🇺🇸 Northern California｜Relaxing 1-Day Monterey Guide 😎🌊

Starting from San Jose 🗺️, I took advantage of the Juneteenth holiday and drove 1.5 hours to Monterey for a chill day trip～ Highly recommend these 4 spots + 1 amazing donut 🍩 & coffee ☕️ — Spot #2 has a fun surprise❗️❗️ 📍Spot 1: Sand City Beach Perfect for paragliding 🪂, surfing 🏄, or just relaxing on the sand 🏖️. The ocean is stunning on a sunny day. 🅿️ Parking: Lot available ⚠️ Note: It’s windy — bring a windbreaker! 📍Spot 2: Lovers Point Park A beautiful seaside park great for dog walking 🐕 and picnics. The name comes from the romantic cape walks 💑. But the real surprise? It’s also home to tons of squirrels 🐿️ and seagulls 🪶 — the squirrels are super friendly and not afraid of people! You can take lots of cute close-up photos 😍. 🅿️ Parking: Free street + lot parking ⚠️ Tip: Bring some nuts or crackers for your new squirrel friends 😉 📍Spot 3: Perkins Park Famous for its pink flowers 🌸 blooming along the coast (April–July). Perfect for a relaxed stroll — allow about 30 mins. Fun fact: This area in Pacific Grove was a filming location for the Nicole Kidman series Big Little Lies! 🎬 🅿️ Parking: Street parking available 📍Spot 4: Carmel-by-the-Sea A quaint, artsy village perfect for dining, coffee, shopping 👗, or exploring boutique stores. Great for dates or bringing family and friends! Walk down to the beach 🏖️ for sun and views. You’ll never get tired of this place 💖. 🅿️ Parking: Street parking (can be limited) ⚠️ Note: It can get chilly when it’s not sunny — bring a scarf 🧣 🍩 Must-Try Donuts: Dutch Door Donuts (1 Mission St Unit 205C, Carmel-By-The-Sea, CA 93921) Why I recommend it: All donuts are made fresh daily 🍩 ⭐ Google rating: 4.7 Try the beignets — a New Orleans specialty covered in powdered sugar. Pure happiness! 🎉 Their drip coffee is excellent and pairs perfectly with beignets ☕😋 #DayTrip #Travel #ScenicJourney #TravelDiary #BeachGetaway #Foodie #California #CoastalVibes