Central California beaches offer a variety of activities for
lazy summer days
Summer is here, and the living is easy. Long, sunny days and
warm, breezy nights create the perfect climate for outdoor
activities
– lazy cookouts, invigorating bike rides, and brisk walks
followed by relaxing swims.
Central California beaches offer a variety of activities for lazy summer days
Summer is here, and the living is easy. Long, sunny days and warm, breezy nights create the perfect climate for outdoor activities – lazy cookouts, invigorating bike rides, and brisk walks followed by relaxing swims.
There is no better place to enjoy these, as well as many other activities, than on one of the gorgeous beaches off of Hwy. 1, along the central California coastline. From surfing to swimming, hiking to biking, the beaches in the California State Parks system have it all.
So pack some snacks and a Frisbee, grab a hat and a sand pail, put on some SPF 30 and hit the beach. Different activities are better suited for a particular beach over another. Below is a list of ten beaches, highlighting a variety of things for families and friends to enjoy.
Day use and camping fees vary depending on types of vehicles and length of stay. Special use fees, such as for scuba diving, are also required and vary from beach to beach. Reservations are required for overnight camping. For more information about these or any park in the California State Park system, go to www.parks.ca.gov.
Pack the picnic basket: The perfect beach for a single day of fun and sun, Sunset State Beach is surrounded by pine trees and sand dunes. Bordered by farms between the cities of Santa Cruz and Monterey, Sunset has beautiful ocean-side picnic spots, making it a year-round destination for both locals and tourists. Its flat beach makes it perfect for spreading a blanket under a bright umbrella for a relaxing lunch or setting up a net for a friendly game of volleyball. Overnight camping is permissible. Sunset State Beach is 16 miles south of Santa Cruz via Hwy. 1 and San Andreas Road.
Go for a dip: Thanks to a long stretch of sand backed by bluffs, Seacliff State Beach is a popular spot for beachgoers. The calmer waters around the beach make it perfect for those wanting to swim in the warm surf. Seacliff is also known for its fishing pier as well as a concrete freighter resting permanently in the water.
The Palo Alto was intended for use in World War 1, but the war ended before construction was completed. It remained docked until 1929, when the Cal-Nevada Company bought the ship, turning it into an amusement/fishing ship. The Palo Alto was towed to Seacliff, where the ship’s sea cocks were opened, allowing it to settle to the ocean floor.
In 1930, a pier was built, and included a dance floor, cafe, swimming pool and concession stands. The company went broke after two seasons, leaving the ship and pier used only for fishing, as they still are today.
Seacliff State Beach is located in the town of Aptos. Take the Seacliff turnoff from Hwy. 1.
Take a Hike: Consisting of 4,800 acres, Andrew Molera State Park has miles of trails that wind their way through meadows, beaches and hilltops. Its landscape has remained fairly undeveloped, providing the rare opportunity to see California wildlife in a natural state. Andrew Molera features a primitive trail camp that is popular with both hikers and bikers, but those who don’t enjoy “roughing it” might want to reconsider – the camp is about a quarter-mile hike from the parking area and has no shower facilities. Contact the park directly for detailed camping availability.
Andrew Molera is located 20 miles south of Carmel on Hwy. 1.
We’re swimming with what?: For the more adventurous beachgoer, Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park is the perfect place to swim with the fishes. The park has a 1,680-acre underwater reserve protecting an assortment of marine life. It is a popular place for experienced scuba divers to explore underwater. The park’s reserve status makes it a year-round habitat for creatures such as seals, sea lions and otters as well as dozens of sea and shore birds.
Special use permits are required to scuba dive, and environmental sites are the park’s only campsites. While the sites offer spectacular views of the ocean and its rugged coastline, only primitive toilets are available and water must be carried in from restrooms near the parking lot on the east side of the highway. The park is located 37 miles south of Carmel on Hwy. 1 and 12 miles south of Pfeiffer Big Sur.
The fish are biting: Two beaches are popular spots for salt-water fishing. Manresa State Beach features a large expanse of sea and sand, and visitors enjoy surf fishing and clamming. Family campsites, guided tours and swimming are available. Manresa is off Hwy. 1, just south of Aptos.
Another good fishing spot is Zmudowski State Beach, which includes the Pajaro River estuary. Its waters teem with perch, kingfish, sole, flounder, halibut, bocaccio (tomcod), jacksmelt, lingcod, cabezon, salmon, steelhead and the occasional rockfish. Strong rip-currents, however, make Zmudowski a poor choice for swimming or water sports. The beach is located 20 miles northwest of Monterey off Hwy. 1. Take Stuve Road and turn on Giberson Road to the beach.
Go fly a kite: Marina State Beach is the perfect spot for those who enjoy sun and sand but want to stay out of the surf. Strong rip-currents make water recreation extremely hazardous, but long stretches of beach make it a favorite among picnickers, hang gliders and kite fliers. The beach is wheelchair accessible, with a boardwalk that winds through the Marina Dunes Natural Preserves. The park is located at the foot of Reservation Road in Marina.
Going to the dogs: The cities of Monterey and Seaside share Monterey State Beach, comprised of three separate beaches approximately a mile apart. It is a popular spot for people who enjoy bringing their dogs to the beach, and is also a favorite destination for surfers and tide pool watchers. Other activities include kayaking, kite-flying, volleyball and beachcombing. Monterey State Beach is located at the Seaside exit off Hwy. 218 west of Hwy. 1.
Look at the birdie: With its stunning views and dune protection from afternoon winds, Moss Landing State Beach is a favorite place for picnics. But it is even more popular among bird-watchers, as the area is an important stop along the Pacific Flyway. It also features offshore fishing and horseback riding trails, and is popular with surfers and windsurfers. Camping is available for self-contained vehicles. Water recreation is hazardous because of strong rip currents. The beach is located on Jetty Road, 16 miles north of Monterey via Hwy. 1.
Pitch a tent: New Brighton State Beach is the ideal destination for those who enjoy waking up to the sound of crashing surf. Its beach consists of 95 acres along the northern shores of Monterey Bay, and features a campground, picnic areas and a nearby forest of Monterey pine.
Visitors to New Brighton can spend their time swimming, fishing, hiking and clamming. Park facilities and services include a shaded campground on a bluff overlooking Monterey Bay, picnic areas, hiking trails, beach rentals and nature programs.
Reservations are required at any of the beaches that allow overnight camping, and campsites are often booked months in advance. Occasionally, a last-minute cancellation can mean an open site; call ahead for information. New Brighton is located just south of Capitola, off of the New Brighton/Park Ave. exit from Hwy. 1.
Nature up close and personal: Called “the crown jewel” of the California State Park system, Point Lobos State Reserve provides a glimpse of a virtually untouched portion of the central coast.
Point Lobos is not for volleyball or body surfing. It is, however, a beach of spectacular beauty and scientific interests, filled with rare plant life, endangered archeological sites, unique geological formations and stunning flowers.
It is perfect for relaxing. Recreational activities include photography, painting, nature study, picnicking and scuba and free diving. Reservations are recommended and required for weekends and holidays.
Regulations are different at Point Lobos than at other state beaches. Visitors are required to remain on designated trails within wire guides, and to stay away from the rocky cliffs. Rock climbing is prohibited. Bicycles are not permitted on the trails. Visitors are prohibited from collecting, removing or disturbing any natural objects. Fires, stoves and barbecues of all types are prohibited, and there is no smoking on the trails or beaches.
For detailed information on fees and regulations, call 624-8413. Point Lobos State Reserve is three miles south of Carmel on Hwy. 1.
