase that accurately depicts the Asilomar Conference Grounds. The area started as a YWCA women’s empowerment camp in 1913 and has since transitioned into a well-preserved state beach. It is located in the beautiful Monterey Peninsula. If you fin...Read more -
Pacific Grove, California
Spanish Bay Trail
5.02.9 mi / 108 ft gainThe Spanish Bay Trail in California is an easy, 2.9-mile coastal path near Pebble Beach, ideal for all skill levels. This scenic trail runs alongside the Pacific Ocean, offering stunning views of the rocky shoreline, sandy dunes, and diverse wildlife. Dog-friendly and accessible year-round, i...Read more -
Moss Landing, California
Kayak in Elkhorn Slough
4.7Elkhorn Slough is located in Moss Landing, which is in the dead center of Monterey Bay, California. Elkhorn Slough is one of California's largest wetlands and part of a National Estuarine Reserve located in central Monterey Bay, California, just a short trip from the Monterey Peninsula and the Sa...Read more
Top Activities
Camping and Lodging in Marina
Moss Landing KOA Express
Asilomar Hotel and Conference Grounds
From $176 / night
Santa Cruz / Monterey Bay KOA Holiday
Big Sur Lodge
From $199 / night