Free & Cheap Things to Do in Monterey, CA

  • 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.
  • 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 191-200 of 314
26.4 Miles
78% 233 votes
Beaches 1500 Park Avenue, Capitola, CA MoreLess Info
Guests of the New Brighton State Beach will be able to go swimming, fishing, and picnicking. The location also features a camping area that is located on a bluff overlooking Monterey Bay.
26.5 Miles
100% 3 votes
Paddleboarding 1500 Park Avenue, Capitola, CA 95010 MoreLess Info
Stand Up Paddle New Brighton is a seasonally open shop that serves all paddleboarding and kayaking needs from rentals to private classes. They can also serve parties and team building activities for groups up to 20 people.
26.5 Miles
- 0 votes
National & State Parks 1500 Park Avenue, Capitola, CA 95010 MoreLess Info
Friends of Santa Cruz State Park is a non-profit organization that funds interpretive programs for schools groups, native plant restorations, and community education events. The organization focuses on Sunset State Beach and Manresa State Beach.
26.6 Miles
93% 84 votes
Breweries 103 Kennedy Drive, Capitola, CA 95010 MoreLess Info
A coastal brewery with a creative approach, Sante Adairius Rustic Ales makes an array of distinctive craft beers. Some beers are inspired by European styles, while others are more traditionally American. The brewery features a tasting room.
26.7 Miles
95% 158 votes
Movie Theaters 210 Lincoln Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95060 MoreLess Info
Nickelodeon Theatre shows a wide variety of independent and foreign films and some big-budget Hollywood movies, and they also run midnight showings of classics. Their concessions include organic and GMO-free popcorn and many locally crafted desserts.
26.7 Miles
97% 121 votes
Movie Theaters 1124 Pacific Avenue, Santa Cruz, CA 95067 MoreLess Info
The Del Mar Theatre is a movie theater that offers big-budget Hollywood movies as well as a variety of indie and foreign films. The cinema uses GMO-free popcorn and organic canola oil.
26.9 Miles
83% 65 votes
Art Museum 705 Front St., Santa Cruz, CA MoreLess Info
A wide range of pieces are contained in the collections of the Museum of Art & History. Native American pottery and even modern beach photographs are on exhibit at the site which frequently holds educational events.
26.9 Miles
26% 87 votes
Movie Theaters 1405 Pacific Avenue, Santa Cruz, CA 95060 MoreLess Info
A nine-screen movie theater, Regal Santa Cruz 9 displays first-run feature films using digital projection and RealD 3D. The theater offers reclining chairs, reserved seating, mobile ticketing and a snack bar with food and drinks.
27.1 Miles
99% 602 votes
Scenic Drives 48485 Highway One, Big Sur, CA 93920 MoreLess Info
Recognized and recommended by National Geographic, Big Sur Tours & More is a chartered tour company that specializes in small-group excursions. All tours feature custom itineraries and feature knowledgeable, experienced and personable guides. Overnight tours are available.
27.5 Miles
90% 120 votes
Botanical Gardens 1156 High Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95064 MoreLess Info
Located inside the UCSC campus, the Arboretum is a great place to explore a variety of plants and trees of many different countries. Bird watching is a popular activity here with a good population of hummingbirds and other resident and visiting species.
Showing 191-200 of 314
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