As summer winds down, parents in Monterey and Santa Cruz counties might be on the lookout for ways to engage in last-minute summer activities with their children.
Here is a list of choices for kids of all ages:
In Santa Cruz, check out the Seymour Marine Discovery Center at 100 McAllister Way. Here kids can have fun with the interactive displays, aquarium, family tour, and arts and crafts. Click for more information.
Also in Santa Cruz is Santa Cruz Main Beach at 399 Beach Street. This beach boasts the best coastline in Santa Cruz. There’s paddleboarding, kayaking, fishing, and beach volleyball for older kids, and plenty of sugary white sand for toddlers to build sandcastles on or throw a ball around or bury each other in the sand. Click for more information.
The Santa Cruz Mystery Spot is a cool place to check out, although school-aged kids would get the most out of it. It sits within the Redwood Forest. Take your family to the Mystery Spot for some cheap family fun as you look through its gravity-defying displays. After exploring the facility, you can head outdoors and enjoy a scenic hike through the tall trees. Click for more information.
The Monterey Zoo is a fun place to visit at 400 River Road in Salinas. Marina resident Anna Munoz likes to take her 8-year-old son there as it is handicap accessible. They like seeing the zedonk (a cross between a zebra and a donkey). She says there are a variety of species at the zoo such as bald eagles, birds of prey, and primates such as lions, tigers, and bears. Click for more information.
MY Museum at 425 Washington Street in Monterey is now open with summer hours from Wednesday to Sunday from 10 am to 12 pm or 1 to 3 pm. Reservations and masks are required. Admission for children and adults is $10. Kids under 24 months are free. My Museum provides an environment where curiosity and creativity flourish, while both children and adults discover the thrill of lifelong learning. Click for more information.
Munoz also likes to take her son for picnics on the grass in front of Colton Hall Museum at 570 Pacific Street in Monterey. Across the street is the Monterey Museum of Art boasting outdoor metal sculptures. Click for more information.
Pacific Grove Library Youth Services offers many programs for kids of all ages. The library is located at 550 Central Avenue in Pacific Grove. Check their online calendar for events and dates. Click for more information.
For a fun water activity, kids and their parents could go kayaking at Elkhorn Slough at 2390 Ca-1 in Moss Landing. Click for more information.
Since golf is more of a grownup game, there is an alternative for kids: disc golf. There is a course at CSUMB. Click for more information.
For more outdoor fun, one does not have to go far for a fun camping experience. Locals can camp at Monterey Pines RV Campground on Higuera Lane and also at Monterey Veterans Memorial Park at 1200 Veterans Drive in Monterey. Also, picking up supplies to make S’mores are a great treat and fun for kids to make while camping. Click for more information.
Hiking is a great choice for kids and adults, given the variety of parks in Monterey County. Here are a few choices for getting your hike on:
• Toro Park is located at 501 Monterey-Salinas Highway 68 in Salinas.
• Jacks Peak Park is located at 25020 Jacks Peak Park Road in Monterey. There is a cost of $5 per vehicle
• Fort Ord National Monument is located at Toro Creek Road in Marina.
• Pinnacles National Park is located in San Benito and Monterey Counties. Camping is also offered here.
• Garland Ranch Regional Park is located at 700 West Carmel Valley Road in Carmel Valley. Garland Ranch offers several different hiking trails, with both beginner and more advanced trails. The park also has a Visitor Center with maps and a park model.
• Garrapata State Park is located at 34500 CA-1 in Carmel.