Lover’s Point Beach, Pacific Grove
Have you ever had those long summer weeks where the kids are bickering and you have to get out of the house? Last month I was at my wits end with the fighting and the boredom. So when a friend suggested a huge playdate at Lover’s Point Beach in Pacific Grove, I was the first to RSVP! Here is a recap of our trip and some Lover’s Point Beach tips!
Lover’s Point Beach is a popular beach located in Pacific Grove, California. It is known for its beautiful views and scenic walking paths, as well as its safe and calm waters, making it a popular destination for swimming, surfing, and other water sports. The beach is also surrounded by a park with picnic areas, playgrounds, and a grassy lawn, making it a great spot for families to enjoy a day outdoors.
It’s notoriously cold on the central coast and even though it is summer, our friends warned us to bring lots of layers. I’m so happy to report that Lover’s Cove was sunny and warm! On this particular day, the water was calm enough for babies to splash in or for beach loungers to lay out near the shore.
It’s about a 1.5-hour drive from San Jose so a stop in Gilroy for snacks and drinks was needed to break up the trip. Also, my children get car sick so I wanted to make sure she was hydrated and comfortable before we hit the windy road through the hills and down into Monterey Bay.
Many of the children in our group played on the cove sand for hours. They built sand towers, buried themselves in the sand, nibbled on treats all day, and had a blast. I found Lover’s Cove Beach to be a family-friendly environment with no rough waves and a fairly easy drive from the South Bay. Is it touristy? Yes. The beach is touristy on the weekends. But Lovers Point has some of the best views of the Monterey Coastline. Beach access, rocky points, wildlife, great biking trails, eclectic shops, and a few iconic food spots… all within .25 miles.
Lover’s Point Beach Tips:
- There is a snack shack that serves hot dogs, burgers and fries just as you enter the beach on the west side.
- Parking is limited to two hours in the parking lot. There is unlimited street parking south of the beach.
- Traffic can be terrible in the afternoon so leave plenty of time when leaving the area. The rush hour commute seems to begin at 3:00pm.
- Pets are allowed in the Park but not on the sand.
- Very little parking about 10 spots at the park itself and about 15 spots away from the park which is about a 5-minute walk. Parking can be a struggle, especially on weekends and holidays.
