MARINA DUNES STATE BEACH: This beach is
a wonderful place to hang glide, as it has full hang gliding facilities
and a hang gliding shop operated in the Parks parking lot. The waters
at this beach however are dangerous, and loaded with many rip currents.
Due to the danger factors, this beach is not recommended for swimming,
wading or other water recreation.
CLIMATE: As with most of the Monterey Peninsula
and the Central coast, the weather is changeable, often susceptible
to marine layers and somewhat unpredictable. Generally, the temperatures
are moderate year round, with fog likely from June through mid-August.
Layered clothing is advisable.
BEACH ACTIVITIES: Walking, some hiking,
hang gliding, radio-controlled gliders and kite flying is very popular.
There are tables for picnicking, fishing and the park is open to programs
and exhibits. It is also has restrooms and is wheel chair accessible.
Marina State Beach has a wonderful boardwalk winding through the Marina
Dunes Natural Preserves.
LOCAL FLAVORS: Marina Dunes State Beach
is actually only six miles from Monterey and most of the activity of
the Peninsula is in Monterey, Pacific Grove or Carmel. A trip to downtown
Old Monterey, the famous, “Alvarado Street,” Cannery Row,
or Monterey’s owns fisherman’s wharf, and are all great
points of interest and a guarantee for a good time. There are a slew
of restaurants up and down the Wharf and Cannery Row, specialty shops,
galleries, and even world famous San Francisco’s own, “Ghirardelli
Chocolate Factory, guaranteed to satisfy every chocolate fantasy!
OTHER ATTRACTIONS:
Monterey Bay Aquarium
Point Pinos Lighthouse: The oldest active lighthouse on the
West Coast.
Golfing: Pebble Beach, Spyglass, and Spanish Hill (to name
a few)
The Mission Ranch Resort
Monterey Recreation Trail: On the waterfront
Cannery Row
Monarch Grove Sanctuary: Only during October through February,
thousands of brightly colored monarch butterflies arrive to pass the
winter. They can be seen gathering on the pines and eucalyptus trees
indigenous to the Peninsula.
17-Mile Drive: Famous for its amazing vistas and picturesque
picnic spots set along a rocky, scenic coastline. Some highlights are
the “Lone Cypress Tree” and “Cypress Point.”
Laguna Seca: The world known premiere racetrack that hosts
NASCAR, grand prix, motorcycle and other historic auto races. Activities
held usually during the summer months.
John Steinbeck’s in Cannery Row
Whale watching: Spring and winter months only.
Monterey Jazz Festival
Monterey Museum of Art
Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History
by: Carla Iacovetti
©2006Carla Iacovetti
