One of the first things I noticed when I moved to Monterey was just how dirty the kids were here. In the very best sense possible, of course. These kids were allowed to explore the outside world without fear of getting filthy in the process. In the city where we used to live, the children came to library story time dressed perfectly in designer-wear and were expected to sit quietly and listen. Our first Pacific Grove Library story time was filled with sandy-haired kids with bare feet and plenty of good-natured chaos. We have never felt more at home. We moved to Monterey, after all, so our kids could get outdoors and explore–so they could get dirty!
The numerous well-appointed playgrounds in Monterey are fine enough, but my kids’ most productive mud-making, stick-fort-building, tree-climbing time is done away from designated play areas.
Here are my family’s favorite places to get knee-deep in nature. Pack some extra clothes, a towel, and a bag (to collect all the treasures your kids find), and head out.
The Farm Stand, Carmel Valley 7250 Carmel Valley Road, Carmel
There are so many things I love about this place. It opens early, at eight a.m. most days, which is awesome if you have early risers. Even better is the organic coffee and banana bread. I get the best pictures of my children playing here – between the lighting (it’s always sunny in Carmel) and the vivid, gorgeous landscape – every shot is Instagram worthy. Best of all, kids are free to roam the working gardens, climb in the huge Redwood tree (as well as on two giant Adirondack chairs), touch, smell, and clip (for a dollar a bunch) the delicious herbs and flowers, and eat blackberries and raspberries straight from the vine. They may even chase a chicken (escaped from the farm next door) or feed grass to the ground hogs. For a final mess-making treat, the soft serve ice-cream is amazing and perfect to combat the Valley’s heat.
Carmel River State Beach Carmelo St, Carmel-By-The-Sea
We’ve come to this beach just to go for a walk and marvel at the coming together of a great river and a mighty ocean, and too many times to count I’ve driven home with two sopping-wet children covered in sand. The shallow, warm water of the lagoon has an allure and kids can’t keep away. It’s the perfect place to build sandcastles without worrying too much about the tide, collect driftwood for forts, or treasure seek for shells, interesting stones, and bird feathers. While I let them get wet in the lagoon, we keep our distance from the ocean, it’s particularly dangerous at this spot.
Garland Ranch Regional Park 700 W Carmel Valley Rd, Carmel
Be warned, you might meet some horses on the trails here and there will be plenty of horse-droppings to sidestep. The trails are somewhat strenuous, but your kids will be rewarded when they manage to find the magical fairy pond. I like to let my little ones navigate here, as there are many, many trails to choose from, but not too much chance of getting lost. If it’s a hot day, then you can get in some river play under the bridge at the entrance of the park. The river is low, but fast there, and kids will love standing ankle-deep feeling the running water tickle their toes.
These are just a few of the many outdoor spaces to explore in Monterey. Mostly, my kids love to play in their own backyard. With an old table and some pots and pans from the thrift store, we’ve created a mud kitchen. Some broken bricks decorated with grass, sticks, and wild flowers have become home to fairies (and salamanders, rolly pollies, and spiders galore).
It doesn’t take much to get a kid interested in dirt, and in Monterey, we’ve got plenty of that.
Jenny Delja is freelance writer of fiction and nonfiction, as well as the dedicated mother of two girls, an avid cook, a tree hugger and outdoor enthusiast, a homemaker, and a compulsive crafter.
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