Del Monte Beach

Del Monte Beach, or Monterey State Beach, is such a delight in the morning! Eucalyptus trees give way to Monterey cypress trees as you near the sand. The pale dunes are covered in tiny wildflowers. Seals bark in the distance, and flocks of birds soar by. Everything is of a pale hue- the light grey sea, the sky, the dunes.

It's lovely to walk or bike on the bike path called the Monterey Bay Coastal Trail that runs behind the dunes among eucalyptus strands, through Monterey Bay Park with its big lawn, flower beds, and whale sculpture playground, to Fisherman's Wharf.
A walk along the beach doubles your bliss- bring a warm jacket though! The harbor in the distance and the lion-colored hills behind Monterey frame the scene.
If it's too cold to walk, you can park at the Monterey Bay Park parking lot and watch the water from your car. 

Directions

There are plenty of signs to Monterey. But here are directions all the way from the 101 northbound. Exit at Monterey Peninsula. Turn right on Sanborn. Follow it for 2 miles and then turn left on Main. Follow Hwy 68 for about 15 miles and exit at Monterey.
Then, to get to Monterey State Beach, turn right on Fremont, right on Camino El Estero, left on Del Monte Avenue, and then immediately right into the parking lot for Monterey Bay Park. Parking is $5 in the machine.

Click on map for interactive view