Free & Cheap Things to Do in Monterey, CA

  • The list below includes 144 free or cheap things to do in or near Monterey, California, including 77 different types of inexpensive activities like Walking Trails, Piers & Boardwalks, Art Museum and History Museums.
  • From Waterfront to Monterey Bay, there are a variety of budget-friendly attractions in Monterey and in nearby cities within 25 miles like Carmel, Pacific Grove, Salinas and Seaside.
  • The list below includes 144 free or cheap things to do in or near Monterey, California, including 77 different types of inexpensive activities like Walking Trails, Piers & Boardwalks, Art Museum and History Museums.
  • From Waterfront to Monterey Bay, there are a variety of budget-friendly attractions in Monterey and in nearby cities within 25 miles like Carmel, Pacific Grove, Salinas and Seaside.
Showing 171-180 of 314
26.0 Miles
74% 133 votes
Beaches 1305 E Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz, CA 95062 MoreLess Info
Seabright Beach in Santa Cruz is a sandy beach that permits dogs as long as they are kept on leashes. The beach is patrolled by life guards, and features fire rings and rest rooms.
26.0 Miles
50% 2 votes
172

Hihn Park

Parks Capitola, CA 95010 MoreLess Info
Partially obscured by trees, diminuitive Hihn Park offers walkers a hilly, wooded trail to an overlook above Monterey Bay. Benches provide resting spots on the return trip, which ends at Capitola Village below.
26.0 Miles
79% 14 votes
Movie Theaters 122 Rancho Del Mar, Aptos, CA 95003 MoreLess Info
Offering a variety of movies in a small, intimate setting, Aptos Cinemas features current popular movies as well as art house, foreign, and independent films. The theater sells some unusual concessions, as well, including cupcakes.
26.0 Miles
100% 4 votes
Beaches Aptos, CA 95001 MoreLess Info
La Selva Beach is a community-managed beach area open to the public every day, weather and conditions permitting. The geographic location of the beach causes smaller waves making this lifeguard-staffed beach more popular with swimmers and sunbathers than surfers.
26.0 Miles
96% 70 votes
Farms & Ranches 55 Peckham Road, Watsonville, CA 95076 MoreLess Info
Visitors can enjoy picking their own apples, strawberries, olallieberries and boysenberries at Gizdich Ranch. The ranch also features picnicking areas and offers tours of the apple orchard and berry farms.
26.1 Miles
73% 168 votes
Beaches Along Beach St. west from San Lorenzo River, Santa Cruz, CA MoreLess Info
Santa Cruz Main Beach is a popular tourist destination. It is a clean and inviting beach with beautiful views of the ocean and marine life. There are also volleyball courts on the beach with an amusement park and many local restaurants/bars nearby.
26.1 Miles
81% 736 votes
Piers & Boardwalks Beach Street, Santa Cruz, CA MoreLess Info
There are lots of shops, restaurants and the Sea Lions at the end of the pier. Rent a boat or go on boat rides from Santa Cruz Wharf
26.1 Miles
69% 118 votes
Bowling 115 Cliff Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95060 MoreLess Info
Broadwalk Bowl offers a four week learn to bowl program, bowling leagues, and open bowling. The facility also offers parties for all age groups, a bar, and karaoke or a live band five nights a week.
26.1 Miles
86% 239 votes
Beaches State Park Drive, Aptos, CA 95003 MoreLess Info
The Seacliff State Beach is known for the being the resting place for the concrete skeleton of the Palo Alto, a ship built in 1917. Guests can visit the beach and fish off the pier.
26.1 Miles
- 0 votes
Parks Capitola, CA MoreLess Info
At half an acre, Noble Gulch Park provides visitors with a multipurpose field for outdoor activities like soccer and flag football. There are several picnic areas with tables and grills available on a first come first serve basis.
Showing 171-180 of 314
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