- The list below includes 144 free or cheap things to do in or near Monterey, California, including 77 different types of inexpensive activities like Walking Trails, Piers & Boardwalks, Art Museum and History Museums.
- From Waterfront to Monterey Bay, there are a variety of budget-friendly attractions in Monterey and in nearby cities within 25 miles like Carmel, Pacific Grove, Salinas and Seaside.
Showing 141-150 of
314
24.1 Miles
Featuring gravel fields, Franich Dog Park is a fenced canine recreation area with separate large and small dog sections. The park has drinking water, benches, dog waste bags and a double-gated entrance.
24.2 Miles
Seascape Park is a 6-acre neighborhood park that features a picnic area, a wheelchair accessible playground, restrooms, and views of Monterey Bay. The park has benches created by artist Mary Fuller.
24.7 Miles
At Manresa State Beach, visitors will be able to enjoy recreational activities, surf fishing, and surfing. This site, which features a large amount of sea and sand, features changing weather conditions. Layered clothing is encouraged.
24.8 Miles
Sykes Hot Springs is a camping and hiking area that offers scenic and challenging hikes along a network of trails. The trails offer wilderness and ocean views, and hikers can camp at various points along them.
25.1 Miles
With 3 mile-long trails and elevation of 200 feet, Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park is a heavily wooded area and also rich in wildlife. Along the river there are campsites and lodgings.
25.2 Miles
Located on nearly 4,800 acres, Andrew Molera State Park can be used for hiking, fishing, swimming, camping, boating and horseback riding. The park provides picnic areas, beach access, camping sites, restrooms and wildlife viewing opportunities.
25.4 Miles
86%
307 votes
West Cliff Drive at Lighthouse Point, Santa Cruz, CA
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The water is warm at the Santa Cruz Surfing Museum. Surfers and beach babies enjoy the many exhibits dedicated to board design, safety practices and the physics behind successful surfing.
25.4 Miles
74%
35 votes
Lighthouse Point, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
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In 1986, the Santa Cruz Surfing Museum opened inside the Mark Abbott Memorial Lighthouse. It is one of the oldest museums in the world dedicated to surfing, and visitors can see how surfboards progressed from huge paddleboards to modern surfboards, along with surf club patches, surf movie posters, and wetsuits,
25.4 Miles
93%
1060 votes
149
Pfeiffer Beach
Sycamore Canyon Road, Right off Highway 1, Big Sur, CA 93920
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A popular day-use park in the Big Sur area is Pfeiffer Beach which has pockets of purple sand. Unique rock formations are situated in the water just off the beach, including a prominent arch.
25.4 Miles
All kinds of wildlife are found at Lighthouse Field State Beach including the black swift, monarch butterflies and sea lions. The beach is popular with dog owners and surfers and is even home to a surfing museum.