Marina State Beach - South Beach

Located in the city of Marina, Marina State Beach - South Beach is a remote beach with light brown sand. This beach is situated below steep oceanfront bluffs and is in the southern part of a larger state-protected beach named Marina State Beach. 

Marina State Beach - South Beach does not have lifeguards or any other amenities, so plan your trip accordingly. The beach does not allow dogs.

Marina State Beach - South Beach offers many fun activities including sunbathing, beachcombing, wildlife watching, picnicking, fishing, and hiking. The water near Marina State Beach - South Beach is highly unsafe for recreational activities including swimming and kayaking due to extremely strong rip currents and considerable depth. In addition, the water here also has a severe undertow, making it look calm on the surface but becoming dangerous once you go into it. In addition, we also strongly recommend that you do not leave children unattended anywhere near the water in Marina State Beach - South Beach as sneaker waves are also known to pull people offshore into the water. You can watch many kinds of animals in the water near Marina State Beach - South Beach including seals, sea lions, and sea otters. If you are planning to fish in the water near Marina State Beach - South Beach, make sure that you follow the local fishing regulations. Marina State Beach - South Beach is ideal for those looking for a quiet beach experience as this beach sees few visitors due to its remote location. 

There is a hiking trail along the blufftop area above this beach named the Dunes Nature Trail which offers a unique insight into the local flora and fauna. This trail goes over a boardwalk and also has interesting interpretive displays. As an interesting fact, the sand dunes present around Marina State Beach are some of the tallest ones present along the Central California coastline. The blufftop area above Marina State Beach - South Beach also has a launching platform. This launching platform is used by hang-gliders and para-gliders to launch themselves and enjoy a fun gliding session. If you are planning to hang-glide or paraglide here, you can call (831) 649-2836 for further information regarding the rules of using this blufftop launching platform. 

Getting to Marina State Beach - South Beach is easy - the small free parking lot for this beach is located near the intersection of Lake Drive and Lake Court, which from where you can easily walk to the beach via an access trail.

There are many attractions near Marina State Beach - South Beach. Casino Monterey offers many fun and exciting card games including blackjack and poker. WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca is a 20-minute drive away and hosts a variety of thrilling and amazing auto and motorcycle races. As an interesting fact, Pope John Paul II once celebrated mass in this racing track in 1987. If you are looking for another attraction near Marina State Beach - South Beach, San Juan Bautista State Historic Park is a state park that has remains of buildings that date all the way back to the Spanish Colonial era. This state park also has interesting exhibits highlighting California’s rich history.

If you get hungry, there are many great restaurants near Marina State Beach- South Beach. Salt Wood Kitchen and Oysterette has a rustic ambiance. In addition, the upscale restaurant also serves excellent seafood. I’m Thai Cuisine offers amazing Thai dishes including pad thai and drunken noodles. If you are looking for another good and affordable restaurant near Marina State Beach - South Beach, the modestly priced Daddy’s City Diner offers amazing lunch and breakfast dishes including eggs, pancakes, French toasts, sandwiches, and burgers.

If you are looking for a hotel near Marina State Beach - South Beach, there are many great options. The 4-Star The Sanctuary Beach Resort offers many amenities including a restaurant, a pool, and a spa. A more affordable hotel is the 3-Star SpringHill Suites by Marriott The Dunes On Monterey Bay which offers many amenities including a restaurant, a terrace, a patio with a fire pit, a pool, a gym, and a convenience store. If you are looking for another good and affordable hotel near Marina State Beach - South Beach, the modestly priced 2-Star Best Western Marina State Beach offers many amenities including a hot tub, garden, children’s playground, and complimentary breakfast.