Laguna Grande Regional Park, Monterey side — Attraction in Seaside

Laguna Grande Regional Park is quickly becoming one of my favorite spots to take the family. We spent the afternoon there recently and had such a great time. The park is peaceful, clean, and has a little bit of everything walking trails, open grassy areas, a lake, and a great playground for the kids. It’s the perfect place to relax and let the kids burn off some energy while still enjoying the outdoors.

One of the best surprises was stumbling upon the farmers market they host every Thursday. It starts in the afternoon and brings in a really nice mix of local vendors. There were fresh fruits and veggies, flowers, baked goods, and even handmade crafts. We grabbed a few snacks to enjoy while walking around, and I picked up some produce to take home. The vibe is super friendly and laid back, with live music playing in the background and families all around just enjoying themselves.

After checking out the market, we walked one of the trails that loops around the lake. It’s an easy walk with lots of spots to sit and take in the view. We even saw some ducks and a few other birds, which my kids got a kick out of. Later, we set up a little picnic near the playground and let the kids run wild while we relaxed under the trees.

It’s the kind of place that feels like a hidden gem in the middle of town. Between the beautiful scenery and the bonus of the Thursday farmers market, we’ll definitely be coming back often. Whether you’re looking for a chill walk, a picnic, or just a nice way to spend time with family, Laguna Grande has a...

This park is pretty big, encircling a lake filled with ducks and geese. There are playgrounds on both sides of the lake for toddlers and older children as well. There are areas for grilling and picnics. There is a volleyball court. There is a soccer/football field. There are restrooms on both sides of the lake. The trail around the lake takes 30 to 40 minutes to walk with a toddler in tow. There are even trails through the ‘forest’ as my toddler pointed out. They’re small but cool paths where you can convince your toddlers faeries reside.

The playgrounds have slides and swings, one has a merry go round, along with a lot of the other climbing apparatus’ you find in modern parks these days.

If you’re traveling with toddlers, the park is right off of Embassy Suites, should you want to stay overnight. There is an In and Out Burger along the trail as well.

Safety? While we did see two homeless people having lunch at a bench, they were harmless. On one side, opposite the park, is the Seaside police station, which is assuring. Also on that side of the park was a ‘stage’ on the back off a flatbed trailer, one would assume for live shows and special events.

My toddler loved spending a few hours here, both at the playground and crossing bridges on the trails, chasing ducks and...

While we did not walk around the whole lake, we certainly enjoyed our time. It was a frosty morning so ice covered the bridges and plants. The birds were finding their places in the sun and foraging. The lake was beautifully still, so it was easy to spot species. In our two hours there we tallied 22 birds, but the Townsend's Warbler had to be the hit. Because this was very early Friday morning the park was not being used very much--which was great for birdwatching. We saw staff and said hello. I enjoyed the flora using the SEEK app. Like so many parks in California we saw downed eucalyptus trees. Some were cut-up. But, the reeds were perfect for birds to hide in. The location was just a few minutes from the Black Bear Diner off the Seaside exit. There are plenty of picnic areas and designated for parties. I wonder what the wasp population is like in the summer? I enjoyed the signs, and wish my local parks had more that discouraged feeding the wild animals. But there also was an informative sign. I never knew the National Park Service helped local communities create these spaces....