monterey

Marina, California: Two Weeks Exploring Monterey, Big Sur & Point Lobos We spent the first two weeks of April 2026 in Marina, California, using it as our home base to explore Monterey, Carmel-by-the-Sea, Point Lobos, Big Sur and even Pinnacles National Park. Marina sits along Monterey Bay on California’s Central Coast, surrounded by beaches, coastal dunes and open space. It is close enough to Monterey and Carmel to make everyday exploring easy while still giving you quick access to Highway 1 and the Big Sur coastline. Marina itself also has access to the Monterey Bay coastline and nearby Fort Ord…