Asilomar State Beach Reviews

Great hiking trail to really enjoy the empty stretch of oceanfront. Watch for parking along the way and get out and enjoy. A really relaxing place and not crowded like Monterey.

Awesome hike and beautiful shoreline. Great viewing of marine life. Although disappointed on the part of trail to the north of Pebble Beach. Most of the wooden boardwalk was covered with at least two feet of sand, which made it a challenge to walk.

There's beautiful trails all along the beach. Early morning walks and exploring the tide pools area great way to start the day. Take a picnic and watch the beautiful sunset for a perfect end to the day.

Nice relaxing walk on the boardwalks with wonderful views of the ocean. The state has restored the natural environment and removed the invasive non native plants (like ice plant).

We love this beach. It changes each time we visit. Very dog friendly and surfer friendly. We love watching the surfers. You can view the best sunsets ever here! Very close to Fishwife Restaurant and walking distance from Deer Haven Inn!

The coastal pedestrian trail is a real gem. We walk it numerous times a year, and each time is different with variations in weather, waves, beach flowers and wildlife.

This was the second time visiting the Monterey/Pacific Grove area; both times we enjoyed walking this beach. Many things to do and places to stay close by. I'll enjoy it again the next time we visit. If you're planning on going to this beach and you like beautiful scenery, take the 17 Mile Drive; it won't disappoint!

We live in PG and Asilomar is definitely a go-to beach. Easy to access from the road, and certain sections allow fires. Dogs are allowed. If the weather is nice, Asilomar makes a great spot to catch the sunset, too.

I just love this beach. It's beautiful in any weather and raw in it's natural wildness. Part of my weekly walks

Beach is nice to walk on and great for dogs too!! Half is dog friendly. No bathrooms but still a nice beach!

Asilomar Beach has some of the best views of the coast. We rented bikes one day and rode along it for miles. Also a wonderful place to sit and read a book. Lots of nooks and crannies for privacy.

Our family stayed at Andril Fireplace Cottages in Pacific Grove for 3 nights and walked to this beach to watch the sunset every night!! SO beautiful!

The beach is easily accessible. It is exposed to the sun and there are no trees/benches so bring a chair/umbrella. It is teaming with wildlife. The Oyster catcher birds were so cute! The surf is very powerful and only recommended for expert surfers. If you are a photographer, you can get excellent shots of surfers and aquatic birds.

Wow! Crashing waves, sun, sand, tidal pools, flora and fauna, what more can one want? Stunning coast line. Nice part is that a boardwalk is being extended, so strollers and those not so sure of foot may easily walk over the rocks, just off the highway. For the more nimble, the Pacific is the limit.

My husband runs, at 70, I walk. The trails here are occasionally rustic, but safe, which I adore. The sand is easy to walk on, and with a little research online low tides will reveal gumboot chitons, thousands of anemone, sea stars, a bevy of snails and hermit crabs. Just be sure to not turn your back on the ocean!

You can take your doggy's here off-leash! Right next to Pebble Beach golf course and it was fun to watch the surfers here.

Visited the beach by way of Asilomar State Park, which features numerous Craftsman style buildings designed by architect Julia Morgan. While we weren't terribly interested in the buildings, the Social Hall is worth strolling through (perhaps grabbing a little lunch at Phoebe's Cafe inside), and then walking around the big circle and onto the boardwalk. Crossed the road to the beach and watched the waves for a bit, then back up through the dunes. There are some nice interpretive signs about the dunes and the ecology. The whole state park is a conference center - might be a nice place to hold a conference!

Love Asilomar State Beach. Well maintain and dog friendly. Can be windy. Watched a few Sunsets at this location that were totally amazing. Fun beach to visit and walk around.

So beautiful and unspoiled. We stopped here and walked along the convenient path beside the ocean,enjoying scenery and wildlife along the way,just last week while in the Carmel area. Amazing experience!

Make time to walk on the beach. I love it so much, I think I'd like to live within walking distance of this beach.

There is a creek that runs across the beach that is fun to watch. I enjoy all the sea life at low tide.

A must visit. Beautiful scenery. Wildlife everywhere. Windy. Great walk with a boardwalk. I wish there would be a ramp all the way down to the water from my wheelchair families. (future Ideas) great hike on the rocks.

If going to Monterey Peninsula, I would encourage you to stay in the Asilomar Beach area of Pacific Grove. Less crowded than Monterey or Carmel. Awesome views.

This is a beautiful, very large white sand beach that offers convenient parking close by, and because it's somewhat remote, we found it to be surprisingly uncrowded.

Love everything about Pacific Grove. Asilomar State Beach is beautiful for walking and you can wonder off for interesting walks through the quant 1920s neighborhoods too.

Very pretty beach (although I did think it was dirtier compared to any of my previous visits). Awesome sunset when it's not too cloudy.

We opted for the drive on Asilomar Beach rather than the 17 mile drive that charges a fee to see rich peoples houses LOL! We were not disappointed. The beautiful scenery and gorgeous ocean were well worth the time spent!

I have been to Hawaii and it’s beautiful. But my favorite beach is Asilomar State Beach. I love the fog and the coolness. So enjoyable to hike the recreation trail and view all the beautiful scenery.

I have saw whales, sea otters, and sea lions all in one morning.

BEAUTIFUL PLACE

Such a great spot to stop and take in the scenery and photos. Saw a lot of bird watchers and this is a great spot to take in both the sea life, birds and waves.

Our little dog, all eleven pounds of him, loves to walk along the coast around Asilomar, especially along the beach. The sea air makes his nose wrinkle with pleasure. Come to think of it, the sea air makes MY nose wrinkle with pleasure too! Plenty of parking along the coastal area, although it can get crowded on the weekends. Watch for the plentiful coastal deer! Last trip here, Spike faced off with a big buck as we walked up the lane to our room. The buck blinked. Spike stood his ground. Good times.

Headed here to walk the dog and enjoy another beautiful beach. The area is amazing and worth the trip.

Great walking trails with lots of tide pools. Can be windy. Great for watching whales off shore, especially with binoculars. Look for whales far off shore heading south in Fall and close in near shore heading north in the Spring (protecting babies from killer whales and sharks).

There are breathtaking vistas at Asilomar. I've gone there many times over the years and have more photos than I know what to do with. On one of my trips there, I even saw deer, although on my most-recent trip, I didn't see any.

I love going to this beach after a day at the aquarium! There is free parking a short walk away and it is a big sandy beach. There are waves so you need to watch the little ones, the water is cold and there are no amenities. It is not crowded and lots of space to run around and explore. On the right side of the beach there are rocks to climb on.

Third week of a California vacation and spent a few hours in this lovely beach walking distance to town. Not big but so lovely and quiet. Great place for a 4 year old and her Grandma to hang out,

No matter what time of day you walk, drive or bike ride along this beach - you will always get a chance to take amazing pictures from every corner.

This is a wonderful beach for beach combing and tide pooling, but the fact that every dog owner in the city ignores the Leash laws makes it hard to give it a good rating. There is one man, a guy with a black German Shepherd, who I was told by a park ranger routinely disobeys the leash law. His dog runs loose and chases the surf birds...and mind you, the birds are protected by law. And the man watched his dog poop on the beach and walked off. Please, enjoy the beach and pick up your dog's poop and take it OFF the beach and into the numerous trash cans on the road.

We visited this spot for a sunset picnic. Went to a grocery story in Monterey for take-out and drove out here. Enjoyed the crashing surf and wildlife. Picnic in a small gazebo. Weather didn't cooperate with the sunset but we really enjoyed our evening.

The boardwalk takes you over dunes from the lodge to the sea. Beautiful walk with lots of birds and beach plants to look at.

Take in Gods splendor at the beautiful beach. It has rocks to climb, tide pools and Long Beach for walking. The sand is so soft and white. Layer. It is damp and windy. Surfers catch amazing waves. Great for families. Dogs on leash allowed, but they weren’t.

Beautiful views and lotsa space. COLD water, but lotsa sand and wonderful rocks. Parking can be a challenge on a weekend. Sorry, my sunset pics don't show much beach, but it is there!!

This is a great, very quiet and uncrowded beach. A nice place for kids to dig in the sand and wade in the surf. There are riptides so I probably wouldn't let kids swim but there were lots of surfers so people do go out past the breakers. There was a lifeguard on duty when I was there in the afternoons.

We were in the area visiting a friend. We are always looking for a dog friendly beach for our dog and we travel between chrissy field and carmel . This beach is dog friendly even though I did see a sign about X off leash :) There is lot of free parking. I think there is a hotel and restaurant on the way to the beach. One has to cross the road to get to the beach.

This is a gorgeous place to watch the sun set. Tip: Try to come a little early because it gets really crowded at sunset, and parking can be challenging. The only negative at this beach: dogs are not allowed off-leash. It's mostly a local group, though - very friendly folks.

Being in PG you almost feel like you are in sensory overload with so much beauty everywhere you look. Great trails to walk on with vistas that take your breath away.

Walked through Asilomar Convention Center since it is closed due to the pandemic. Beautiful grounds and easy access to the beach.

Asilomar is one of the many free state parks along the Monterey Bay. There are many places to park along Oceanview Boulevard that allow you to dump the car and explore the ocean trails, rocks, tidal pools or watch the sunrise/sunset. The park has an excellent beach with good surfing. The beach also allows dogs to go off leash in certain sections of it. Great place to spend some taking in the beauty and power of the Pacific Ocean. It is one of my favorite places to visit in the Fall/Winter when it is less crowded and the ocean is at its fiercest.

This beach was an interesting visit. Unusual 11 foot waves. Only disappointment was extremely rocky beach. It was difficult to walk on. We did find a bench and enjoyed the waves from that angle.

We enjoyed several trips to this beach within our 5 day stay in Pacific Grove. Tide pools, kite flying, saw several moon jelly fish, enjoyed watching many surfers. Both in the am and Pm hours. FUN! FUN! FUN!

This is a beautiful, highly accessible stretch of coast with walking paths and panoramic views. Large rocky outcroppings mingled with sandy beaches. One can see over 150 species of birds and marine mammals such as sea otters and whales in season. Constantly changing surf and waves crashing makes for a mesmerizing vista.

We spent Labor Day week-end in Pacific Grove We could walk to Asilomar State Beach, which is a very scenic beach.

We also enjoyed seeing sundown there.

This is one of our favorite beaches in the area.

Very nice State Beach with awesome sunsets. Lots of people come out to this beach to sit and watch the sun go down. Nice place to walk the shore or just sit and relax.

See birds, deer, and other wildlife. See plants. Great tidal pools. Please don't disturb the wildlife (nesting birds, for example). I wasn't there long enough for a thorough review, but I would love to return. Scenic, a short walk from Asilomar Convention Center, and next to the Pebble beach (17-mile) golf course/beach.

We walked here our first night in Pacific Grove - we were staying a few blocks away on the other side of the golf course. Our purpose was to watch the sunset over the ocean (being from the East we don't get to do that!). Very interesting terrain, rocks, tide pools, etc. And the sunset was gorgeous. Pretty big crowd that night - obviously not a unique idea!

This is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been. It's a little rugged, which adds to the beauty, but also means watch your step.

Nice walking paths. Pretty white sand beach area-saw some kids wading in the shallow clear water. Vast tide pool areas. Tide was low when we went and some areas of the tide pools were as pretty as you would see displayed in an aquarium. We were able to walk a ways out. There was a bagpiper there when we when on January 1st. Great relaxing family spot for enjoying this natural beauty!

First, you don't have to get into the 17 mile drive (or pay any fees) to visit this beach. It's free free free. Second, it's quite long, so while there's one long wide sandy stretch at the further south point of the Beach, there are lots of other places to park further north up to the point, and the other spots are less crowded. There are marked paths along the bluffs that you can explore as well as endless wave-splashed rocks and tide pools to explore for miles. I ended up spending much more time here than I expected, since there was plenty to see. I liked the less crowded spots further north best. All of the parking is beside the road, but it was easy to find spots.

We saw lots of surfers and even a school field trip on this clean and pretty beach. Lots of dogs playing, beautiful sand and crystal clear water. Fun to watch, peaceful to sit and take in the beauty.

Lacks restrooms. Sea lions snd otters are somewhere else, but for dog walk, or coastal scenery hard to beat.

Pacific Grove is one of my favorite spots. Quaint shops, spectacular views, and you can't beat the weather.

An absolutely beautiful stretch of beach. You can wade in the water, watch surfers or sit back and relax. There are tide pools nearby and the views from every angle are spectacular.

Any tide is my favorite on this strip if beaches in the Monterey Bay. High tides bring huge explosive waves breaking on the rocks with gorgeous spray abounding. Low tides bring quiet walks and tide pools to explore. There are sea lions and otters and even dolphin and whales. You just never know what you are going to discover on any given day. Oh, and there is such a variety of birds as well. Bring the kids, your camera and enjoy the awesomeness of Asilomar.

For decent parking spots, arrive early. Lovely walk on the coast. Most people park along the southern portion of the beach; there is parking along the northern portion of the state beach as well. Easy stroll to Asolimar to visit Phoebe's Café (open to the public).

Beautiful Pacific Ocean beach - very clean (other than washed-up seaweed). Lots of fun - wood definitely visit, again.

Easy to find and prople drive and park along the road. Convenient to the conference center. When I wad there the beach included some pretyy incredible kelp .

I'm almost wary to share this gem of a destination due it may become overcrowded. Truth be told, this beach is lovely as any on the 17 mile drive. Rock formations, tide pools, beautiful white sand beaches that don't scorch your feet.

Stayed across the road from the beach at the Asilomar Center. Beach is very accessible and wonderful. Stay at the center and access the beach any time.

Gorgeous view and the kids love the rocks but not a lot of marine life in the tidal pools. Sand is perfect.

If you are in the Monterey/Pacific Grove area take a walk along this beach. The walking path meanders along the shore and is easy to navigate. The rich blue color of water, waves crashing against the rocky coast, sea otters floating on their backs either cracking open shell fish or grooming themselves is amazing. The park is free, just park your vehicle along side of the road and off the pavement.

Clean, friendly, and fog free this week. Easy access on workdays, a challenge on the weekends. Try Phoebe's Cafe in Asilomar or bring snacks. Love it!

The state beach is just steps from the Asilomar Conference grounds across highway 1. It's a spectacular, wide sandy beach with lots of places to stroll and beach comb. Check the tide schedule if you want to get to the tide pools. When we were there the tides were washing lots of seaweed and kelp. Please keep dogs on leash.

Long sandy beach with easy access. May be harder to get parking on the weekend. Close to 17 mile drive and has a great walking and bike trail that is being expanded and upgraded.

This beach is more beautiful in real life. It is basically the beach on the 17 mile trail without the fee. Recommended.

Fantastic scenery! There is free parking but you won't be alone, especially on weekends. The rocks, waves and tide pools are great to see and explore. This last time the beach had a lot of dogs and children off leash. The sunset is worth the wait.

The address given is for the Conference Grounds and to the best of my knowledge doesn't include public parking.
We snuck in anyway (not knowing where else to go) and discovered public parking along the beach with plenty of walkways down to the beach and tide pools.
Lovely assortment of wild life and almost white sand to enjoy. Found enough hermit crabs among the rocks to make my inner 5 year old squeal with delight!

1 mile beach trail that takes you through the dunes and tide pools. The last 25 acres of natural dunes habitat.

Great place to bike and watch the sunset. There's a great biking path from Pacific Grove to Seaside.

Great beach to enjoy the sunsets out of the way of the crowds.. Peaceful, clean, georgeous and parking at lookouts

We usually walk along the shore trail every morning. This is such a beautiful coast, and we can't help but celebrate that anyone can enjoy it without paying a fee. Sandy coves alternate with rocky outcrops. At low tide, you can see all manner of sea creatures. In the winter, when the great Pacific storms roll in, the surf is terrific, splashing over rocks three stories high. All we ask is please read the signs -- don't litter, and don't ride your bike on the dirt trails. We've seen terrible erosion this year from thoughtless bike-riders creating a shallow indentation which the rain finds and turns into a channel.

Takes a bit to get here, but well worth the drive and the sights on the way in. No food out here, so bring water, drinks, and snacks. Lunch out here is always a dream, and with a wetsuit you can have fun in the water for an extended time.

October is a beautiful time to be in Monterey/Pacific Grove. Most people come that time of year for the Monarch butterflies - their migration is amazing, but this year they were not there due to the smoke from the fires. Very sad.
Beach was beautiful and I particularly LOVE the walking trail. And that it's dog-friendly (on leash) Never a disappointment- EXCEPT THIS YEAR ---- for the MANDATORY MASK signs everywhere and fine of $100 all along the beachfront. Seems quite overdone to ask to wear a mask when at 8am in the morning there's no one around barely.

I was so impressed by the Lodge .... looks like a country club with the big brick fireplace with a roaring fire and leather club chairs. Lodge is also outfitted with pool tables, checker boards, other games. Nice snack shop and gift shop. You walk outside, and there are more tables and heat lamps as needed for those cool California evenings. A little further and there are fire pits. Walk out towards the beach for the purest, finest, and ckea est white sand in the world. In fact, this was the source of the Sand Train, which for many years carted off the beach sand here to sell to less well equipped beaches and private resorts. Beautiful and isolated and a great place for walks. Remember that the water is cold, so bring your wetsuit if you plan to go in. We did see a few surfers.

Great place to walk along the shore, sit on the beach and watch surfers in the afternoon. Perfect for swimming if you want to brave the cold Pacific.

Asilomar Beach offers some of the best coastal views in the state. Remember, the water here is cold, and a wet suit is often advised for swimming and surfing. Great place for whale watching, snorkling, and relaxing amidst a gorgeous view. If you are not well-acquainted with the ocean, please learn to recognize and avoid the powerful rip currents, as they take lives. Don't let that warning stop you from visiting this gem of a beach, and be advised that you will see rip current warnings at nearly every beach in the area. Just be safe!

Asilomar Beach is absolutely spectacular with it's rocky, rugged shoreline embracing the pristine blue waters of the Pacific Ocean! Asilomar is located in the Pacific Grove vicinity and is easily navigate on the fine paved beach road that travells around it, with numerous scenic viewpoints as well. During the Winter months, the ocean waves are huge and magnificent. Crashing into the rock formations and blasting high into the air!

This is my children’s favorite beach. During low tide they love to scamper and check out all of the tide pools. Even my hard to impress teenager gets into it. It’s a beautiful beach just for taking a walk too. We will continue I come back for the day.

Asilomar State Beach is an easy stroll from many of the local inns, clean, neat, well-marked paths and just steps from the waters' edge. Stunning!

This State Beach starts at Lover’s Point and follows Ocean View Blvd around Pacific Grove to Sunset Dr and ends at Asilomar Beach. There is a something for everyone: nice boardwalks, footpaths, expansive tide pools at low tide, large crashing waves, lots of wildlife including sea otters, Pacific harbor seals, and lots of life in tide pools to explore. There are lots of benches to sit on and lots of rocks to climb at the right tide.

Off shore you might see Humpback whales breaching, dolphins, or in winter time Gray whales.

We have driven along the coast many times, taken many walks over the years and it’s always been an amazing place to hang and out enjoy nature. The weather can change a lot. Take and have with you layered clothing. The day after Thanksgiving was beautiful and sunny with no wind. Other times it has been extremely windy and cold.

We enjoyed walking through Asilomar grounds and also walking along the state beach. Sunset was beautiful. A popular spot, but it was not a crowd scene.

Great place to explore tidal pools and a really nice, clean sandy beach next door. Sea anemones, minnows, rock scrambling, etc. Dead sea lion on rock was a downer. This isn't Disneyland.

Great location for joggers, fishermen and sightseers. Lighthouse is right there for a tour, and Asilomar Conference center close by.

Simply stated, if you want fresh fish in Monterey, make this your restaurant of choice. Over the past few years on visits to Carmel we have dined there at least 10 times and each meal has been wonderful. Bonus points..a good wine list and a very competent wait staff.

Asilomar State Beach is fabulous for spectacular views, walking, and just relaxing. There is a boardwalk path (which you must stay on except for where beach access is specifically allowed) in order to preserve the natural plant life. This is a good thing because the native plants are beautiful. When we were there, we saw several deer across the street around the beach view homes. Where you can go down to the water, you definitely want to explore the tide pools and see the hermit crabs, anemone, and other fascinating things to see. Definitely worth the trip.

Beautiful sunsets! Lots of surfers so fun to watch. Parking may be a little difficult. The day was very warm but once the sun starts to set it does get chilly.

The beach is wonderful...the sand is white, the water is cold..so don't plan on swimming....if you stay and watch long enough you will get a view of some sea animals and maybe even see a whale go by. Just gorgeous.

We were staying in Pacific Grove ane enjoying walking through the state park to Asilomar State Beach. There is also a nice drive you can do by car to get there.

Good place to surf, even better to watch the waves crash. Be careful on the rocks, rogue waves have killed tourists there. Mainatin a safe distance and respect the raw power of nature.

We spent an hour a week ago on thursday, with our 6 yr old.
- that afternoon was foggy and bit cool
- still the scenary was great. On sunny day it must be even better
- ample parking next to rocky beach area
- its more of rocks, tide pools and some sandy area than a traditional beach
- I would want to spend 2-3 hoirs with kids here, at tide pools, taking pics.
- imagine sunset should be gr8 from here, is clear weather
- even if you have an hour or less, still stop by. Its amazing for nature lovers..

Why do rocks sticking out of water near a beach look so lovely? They just do. It’s perhaps not the safest place to swim but it sure does look amazing and they camera catches things that you don’t see sometimes like sea life that you’ve missed. The sprays of water bouncing off the rocks and an occasional sea animal are what you’ll see here. We were here in late June and my gosh was it cool and windy in the evening. Bundle up stay warm and be safe.

Asilomar is a beautiful beach. The views are amazing and the sand is so soft. It’s a great family beach and dog friendly. It’s also a wonderful place to watch the sunset. We enjoy watching the surfers and there is a nice boardwalk trail to walk along. It also has very easy access, if you can find a good parking spot.

Yet more lovely Pacific Grove, Monterey Peninsula, beach spots. Can't miss here. It's a great spot. Rocks, beautifully colored water, sandy beach, picnic tables in some spots.

We stayed close to the beach for a couple nights during our road trip. This is a very well maintained area for a good evening walk or bike ride. This is part of the 17mile drive to Carmel and is absolutely gorgeous.
Take some blanket with you if you want to spend an evening catching sunset. It does get cold but is worth it.

An absolute must walk, and or afternoon BBQ place! Great for kids and families!! Amazing white sand and ocean waves!!

This is a gem of a state park. Lots of open coastline to explore. Nice trails, lots of parking and easy access if you are staying in Pacific Grove. We just watched the sunset from here 2 nights in a row. Boardwalk through the shouldn't be missed as well.

Nothing like a walk along this beach trail to soothe the soul. Sunsets are spectacular, especially after storms.

Watch out for the tide as it comes up and down depending on the time you visit this beach. We went there to watch the sunset, but we had an hour to kill so we ended up checking out the beach and the tide pools. The grandkids had a great time, and my oldest granddaughter got her sunset photos. Beautiful!

A really beautiful beach to stroll along and look at the tide pools. Also a trail to follow higher up on the hillside. Lots of surfers and we spotted a whale.

There weren't as many people as I expected to be on the beach. It is beautiful. It has blue waters, crashing waves against rocks. a beautiful sunset and many little walking trail type things. The seagulls on this beach were a breathtaking sight. This was the first beach i went to in Monterey and I was pleased and enjoyed it. It's relaxing.

We visited the park just walking from our hotel room. Very striking rocky shoreline and tidepools, coupled with lots of birdlife and ground squirrels. Very peaceful.

This Beach is off the beaten path and away from Monterey Bay but still an easy drive. Beautiful rock formations and pretty tide pools with critters to see. We even saw a mama whale and calf cruising up the coast. Nice little parking area and it's free.

This is a spectacular area with sweeping dramatic views of crashing waves, white sand beaches and great spots for tide pool exploration during low tides. Please be careful of rogue waves, sadly nearly every year we lose one or more tourists to drownings for getting to close to rogue waves. Also be especially careful of young children getting to close to the water. This is not an area for swimming as it is known for dangerous rip currents as well as a concentration of great white sharks. Only expert swimmers should consider entering these chilly waters.

I love to stop by the beach and get reacquainted with nature. This is a great place to do it. It happened to be windy and cold the day we went, but I enjoyed it no less. There are walkways built there to go along and take in the views. Lots of small shells can be found that have been washed up by the tide. There are short stretches of beach. Many dogs on walks with their people to be enjoyed if you so choose. Water was a beautiful blue. Lots of kelp to be seen. Be sure to wear the right shoes for possibly uneven terrain, sand and water

We were renting a house in Pacific Grove and took the grandkids to Asilomar State Beach to go tide pooling. It is a beautiful place with numerous rock formations and plenty of places to explore. It is best to check with the tide charts online to find the best time to go. The parking is free along the highway and there are several pathways to the beach.

Big sandy beach that's dog-friendly (on leashes, please!) and lots of tide pools for exploring. Great sunsets.

Stayed in the historic lodge building.
Very antiquated with thin walls and a tiny bathroom. We had a nice balcony, beautiful ocean view, and a small fireplace in the room.
We were here over a holiday weekend & there were many families with small children. The staff was a bit slow at responding to concerns. We did not care for the breakfasts served in the Crocker Dining Hall. The food from the small cafe is much better quality. You can walk to the beach easily and the tours are very informative. We enjoyed sitting in the Social Hall watching the fire place & playing pool. It’s not fancy but it is interesting as state park facilities go.

This is a preserve so whatever lands on the beach from the ocean stays there. There's kelp all over the place - 1st time I ever saw that! I was surprised I didn’t see any shells like I do at the Atlantic Ocean.

There's great paths to follow as well as walk8ng in the sand. I also liked that we could walk out on the rocks. The sunsets were beautiful. We didn’t get up early enough to see The sunrises!

Stayed in Pacific Grove within walking distance of Asilomar State Park, where we went for morning walks, and amazing sunsets. In mid June while we were there, many flowers were in bloom everywhere we looked. We explored the tidal pools in the morning, and it was amazing all of the life here, even at low tide. The area is quiet, and peaceful, felt like we were all alone most times we were there. Lots of birds. Some areas roped off to protect nesting birds. One sunset walk was so beautiful, the lighting golden & magical, that I have woken up several days in a row since our trip, dreaming of being on this beach again. I live on the Florida Coast, but this place is spectacular. Seems to have a wildness about it.

Very pretty beach and board walks. We love morning and evening walks at this beach. Feels very safe.

This beach and coastline drive is a "must see" in the area! The BEST place to watch sunsets! There are many pull outs and boardwalk trails all along the drive--take advantage of being able to walk along the rocky shoreline and main sand beach!

The coast area around Asilomar State Beach offer some gorgeous views, but beware:
Highway 1 is blocked by a landslide at Big Sur and there is no detour (like the signs warn).

I had some time to kill and so drove along Asilomar, just to be close to the beach a bit. It was a windy day and a lot of people were out, enjoying the beach, walking, biking or walking in the surf. While a lot of people were visiting it did not feel crowded. A great place to sit on the beach and view the sunset. Definitely worth A visit.

Beautiful beach, great walking/running trail along the shore. So rich in marine life - whales, otters, dolphins, many kinds of birds can be seen.

This is a wonderful stretch of rugged beach, dunes, tides and walking trails. It doesn’t feel consumerized, rather it feels very much like you are just getting to enjoy nature.

Beautiful views, BIG WAVES , watch surfers , walks along the beach, parking available ~worth seeing !

If you are in the Monterey area, you must come for a great walk on the beach and end with something from their cafe - maybe sit by the fires or outside.

We stopped here a few times during our stay. It’s free and beautiful, and was a nice break from more crowded tourist areas. Stopping more than once allowed us to see the tide at different levels. Very popular place to be for the sunset. Many interesting rock formations and wave patterns, and some stretches of sandy beach. I would be cautious with younger children, be sure to know where the tide is going and don’t venture out too far on the rocks. We were able to look in tide pools and see anemones, snails, a few types of crabs, limpets, and sea urchins. Watch where you put your feet, since it isn’t always obvious that you might be stepping on a living creature. There are marked walking trails and some benches, so it’s a great place to both rest and stretch your legs.

We were married at Asilomar 6 years ago and we recently revisited again for the Christmas Inn event. Asilomar is a beautiful conference center and beach located along a fabulous stretch of the Pacific Grove Coast. This is one of my favorite places. Many of the historic buildings were designed by Julia Morgan.

This place is just pretty! I love looking at all the houses around the beach. They truly have the best sunsets. There is some parking right on the sand.

My husband and I used to take our dogs here when we lived in the area 20 years ago. When we were back in the area, we made sure to walk along the recreation trail and beach. It looked the same, and we enjoyed it immensely. We only saw one sea otter and one harbor seal, but we were glad that we saw them. It was also great to see dogs running and playing on the beach.

The surf, the tidal pools, the trails all make this a place worth a visit if you are visiting the Monterey Peninsula. If you're a surfer this is your spot in the Peninsula. Nearby is the Asilomar Conference Grounds which has food, drinks and restrooms in the main building (look for the check in signs). Just a wonderful place to watch the sunrise, sunset, a moon over the ocean or to enjoy a drink on the main building porch.

We were staying nearby so I walked over to the beach several times and usually continued on along the coastal trail. The beach is very popular for sunbathing and surfing. Past the beach, the trail hugs the rocky coastline continuing on for miles and miles. We learned the area is a designated marine reserve so fishing and collecting seashells is prohibited. Though the beach and coastal trail are popular, we found ample off street parking on the beach side.

Check this amazing beach out at low tide to find starfish, crabs, abalone, fish, seaweed, and so much more. I think my kids played peacefully for around 5 hours.

This is a beautiful white sand beach near the Asilomar Conference Hotel. You can walk a dog, stroll along the ocean or gaze at the waves.

I spent every sunset here it’s beautiful the waves crashing against the rocks the sun melting into the sky! It was a beautiful way to end the day!

This is a wonderful place to visit tidal pools and enjoy coastal nature. Because it is a sanctuary, beach combing, fishing, and unleashed dogs are not allowed. However, it is amazingly beautiful, and very few tourists are on the beaches, unlike Monterey. If you are looking to enjoy a beach by yourself, this is the place!

This beach has a wild current so swimming here is not for the weak swimmer. It is used in the summer for training junior lifeguards. It has tide pools at both ends of the beach, along with some clean sand to sit on when the weather allows. The beach borders the links at Spanish Bay, near Pebble Beach. This beach is access to the county beach, the beginning which is marked by a small creek that flows across the beach to the sea. There is no leash requirement for dogs on the county beach portion of this stretch of beach, so unwary visitors who are wary of dogs get upset when they see them unleashed and running around the shore. So if you are not a dog friendly person, you might want to stay on the road side of the beach, on state beach property where dogs must be leashed. There is a path that is partly covered with a boardwalk that runs on the back of the beach, along the golf course. Unfortunately, for those in wheelchairs or other such devices, part of the boardwalk is covered in sand, and no longer accessible with wheeled devices. The other minus here is that there is no nearby bathroom, necessitating a long walk to a nearby restaurant, or a drive down to the Pacific Grove Links where there is a bathroom on the roadside.

I come down to Asilomar Beach several times a year to unwind, to Pray , to find my inner self. Its is such a Beautiful and tranquil place. I find PEACE and one day here will re fuel my SOUL.
I drink in the beauty here

I head back to Asilomar every year if I can. The beach is pristine mean and there are frequently sea mammals. We try to stay as close to the beach as possible and walk over a couple times a day.

Came here during the record heatwave (over 100F) in Northern California early September 2018. But this place was a comfortable 72F with a gentle sea breeze. The walking path is well maintained for a leisurely stroll along the coast.

This is out at the end of the Monterey Peninsula, past the Point Pinos lighthouse. No bathrooms, limited parking in dirt. NO LIFEGUARDS !!! can get windy or breezy. Great on a hot day.

There is an actual sandy beach right across from the conference grounds. You can walk on this beach for a long time. Above the beach there is a walking path that takes you along forever. I think you could follow this path almost to monterey. This takes you by tide pool areas, gorgeous vistas. These beaches can be very cold and windy. Layered clothes are necessary.

This is simply a beautiful beach. Just park and take time to walk the half mile or more span. See kids, surfers, dogs playing and simply watch the waves roll over the rocks.

One of the loveliest spots near a full-service city. Feels like Californian dreaming - travelling weekdays avoids crowds.

We particularly enjoyed watching the sunset here but in the day time too its great.
Thoroughly enjoyed our stop here as we started and finished our day of 17 mile drive and Carmel

It's a pleasant place to take a stroll. The scenery is easy on the eye and the ocean breeze feels good on your face. There was a small structure where we temporarily took refuge when it began to drizzle and it had a pleasant view to wait out the rain.

On a late Friday afternoon, the beach was bustling with children and surfers, and paddle boarders....many who come to this kind of cove of a beach to swim ( brrrrr) and picnic and enjoy the sun. There are lovely little hotels behind the beach, that have a pathway to this beach. Nice place to even park and watch the surfers.

This is something you would see in a movie. Amazing waves and greenery at this beach. Make sure you take the trail to enjoy everything this beach has to offer

Just another great beach with great views of the California Coast. We loved just walking along the trails and taking pictures.

We wanted to experience our 2nd Pacific sunset for this East coaster. We left Lovers Point about an hour before sunset and by the time we got to the beach, there were not many parking places. It was fun to see everyone flocking to the beach for this event and watching the surfers. It was chilly as the breeze cane off the ocean. Enjoyed a beautiful sunset and watching everyone.

Clean beach and lots of areas to walk. There is a walkway parallel to the beach. There are a few benches. Nice area to watch the sunset.

Nice expansive beach, and typically not very crowded. Beautiful views. Dog friendly (on leash of course).

Lovely clean beach. Very dog friendly. Not over crowded. Thoroughly enjoyed our visit with our 2 poodles.

Wonderful Respite- enjoyed some time out experiencing nature- saw small deer, birds, beautiful sunset. Peaceful, sunny, nice people.

Our crew of 7 rented fat-tire electric bikes from Big Sur Bikes in Pacific Grove. Lovely ride pas Asilomar Beach on a clear day !

This never gets old. We enjoyed a crystal clear morning with views to die for. Your walk can be as long, or short, as you choose!

Beautiful shoreline! We were the first group to visit since the pandemic. We stayed in the Afterglow building. I had requested an ADA room. The tub and bathroom had hand rails. But the pocket door to the bathroom was hard to close. I requested some help from the hotel staff. But it was very difficult to slide closed.
I was at a business meeting where I needed to use the internet. The internet is very slow.

This beach is beautiful! The sand, water, dunes, cliffs of the land nearby...it's really breathtaking.

You could spend the whole day here or just stop and take in the fresh salt air and the waves and go on about your day.

There is parking along the road, but no parking lots that I could see. Parking didn't seem to be an issue. There were designated paths to the beach so you don't walk on the dunes as they are protected. There are also benches where you can sit along the way to the beach. I took advantage of these benches as I didn't have a chair and I wanted to sit and relax for a bit. It was the most peaceful part of my day.

We have been enjoying this beach for years. Coffee in the morning,hiking during the day and of course sunset. Lots of sand to share and tide pools to enjoy. Parking along the road can fill up but available.

Looking for a place to catch an amazing sunset?? Look no further - stunning location, and ample parking along the roadside if you want to spend the day in the waves.

The pluses: white sand, tidal pools, open ocean view, not crowded, long walking trail. Peaceful. Dog friendly.
Minuses: not much else. Not many birds in this area nor seals. No interesting wave action. Sand dunes restored 30 years ago. No restrooms. Similar view from when you take off from the aquarium. It's a narrow strip of land.

Beautiful spots beautiful views you can go long spend some time here with the family or as a romantic getaway it is so gorgeous

Staying nearby, we googled best sunset spot in Monterey and up popped Asilomar. Google was right, this is the PERFECT spot for sunset! The road along the beach is really long with pull offs every few hundred feet so there is plenty of space for you to have your privacy if you drive around. Lots of runners and bikers as well as turns so drive slow and pay attention. The ocean views can be distracting.

I first went to Asilomar for a Mensa function while pregnant with my daughter Molly. The cafeteria food is great. You are in Pacific Grove, right at the tip of the peninsula of Monterrey. Remember Cannery Row? John Steinbeck, very educational. It is hazy and cool in the mornings, and sun comes out later on so bring a sweater.

This is a relatively long beach and we only visited the section near the Asilomar Hotel. It is peaceful and quiet with frequent sightings of locals walking their dogs on the fine sand. At low tides, people can be seen scrambling on exposed rocks to look at tidepools.

We ran past this on a half marathon. Although we couldn't linger we definitely got to enjoy the views.

We loved walking the waterfront, watching surfers, getting our feet wet, watching the waves come in. And it's a great place to see the sunset!
We took the 17 Mile Drive, but I'd say, save your money, and come to this free park!

I love this beach that is an iconic place to watch a sunset, have a romantic picnic on the beach, a place to propose, or just gor for a nice long walk.

The coastal path by the beach tracks the northern end of the 17 mile drive and the sandy coves with rocky outcrops are all accessible by the able bodied. Lots of parking along the road especially in the evening.

Walk to this beach from the Asilomar Hotel, or drive, but there is not much parking. Next to Spanish Bay resort. Unlike many parts of the coast, this is a sandy beach, with rocks offshore. A happy place!

Visitors can park off the roadway and walk the well tended paths, some of which are more challenging than others.. The landscape is open with no wooded areas. There are benches provided...Dog walking, on leach, is permitted

Popular beach close to cottage where I stayed with spectacular sunsets and long stretches of sandy beach for pleasant walks with friends.

A peaceful state beach that is not as crowded as its nearby neighbors. Quaint but still fun, with lots of rocks and sea creatures for kids to explore.

Among the most beautiful coastline areas in the entire state of California! The dunes before you get to the water's edge are resplendent in native dune plants and local wildlife(shore birds aplenty and sea mammals include sea otters and sea lions in the surf). The sand is so fine and pristine white it is truly unbelievable to behold! At the southern end on the beach you walk under the famed Spanish Bay portion of Pebble Beach golf course! All in all an incredible beach walk! Takes your breath away, I kept counting my blessings for the experience!

Beautiful state park with an amazing ocean views. Not too crowded. Very nice path. Unfortunately there is no facilities, but you can walk across the street to the Asilomar Conference Center.

Access is good. Parking can be iffy as roadside is only option. no parking lots. View is breathtaking.

On a visit to Pacific Grove, we enjoyed hiking along this stretch of rocky coastline late one afternoon. It was a cool and breezy with a bit of sea mist in the air. The perfect conditions to wander the path along this rugged stretch of coastline. Street parking was easy. We ran into a few friendly locals and their dogs, but generally had the trail to ourselves. Very enjoyable.

Wonderful boardwalks along the ocean with spectacular views. Many convenient spots to pull over along the roadways and a lovely rustic resort nearby.

It's my favorite place to explore, wade in the water, look at hermit crabs, make art arrangements with sea wrack and shells, scramble over the rocks, and just relax on the beach. The ocean is a beautiful color. We enjoy watching shorebirds and the kelp bobbing in the cove.

Asilomar State Beach is beautiful. Anyone can enjoy the dramatic crash of the rhythmic beat of the ocean against the rocks and the spray of surf bursting above the rocks as they collide over and over again. Anyone can enjoy the walkways maintained on the low bluff above the beach complete with benches and a gazebo, but it takes a child to see the magic of the beautiful meeting of sand, rock and sea. It takes a child to chase the seaweed in and out on the salt water. It takes a child to dig for the sand crabs and laugh as the slip out between their finger.only a child will build a castle and collect the shells.Love this place with a child.

Staying close by, we walked down to Asilomar in the afternoon and took a great walk along the dunes. Great views and plenty of places to sit and enjoy the beautiful views.

Amazing drive along the scenic shoreline without having to get on 17-mile-drove. Saw a herd of deer grazing on the golf course too.

If one goes at low tide a minus tide you will see more. Sea urchins, lots of hermit crabs that attach themselves inside snail shells and moving about quickly. Beautiful natural viewing. Gushing waves in blue blue water. Quite romantic and relaxing . Highly recommended especially for one who cant hike much. I dont think it is a good place for a baby stroller unless you want to be confined to the pathway. I don't recommend that.

If you like to just sit at the beach and watch the waves, this is a good place to be. It is away from all the hustle and bustle of city life. Tables to sit at. Also a good place to enjoy the tidal pools. They were filming a car commercial the 1st day I went, so that was very interesting. I was surprised that the fog burned off so early in the day and it was beautiful, but a little cold, so be prepared to take some warm clothing due to the fact that it can also be a little (or a lot) windy.

Spent a beautiful afternoon walking the beach. Gorgeous white sand, lots of dogs. Easy parking on the street.

The waves, the rocks, the white sand; the playful otter and seals. Asilomar never gets old. Have been going there for 50 years and would live there if I could

The beach alone is worth the trip to Asilomar but hotel/conference center are good too. The best part is the ocean front parths that you can walk or run along. Check out tidal pools at low tide or just watch the waves hit the rocks. Stunning. As with most of the Monterey Bay shoreline beware of sneaker waves and rip tides, but neither should prevent you from enjoying the beauty of this park. Bring the pooch as there is off leash dog access at the beach across from the hotel/conference center. Enjoy!

Just the right size for an easy stroll with your dogs. Most dogs are off-leash tho there seems to be some sort of leash rule we never fully figured out. Sometimes you need your down jacket and a blanket; other times it's just NorCal chilly.

Asilomar Beach is spectacularly beautiful beach. It has a gorgeous white sand beach on the south end may stretch an entire mile. Great place for strolling, playing in waves washing up, and spectacular sunsets. Great for whale watching and birding. A favorite spot for local surfers. To the north are great rocky outcrops with great tide pools. BUT the water is VERY cold. Watch for sneaker waves that can sweep in and sweep you away. Great for singles, couples, families and hanging out. You can also bike along the road that circles out to Pt. Pinos and on to Lovers point.

Bracketed by commercial golf courses, this quiet stretch of the whitest sand beaches in California provides a tranquil escape.

Nice walk able beach. Great place for a sunset. This a great road for a run in the morning. You can see seals, and sea otters.

Asilomar is spectacular with its beach, ocean, sea life, birds. Sunsets are usually worth the wait. There is an easy walking path which provides an awesome view.

You can enjoy almost any activity on this beach. Walkers, surfers, sunbathers, frisbee throwers, dog walkers, and shell seekers all enjoy the long expanse of sand and surf. This is not a beach for swimming! Undertows are very dangerous here.

During the week it's a beautiful beach without a lot of people, dogs are supposed to be on leashes many were not (ours was).

Long sandy beach area, along with rocky coves to explore. Dog friendly.

Great for young families, but be forwarded there are no restroom areas nearby...so plan accordingly.

Free roadside parking means the place is often crowded. Get there in the morning to get a good parking space and claim a nifty beach spot.

One of the most beautiful places on earth and very accessible. We love it. Hard white sand. Surfers. Dogs. Sea otters.

Many areas to stop, park and explore. Nice area to ride a bike too. There are plenty of benches to sit and watch the waves. Saw some wildlife. Sea otters, seals, and sea stars.

Beautiful walk along the shore in and out of sand dunes and cove. Spot harbor seals and otters and dolphin. Walk from the Spanish Bay beach to Lovers Point and back and you have 5-6 miles. Absolutely and totally relaxing and lots of exercise.

This landscape is one of a kind in the world. So glad to have seen it. Amazingly, breathtakingly beautiful and pristine.

This is the beach we go to when we want to go to the beach. In my opinion it’s the best beach in the area. You park along the road so if it’s busy it will be hard to find a spot but we have always found a spot! Dog friendly and just such a good vibe.

Some of the best tide pool viewing on the Monterey Peninsula. PLEASE NOTE: Asilomar State Beach is part of the CA Marine Protected Areas Network. Beach combing is not allowed - this is a 'no take' zone. All plants (seaweed), animals (tide pool shells, fish and crabs), and rocks should not be gathered. If everyone takes something there will be NOTHING LEFT for others to enjoy! The beauty of mobile phones is that you can take as many pictures as you want to save your tide pool memories. Don't destroy what you came to enjoy!

Usually a clean and nice beach. I have had some weird people yell at me for leash correcting my crazy dog who needed a leash correction. Do not park any where near the beach if you plan to stay any where close to midnight. We left once at ten past midnight and I ended up getting a nasty ticket on my car. Way to get some money out of me, CA!!!!

Big beach but can get crowded due to conference center and weekend traffic. Surfers line up when waves are up good entertainment. Worth checking out.

The beach is easily accessible with nice trail built to walk. Overall good place to spend a couple hours on a nice day.

Asilomar State Beach is very quiet, clean and serene. A few seagulls, a few logs, white diamond sands and the beautiful blue ocean and sky. It is also a very woodsy area. nature at it's finest.

State park beach. This beach feels wild and uncontaminated (no boardwalks or other distractions). Wandering along the dunes is highly recommended. Great place to watch sunrise/sunset. For kids, lots of rocks to climb.

It doesn't matter where you park along the stretch of this beach, you will find unique and jaw dropping views. Stroll along the path, drop down to the beach and pools when you can. This is awe evoking scenery. Be prepared for the weather, rough sand at times, and never turn your back to the waves as you may miss a humpback, or an otter or the sunset. Take your time here. Plan to stop by at different times during the day. You won't be sorry.

We were here on a Saturday morning and had such a lovely time. The sand is sooo soft and fine! It never gets too hot here and there were many people frolicking on the beach and surf.

Wonderful beach to chill out on or explore. Beatiful scenery. Lots of street Parking. Lots of tide pools to explore. You can have bonfires on some parks of this beach. Really nice place to relax. Just PRETTY

Nice water views on a misty, drizzling day. Accessible from Hwy 1, or be walking from the Asilomar Conference Center.

I've only visited the beach a few times, mostly in the morning but it has never been crowded. The view is great!

This is a gorgeous beach running from Oceanview Blvd Pacific Grove to the point of Spanish Bay Pebble Beach. A favorite of surfers & families alike. Adjacent to Asilomar State Conference Grounds. It can be very cold due to winds coming off the ocean. A boardwalk meanders overlooking and down to the beach. Absolutely beautiful! As with ANY ocean beach, A WORD OF CAUTION from a native...NEVER TURN YOUR BACK TO THE OCEAN. Waves can be unpredictable! Be watchful & enjoys God's creation.

Beautiful boardwalk to enjoy miles and miles of ocean views! Plus, many benches to sit, relax, and enjoy the views and a snack

you can see otters and birds. nice board walk and very nice ambience. Safe area to be in and close to a lot of good restaurants

Asilomar Beach is near the end of the Pacific Grove Ocean Parkway. THere is limited parking with paths to the beach.

The beach itself can be windswept as there is little protection to it. Ok to walk but personally if you want to go into the water I would suggest elsewher

We've been on beaches around the world. Many are much larger and more beautiful, but none are more romantic than when you are on Asilomar Beach during one of its spectacular sunsets. The beach sits at the end of Pacific Grove's Oceanview Blvd just across the road from the Asilomar State Conference Center. Be advised that the nicer the sunset, the bigger the crowd, so be patient and just enjoy the moment.

Very large beach. My only trouble is the sand is to soft for my beach power wheelchair. We reached the beach using the 17 mile drive from the north. Very pretty. You do drive by the lone famous tree. Recommend.

This beach has a convenient road which parallels the coast for the entire park. Some areas are a golf course, on the inland side of the road. Great Painting here, for the art lovers. This is where granite outcrops dot the beach and extend into the ocean. One great Right Point Break for surfers, right in the middle of the beach (wetsuit year-round unless you are Superman). Many sea otters, birds of a different feather, occasional mountain lions (dawn & dusk viewings not uncommon) and the largest paw prints in the sand I have EVER seen,,, and I live in mountain lion country. The Monterey map is a very poor rendition of the area, and they're not found at many gas stations ($6 waste of money). GPS works far better if you have the technology. 17 mile drive begins near here, and the view South to Carmel is jaw-dropping (the homes as well). Between here and Big Sur going North, the coastal Highway 1 had an impassable landslide, and the 101 in the same area had a bridge out and under construction from an El Nino rain squall last year (2016). PARKING IS FREE at Asilomar! I'LL REPEAT, PARKING IS FREE!

I enjoy coming to Monterey & Pacific Grove but I haven’t spent much time on this beach. It was very nice & relaxing place to take your shoes off and wade into the ocean. Play in the waves!

This part of the seashore in PG is wonderful. It is well kept and can accommodate a lot of walkers, bikes and folks on the rocks and the beach. The houses are far from the beach so early in the morning you can have the place to yourself.

We went on a family vacation and explored our surroundings. I had a list of things I wanted to check out and Asilomar State Beach was pretty high up there. It did not disappoint! We were looking for a place for our toddler to play in sand for the first time and found perfect, little section of beach. It was a sunny day with low fog burning off quickly. The sand was fairly warm.

When we got down to the water, there were lots of things for the little one to see and explore. Shells, seaweed, little critters. So much life in the tidepools! There was a sea otter that came close to shore. How cool is that?! Well, I thought it was pretty cool to see them in their natural habitat versus an aquarium.

There's a hiking trail to access the beach. It can get a little narrow, so share the pathway. People are walking their dogs, jogging, etc. We parked on the side of the road and plenty of it. If you're planning to go on a weekend, go early. You can miss the large groups of tourists and buses. If it's a Monday, there is a farmer's market that starts at 3pm very close by. We didn't get to go, but the beach was more interesting.

We all had a fun time, especially the toddler! She may still be on the fence about sand on her feet, but it's an opportunity to visit more beaches!

A simply beautiful place to look out at the ocean, walk along the beach and explore tide pools when the tide is out. I have been here twice now and will hopefully return. My kids and niece loved exploring the tide pools and walking in the sand.

Have been going to this beach for years. It is one of the better beaches , clean, not too long a walk from car, in Monterey. It is a good beach to let the kids play and run around. The only bad thing is there are no restrooms.

Magnificent rocky coast. There is a boardwalk that meanders through the dunes. The coastline is rocky and there are plenty of tide pools to explore when the tide is out.definately worth it.

Enjoyed spending a few hours walking along the beach and surrounding areas. Very nice and not too busy. It seemed to be the place where locals went which for us, is a good sign.

This is very much a northern california beach city...which means cold and windy but still beautiful! We went mid april, about a high of 60 and overcast. There isn't much parking. Mainly just parking on the side of the road. Because it was cold and a weekday, we had no trouble finding a spot. There were pathways from the parking/road down to the rocky beaches. We did not hang out on the main sandy beach area so cannot attest to how nice those are. We enjoyed catching the crabs and watching the anemones in the pockets of water exposed by the low tide. The sand was covered in broken shell so wear shoes! The tide was strong and unforgiving so don't go too far in. All in all, a wonderful day spent.

A must see. Clean, beautiful beach with white sand. Tide pools and agreat walking beach. Not too crowded.

Nice beach easy access.we had a good time and it was easy access. Clean too. My kid loved it. I would recommend not too busy either

This drive along the coast below Monterey is well travelled but full of quiet sandy tide pooly beaches. It ends behind the Asilomar Conference grounds, which themselves are worth checking out. The big beach is great for sunsets, tide pools, dipping you feet in, running the dog, surfing, you name it. One of our favorites!

An outstanding wild place where you can go and just sit for hours quietly watching the waves crashing and all the wildlife.

Direct access to the beach. Lodging is perfectly decent for a two star hôtel. Charming environment. Feels good to wake up and see some squirrels under your bedroom window. Pacific Grove is a nice little town. Choose it over Monterey for more quietness.

We could walk here from our rental, the boardwalks lead to picturesque vistas, seating, beach access and something new around every twist and turn.

Asilomar State Beach stretches for miles around the town of Pacific Grove. To the south it is rocky seashore with a nice walking path. To the north is a large sandy beach (Asilomar Dunes) with tide pools, surfing, and plenty of play area for the kids. My daughter didn't want to ever leave. Definitely put a visit to the beach on your "to do" list when on the Monterey Peninsula.

Absolutely gorgeous, both myself and my family loved it. Probably the most beautiful beach in the Monterey area. Dogs allowed on leash, unfortunately this rule is not universally followed.

This park had great tide pools for looking for crabs and anemones and snails, etc. I recommend going 3-4 hours before lowest low tide or 1-2 hours before an average low tide. Otherwise everything is exposed and closed up.

Kick back and enjoy the gorgeous scenery or lace up your running shoes for a nice run. I opted to relax while my husband opted to run along the trails; we both enjoyed the view of the beach itself as well as the ocean.

Beautiful, clean sandy beach with lots of rock cropping that offer crashing waves that would delight even The grumpiest in your group. Lots of places to pull out and park. A fairly new beach boardwalk for the frail and persnickety who go to the beach, but don’t want sand to touch them. 🙃

Just beautiful. Long winding beachfront walk viewing the spoils. Path has been made with synthetic boards and is even accessible for those with physical limitations. Goes on forever. Peaceful. My only word of caution is that on those early morning jaunts make sure you pre first. No washrooms of any kind for miles.

The walk along Sunset Drive (not on the road, but along the beach front) is wonderful. Easy to traverse up and down, and to and from the water among hillsides and rocks and beach vegetation. There are safety barriers and there are stairs all along to keep you on the path and able to enjoy all areas of the beach. Dogs on a leash are welcome and the photo ops are amazing.

An excellent place to walk and at the beach closest to Pebble Beach watch the surfers. Just saw a kite surfer go 40 mph parallel to the beach. Simply amazing especially on a windy day.

We did a lot of things, we started by going to the aquarium, and we stayed at the Asilomar hotel, near the Asilomar beach. It was a great choice. This beach is close to the hotel. And it is the most beautiful one I visited on this trip. You can walk to the beach or just stay on some benches near the beach to watch the sunset. Very beautiful.

If visiting PG, be sure to hop over to Asilomar State Beach. This will get you over the tip of the peninsula to be able to see an incredible Pacific coast sunset. Beautiful and scenic!!

This coastline is a "must experience" for everyone; we've been numerous times. It's truly gorgeous, whether your towards the north end with more rocky formations or on the long sandy beach. Artists and photographers...a dream.

Great views and nice spot to read a book. The breeze made it a bit chilly but it drowned out the obnoxious sound of the tour buses.

Beautiful views and a nice walk along the ocean. A great place for picture taking. Observed surfers and persons checking tide pools.

Spots of actually warm water. Beautiful sunshine and clean sand. Parking is the biggest problem but if you can find it, at least it’s free. Pretty gentle surf for Monterey Bay.

I love this beach. There is a walkway to get down to the beach it was a gorgeous area
My new favorite place to see Mother Nature’s majestic beauty
Will definitely visit here again when in the area
Next time with a picnic lunch.

Nice area with a walking path right by the ocean. Lovely view of the sunset from here!!! Very relaxing.........

The title says it all! It was gorgeous but get there early as there is only parking on one side of the road!

This beach is pristine and is long and easy to walk on. The views down the coast are beautiful of how California got its reputation for beauty!

Was at Asilomar Conference Grounds for, you guessed it, a conference. The beach is a great place to go for a run, people watch, or wildlife watch!!

Since I was a child I loved this beach.

It is big and windy and has big waves. Sometimes you’ll catch surfers out there.

There is plenty of tide pools, kelp and driftwood to explore.

Great sunset views and romantic walks.

We went on a family vacation to California, the kids had a fun time on the beach. We had to mindful of them going toward the rocky side though.

So fun to visit this hidden gem. Nestled between Monterey and hwy17, this beach has a lot to offer. Lots of walking paths, tide pool exploring, and sand enough for everyone. Be cautious, surf is very high.

This area of coastline at Pacific Grove is very beautiful and dynamic. Rocky coast punctuated by beaches of varying size full of wildlife and the full force of the Pacific bearing down on them. Plenty of sea otters, seals and birdlife to entertain. Enjoy!

This lovely place has coves or a big wide beach to choose from.
Great for small children to safely play in the surf, supervised of course!

There is not much you can see. Though it's a good place to have a drive along the neighborhood. There are lots of restaurants in the area, so you can just head to the city center to have a quick meal.

Beautiful, wild craggy rock jut-outs and a cove nestled between wth a sandy stretch of beach laden w/ surfers, fighting the knee- highs this day. Long board/cliff(?) walk to accommodate the meditative and jogging folks, with ample parking ring side. Gorge!!!!!

What a nice relaxing beautiful walk. Recommend getting up early to take advantage of a walk in the fog...it's memorizing!

Awesome afternoon. Got food to go from Compagna Deli and ate at beach. Tons of sealife, and great atmosphere.

The beach is easily accessible and clean. Parking is along the street. Love the sunset. It is near the conference center and lovers cove.

Asilomar State Beach is wonderful place to relax and unwind. It may be foggy and cold in the summer, so bundle up!

This is where we first made our 40 years ago. It’s a great place for people of all ages. Beautiful place to watch the sunset.

We enjoyed going again to Asilomar State Beach on a splendid sunny day. We also saw sunset. Others were out enjoying the day and views.

amazing sunset spot, though you are not alone. lots of people. lots of places to explore, lots of rocks and tidepools, lots of dogs and surfers too

Stunning natural beauty, the sound of the ocean and the breezes are refreshing and restful. The beach and the dunes area are pristine.

It was my 2nd time there. And LOVE IT! There is no admission to the beach. It is pretty easily accessible. Just beautiful!!

Absolutely love the public access to the prestige beaches breathtaking views and everyone very friendly
Sunsets are incredible every night!
They just need to install more restrooms

Not much to say about one of the most beautiful places on earth, whether you go during the day or at sunset. There are plenty of places to stop, explore, walk or bicycle.

Loved this beach. Sand was lovely! stayed at Asilomar Conference Grounds. Was right across the small street. Great trail to walk along. Saw Sea lions laying on rocks. Will definitely be back here!

The best beach walk in Pacific Grove. Beaches to dip your feet into the sand and water. The beach at the south end is great for boogie boarding and cooling off. Busy on weekends.

We always take our dogs to the beach at Carmel-by-the-Sea, but parking is a pain. This beach is also dog-friendly (off-leash) and closer to Pacific Grove where we stay.

Because it's not as protected as Carmel, it's a bit windier, but it's less crowded and no huge sand-hills are required to hike up/down.

I'd recommend starting at Lover's Point on Ocean View Blvd., and slowly driving through Pacific Grove to where it becomes Sunset Drive and hits the Asilomar State Beach area. It's a beautiful drive with many places to pull over and sit on the beach or a bench for awhile. There is something so restful about hearing the ocean crash against the rocks. Like most Northern California beaches, facilities like restrooms are scarce. This place is as wonderful as Point Lobos or 17-mile drive, and you don't have to pay the fees. There are a couple of tide pools that are created, but they're always time dependent, and not as abundant as a place like Fitzgerald Marine Reserve. We did come across a few gorgeous star fish and plenty of hermit crabs.

Beautiful to behold, this beach and the scenic drive leading to it rival the 17 Mile Drive. Easily reached, and roadside parking.

I couldn’t believe how blue and beautiful the ocean is in this area. The coastline here is absolutely gorgeous with lots of wildflowers growing everywhere and the golf course across the street. We saw several deer in the area and watched otters play.

If you go to Pacific Grove, or anywhere in the area for that matter, this beach is a must do. The sand is so soft and fine. Easy access. Lovely rock formations. Plenty shorebirds to see. A creek empties into the ocean. Photo ops abound.

Our favorite walking place on the entire Monterey Peninsula. Great trails and magnificent close up views of the rocks, waves, beaches, birds. Great for a daily or occasional walk.

A great and clean beach between Pacific Grove and Pebble Beach. Great for walking along the shore, playing in the sand and ocean, relaxing, climbing the rocks, and surfing. Dog friendly. A walk out to Point Joe in Pebble Beach and back to Ocean View Blvd. is a little over three miles.

I walked through from one end of Pacific Grove to Asilomar Beach. Fantastic. The breakers were rolling in. When I got there around 10am one surfer was going in, by the time I left around an hour later there were ten surfers. Entertaining.
I then walked back to Lovers Point by the Coastal Trail. Many, many wonderful views.

The beach is a short walk from the Lighthouse and nearby motels. Alternately rocky coast and some sandy beaches. Located opposite a golf course there's a good stretch without sea view property that would disturb the natural world experience. Farther south, near the Asilomar conference center, dunes make for great little hikes at a slightly higher elevation. I spotted many birders who were counting different species and saw great flocks of pelicans, a white egret and of course seagulls. You'll find bathrooms at the north end of the golf course and at the south end, on the Asilomar Conference Center grounds near Phoebe's Cafe. Even in November the radiation was pretty strong, visors and sunglasses are recommended, wear sensible shoes or trainers, carry binoculars and camera and bring water and snacks.

It would be sad if you missed this place when you are in the area. Easy to get to by car or bike, and a wonderful walking area once you are there. Very beautiful and unique.

This beach was easily one of the most beautiful beaches we found on our drive up the coast. It was walking-friendly, had easy parking, great wave watching, lots of birds, and awe-inspiring sunsets. We went back a couple of times just to enjoy the beauty. There is quite a long stretch to park along so your view is different every time you visit.

a Lovely beach to find as you drive along the Coast Road from Cannery Row. Spectaculr white sand. When we went the beach had very few people on it,
A hidden gem?

Path is well maintained and an easy fun walk. Sun set is a must see. Dog friendly on the north side of the creek that splits the beach.

We stayed at the Asilomar Conference Center so was able to walk just 5 min to the beach and enjoy the raw beauty of the place. It's fun to watch the surfers and walk along the boardwalk or beach.

Gorgeous views on a sunny day, but the rest of time is windswept and overcast. The tide pools and sand dunes are interesting to look at.

Such a beautiful view. On a clear day you can see forever. All the way to Santa Cruz and over to moss landing and seaside. Take a wind breaker and take a hat cover. It's cold, windy and Misty. Don't leave your camera. There are sea otters , sea lions, seals and whales in and up close. The best pictures can be taken on top of the naturally formed rock towers. Have dinner down the road on cannery row. Enjoy and have some nice memories made. Cheers.

This was a very nice beach with trails. Was in the area for 3 nights and walked on this beach every evening as it was walking distance from our hotel. Beautiful!

This beautiful beach is truly a hidden gem! The beach is clean and quiet and NOT OVERCROWDED like some of the surrounding beaches. There is plenty of street parking and even designated handicapped spots. There are nice easy walkways to get down from street to beach level. There are lots of little coves that make if feel like you have a private beach. Dogs are allowed on the beach on a leash. There are also great tide pool areas for kids to explore!

This park is spectacular. A great place to catch a sunset over the pacific ocean. In the morning lots of runners and bikers enjoy it too

Beautiful natural and unspoiled area, public paths to walk to various places on beach. Enjoy low tide times.

Beautiful, dog friendly beach across from our motel. We enjoyed watching the surfers. Really chilly even in July!

Loved this place. Watched sun set and rise and there were deer wandering around. Stayed in nearby Inn with short walk to beach.

Best beach on the bay, good parking and great walking paths, with the best views of the bay. Great wildlife viewing for birds and sea otters.

Such a beautiful, gorgeous state beach. Everything about it is wonderful. Calm, peaceful. The ocean. Fabulous views. Oh we loved it there. Don't miss it.

Like a mini 17 mile drive with beautiful scenery, would recommend you spend a bit of time here away from the shops and restaurants of town.

We stopped here for a little while to enjoy the waves. We caught it as the tide was coming in. It's amazing how fast the tide can rise. Just to stand by the water and hear the waves is rejuvinating for me.

We had a walk in the eve, I went for a jog in the morning. It’s a truly beautiful place. Loved hearing the waves crash.

Beautiful views and a clean beach. Absolutely stunning place to watch the sunset or to just bask in the beauty that surrounds you. Easy access.

The paths along this beach are great and it doesn't really matter where you start. I go often because you can run, walk, or just sit and enjoy the sea view and sea air year-round. Even on windy or rainy days, the views are stunning. If you walk down to the sand you might even find a seashell or two or a bit of sea glass.
If you are traveling, a great place to stay is the charming and historic Asilomar Conference Grounds where many of the buildings were designed by Julia Morgan who was the architect for the Hearst Castle (another must see!).

The drive from Pacific Grove to the 17 Mike drive Faye is simply spectacular. Rocky coastline, numerous birds, and several parking spots to pull over and enjoy the view.