Things to Do in Marina

Marina boasts a number of attractions and activities for visitors to partake.   If you are the adventurous type, try skydiving at the Marina Airport, or hang glide from Marina State Beach.  Former Fort Ord lands offer horseback riding or scenic hiking and biking trails.  Visit the Marina State Beach and take a tour of the protected natural dunes.   Bring the kids to enjoy the skate park, the recreation trail, or picnic and feed the ducks at the Locke Paddon Park.  Check out Marina's and the Peninsula's calendar of events to find out what else is going on during your visit! 

Visit Marina State Beach

See the Dunes Habitat, watch surfers, enjoy the gorgeous sunsets, the dolphins at play, see the spectacular hang gliders, build sand castles, and walk for miles in solitude and peace.

What is now the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary and State Seashore was once used extensively by the Ohlone peoples. In the 1950's, the Dunes were used as a source of construction sand. Since the 1990's the Dunes have been undergoing restoration of native and endangered plant species. The Monterey Bay seashore now receives over 3 million visitors a year. Hang gliders and surfers put on a great display at the beach for the less adventurous.

Visit Public Lands

There are 8,000 acres of the former Army base at Fort Ord now public land managed by the Bureau of Land Management. The elaborate system of trails left behind by the military is well-suited to hiking, biking and equestrian use. Fort Ord contains one of the largest maritime chaparral areas in all of California, as well as oak woodlands, rolling grassy hills, wetlands and ponds. Forty-six different rare plants and animals thrive in the rugged hills, including the coast wallflower, marine chaparral, tiger salamander, fairy shrimp, and mountain lion.

• Mountain Biking on the Beach
• Horse Back Riding on the Beach
• Guided Wildflower Tour

Ride along sand dunes, walk or trot along the shoreline at the center of Monterey Bay. Stunning views, from Pacific Grove to Santa Cruz.

Monterey Bay Recreational Trail

The Monterey Bay Coastal Bike Trail is some 29 miles long stretching from Castroville to the Monterey Peninsula and parts of Pebble Beach. A large portion of the trail is actual bike path while some portions are still shoulder of the road riding. Well maintained and used by both joggers, skaters, walkers and cyclists. Use proper road etiquette when on the bike trail, be courteous to other trail users and stay either to the left or right of the trail.

Whale Watching in the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary

During the winter and spring months the entire gray whale population migrates through the Sanctuary within three kilometers of the Monterey Bay coastline, traveling to their summer feeding grounds in the Bering Sea and to their winter breeding grounds in Baja. Thanks to its nutrient-rich waters, the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, located along California's central coast, offers some of the world's best whale watching.