Asilomar State Beach (Monterey)
The Asilomar Conference Grounds began in 1913 as a camp and conference site for the YWCA. Its historic buildings were designed by the California architect Julia Morgan. It has been owned and operated by the State of California since 1956.

Carmel River State Beach (Carmel)
This coastal strand, near its charming namesake town, offers a lagoon, fishing, and birdwatching. Extremely dangerous surf.

Garrapata State Park (Carmel)
The park has two miles of beach front, with coastal hiking and a 50-foot climb to a beautiful view of the Pacific. With 2,879 acres, the park offers diverse coastal vegetation with trails running from ocean beaches into dense redwood groves.

Manresa State Beach (Aptos)
Enjoy all the central coast has to offer. Surf fishing, surfing, hiking, swimming, or even just relaxing in the cool sea breeze.

Marina State Beach (Monterey)
A boardwalk that winds through the Marina Dunes Natural Preserves. The beach is known for hang-gliding. Radio-controlled gliders and kites are also popular. The beach is a favorite site for picnics. Water recreation is extremely hazardous due to strong rip currents.

Monterey State Beach (Monterey)
State beaches are areas with frontage on the ocean, or bays designed to provide swimming, boating, fishing, and other beach-oriented recreational activities. This beach is a favorite place for surfers and tidepool watchers. Fishing is popular, too.

Moss Landing State Beach (Castroville)
Offshore fishing, surfing, windsurfing and horseback riding are popular activities. The beach is a favorite place for picnics because the dunes protect it from afternoon winds. This area is an important stop along the Pacific Flyway so birdwatching is popular.

New Brighton State Beach (Aptos)
Set on a bluff overlooking Monterey Bay, this camping site offers recreation, relaxation, and fun for the entire family.

Point Lobos State Reserve (Carmel)
This area contains headlands, coves and rolling meadows. The offshore area forms one of the richest underwater habitats in the world popular with divers. Wildlife includes seals, sea lions, sea otters and migrating gray whales (from December to May). Thousands of seabirds also make the reserve their home.

Salinas River State Beach (Castroville)
The beach protects one of Monterey Bay's most interesting sand dune areas and is home to many species of wild birds, including Western meadowlarks, hawks, jays, valley quail, finches, towhees and sparrows as well as shorebirds that winter along the bay. The beach is a popular fishing site.

Seacliff State Beach (Aptos)
Seaclif is a popular swimming beach. There is a lot more than just swimming going on here though. Camping facilities, hiking trails, and much more await you at Seacliff.

Sunset State Beach (Watsonville)
The most popular beach also offers the most. Sunset Beach carries the right name with its gorgeous sunsets. It also offers hiking, biking, guided tours, and so much more.

Zmudowski State Beach (Castroville)
The beach is a popular fishing area, featuring perch, kingfish, sole, flounder, halibut, bocaccio (tomcod), jacksmelt, lingcod, cabezon, salmon, steelhead and occasional rockfish.