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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

  • Marina, California

    Surf, Run, or Catch a Sunset at Marina State Beach

    From 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 ...
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  • Marina, California

    Explore Fort Ord Dunes State Park

    5.0
    One 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 ...
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  • Sand City, California

    Bikepack Highway 1: Monterey to San Luis Obispo

    130 mi / 9000 ft gain
    Please 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....
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  • 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...
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  • Salinas, California

    Mountain Bike at Fort Ord National Monument

    5.0
    Fort 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 th...
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  • 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...
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  • Pacific Grove, California

    Explore Lovers Point

    5.0
    LOVERS 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 o...
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  • 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...
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  • Pacific Grove, California

    Relax at Lover's Point Beach

    4.8
    Getting 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...
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  • Pacific Grove, California

    Visit the Monarch Grove Butterfly Sanctuary

    1 mi
    Thousands 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...
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  • Salinas, California

    Hike or Trail Run around Toro Park

    Just a short drive from downtown Monterey you will find yourself amongst the rugged yet serene hills ofToro Park. For a $2 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. While the map ...
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  • 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...
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  • Moss Landing, California

    Kayak with Humpback Whales in Monterey Bay

    5.0
    Disclaimer: 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...
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  • Pacific Grove, California

    Play Volleyball at 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 find y...
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  • Pacific Grove, California

    Spanish Bay Trail

    5.0
    2.8 mi / 78 ft gain
    Spanish Bay Trail is an out and back trail that takes you past scenic views located near Monterey, California.
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  • Moss Landing, California

    Kayak in Elkhorn Slough

    4.7
    Elkhorn 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...
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Camping and Lodging in Marina

Moss Landing KOA Express
Moss Landing, California

Moss Landing KOA Express

Asilomar Hotel and Conference Grounds
Pacific Grove, California

Asilomar Hotel and Conference Grounds

From $176 / night

Salinas / Monterey KOA
Prunedale, California

Salinas / Monterey KOA

Santa Cruz / Monterey Bay KOA Holiday
La Selva Beach, California

Santa Cruz / Monterey Bay KOA Holiday

Big Sur Lodge
Big Sur, California

Big Sur Lodge

From $199 / night

Guides, Insights and Stories from Marina

5 Pieces of Gear You Need for a Weekend Adventure in Monterey, California

5 Pieces of Gear You Need for a Weekend Adventure in Monterey, California

Mitch Pittman

72 Hours of Food, Fun, and Outdoor Adventure in Monterey County

72 Hours of Food, Fun, and Outdoor Adventure in Monterey County

Mitch Pittman

A Perfect Coastal Escape for the Holidays

A Perfect Coastal Escape for the Holidays

Sara Sheehy

Your Coastal Refuge in the Monterey Bay: Asilomar Hotel

Your Coastal Refuge in the Monterey Bay: Asilomar Hotel

The Outbound Collective

5 Must-Do Adventures near Asilomar, California

5 Must-Do Adventures near Asilomar, California

Karissa Frye

10 Great Places To See Wildlife Near Santa Cruz

10 Great Places To See Wildlife Near Santa Cruz

Crystal Birns