Some of the best things on the Monterey Peninsula cost nothing at all. Here is a list of free favorites, all within a short drive of Sand Castle Inn in Seaside.
Beaches and the bay
- Monterey State Beach in Seaside, about four minutes away, for long walks and sunsets.
- The Monterey Bay Coastal Recreation Trail, a flat, paved path along the bay from Seaside to Pacific Grove.
- Lovers Point in Pacific Grove, about 14 minutes away, for tide pools and views.
Wildlife watching
- Sea lions on the rocks and pilings around Old Fisherman's Wharf, about seven minutes away.
- Sea otters in the kelp along Cannery Row and the Coastal Trail.
- Monarch butterflies in Pacific Grove's Monarch Grove Sanctuary, from about October to February.
Parks and trails
- Laguna Grande Regional Park, about four minutes away, with lakeside paths and picnic areas.
- Dennis the Menace Park in Monterey, a free playground about seven minutes away.
- Fort Ord National Monument, with more than 86 miles of trails and no entrance fee.
History
- The Path of History through Old Monterey, starting at Custom House Plaza. Walking the route is free; check State Parks for any building tours.
Free events
- Whalefest Monterey on Old Fisherman's Wharf, April 10 and 11, 2027, is free.
Save on the room, too
Book direct at sandcastleinnseaside.com for the best rates. Sand Castle Inn is next to the Sand Dollar Shopping Center, and rooms have microwaves and refrigerators, which makes it easy to keep picnic lunches and snacks on hand.
Photo: Monterey State Beach, Monterey Bay by Pimlico27, via Wikimedia Commons. Original photograph and this image adaptation licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Resized; website renditions may be cropped and converted in format. This license applies only to the photograph.
