Seaside 
Elevation: Seaside City Hall 831-899-6200 

 
Seaside, California is a coastal community located 115 miles south of San Francisco and 325 miles north of Los Angeles. It is north of Monterey and Carmel along the Monterey Bay and shares a border with another place you might never have heard of, Sand City.  For us beach lovers, these city names tell us we are in the right place when looking for an ocean and sand.  Indeed, Seaside has both.  It offers an easy going beach where families stroll hand in hand with children and surfers head offshore to catch wave breaks that sometimes can be rather challenging. 

 

Seaside is a community of change.  Until a few years ago,  Ford Ord operated a training facility on a tract of land the U.S. Army purchased in Seaside. The influx of soldiers and their visiting families influenced the shape of the city and its businesses, many that catered to the military. Ford Ord is still fresh in the minds of citizens who don't always agree on  how Seaside should look and what it should be.  Seaside occupies just under 9 square miles of land along the ocean next to one of the nation's largest national marine life sanctuaries in the Monterey Bay.

 

Residents and tourists treasure its large stretches of beach where days can be warm and gentle or windy, filling the air with sand.  The beach is not the only game in town as another industry smiles on their good fortune.  Bayonet and Black Horse are two 18 hole courses that were located at Fort Ord and only available for military play until the city acquired the property in 1997.  Both courses are lauded as some of Monterey County's finest and have played host to PGA Tour greats  Nicklaus, Palmer and Watson. Claiming to be the only courses of the Monterey Bay with views on 30 of 36 holes, the official course website provides some interesting historical background on the courses, including how the original Bayonet got its name. 

 

General Robert B. McClure constructed the Bayonet Golf Course in 1954. Bayonet was named after the 7th Infantry "Light Fighter" Division (nicknamed the "Bayonet Division.") It has been said that General McClure was a "left-handed" golfer with an all too common fade. The General managed to effectively reduce his handicap with a little creative architecture in the design of the Bayonet Golf Course. Holes #11-#15, a series of sharp doglegs, widely known as "Combat Corner" are interrupted only by a 226-yard uphill par 3. 

 

Due to Bayonet's initial acclaim, Fort Ord decided to expand the course and in 1964 a second 18-hole championship course was officially opened - Black Horse. The course was named in honor of the 11th Calvary Regiment (nicknamed "Black Horse") which was stationed across the Bay at the Presidio of Monterey from 1919-1940.  bayonetblackhorse.com

 

From golf, to rock climbing, hang gliding, swimming and surfing to car racing at the Laguna Seca raceway, the local population and guests have many opportunities to enjoy sports. One popular activity which can be enjoyed a short distance north at another beach in Marina is hang gliding. 

 

Seaside began in 1887 when a remarkable man, a New York trained M.D. went west and purchased a parcel of land from his uncle.   Dr. John L.D. Roberts subdivided 150 acres into lots selling for $25 each. He served as postmaster for his town of Seaside, country doctor and planner.  Among his credits were vision for creation of two important roads, Highway 1 between Monterey and Castroville and the breathtaking Highway 1 in Big Sur which runs through mountains that connect San Simeon to Carmel. Once rushing to the scene of a shipwreck on horseback, it took him nearly four hours to reach Point Sur to care for the injured survivors of the S.S. Los Angeles. With all his duties, Roberts was reported to never miss a single meeting in 20 years he served as county supervisor.  He died at the ripe young age of 88, and was sorely missed by those who knew and loved him. 

 

What Happening in and around Seaside? 
Toro County Park: Covering 4,882 acres, this park features 12 miles of hiking and equestrian trails with magnificent views of the Salinas Valley and Monterey Bay. A self-guided nature trail runs along the park's creek. The park also offers ball fields, volleyball courts, horseshoes pits, picnic facilities, and a playground. a camp for youth groups of up to 100 is available by reservation. Telephone:  831-647-7795or 831-755-4899 for reservations 

	Sand City Birthday Celebration  Seaside State Beach
	Seaside Jazz Art Show Sunday Blues Concerts in the Park
	Laguna Grande Regional Park This park is located across from Seaside’s City Hall on Canyon Del Rey Boulevard. In addition to the 12-acre lake, this 60-acre restored wetland park features a one-mile bicycle path and a one-mile mostly paved nature trail perfect for bird-watching. A playground and picnic facilities are provided as well as restrooms. Telephone: 831-899-6233
	Laguna Seca Recreation Area: Many annual events are held on this 542-acre setting, which is also the location of the famous Laguna Seca Raceway. A lake with a five-acre island is accessible by a bridge. The campground offers 172 sites (102 have electrical hook-ups) by reservation and showers are available. This recreation area is located on Highway 68. Telephone: 831-647-7795 or 831-755-4899 for reservations.
	Marina Dunes RV Park  3330 Dunes Drive, Marina   Telephone: 831-384-6914 4 star RV park with full services including fuel station
	Marina State Beach: Hang gliding, surfing, sunbathing and fishing are popular sports along this 170-acre beach. Visitors can hike through the 70-foot dunes
	Monterey Bay  SK-8 STATION  1855 East Avenue,  Sand City, CA 93955  831-372-1328
	Monterey  State Beach is a favorite place for surfers and tidepool watchers. Fishing is popular, too. The cities of Monterey and Seaside share the park, which has three separate beaches approximately a mile apart. The underwater area of the park attracts scuba divers. Visitors also enjoy kayaking, kite-flying and volleyball. The flat beach is an excellent place for beachcombing.  The park is located at the Seaside exit off Highway 218, west of Highway 1.  The weather can be changeable. Layered clothing is advised.
	SANCTUARY ROCK GYM  1855 East Avenue Sand City, CA 93955  831-899-2595 http://www.rockgym.com
	Seaside State Beach: The Seaside beach is remarkable for its long, walkable stretches of sand and its beautiful dunes. Walk the dog, take a sunset stroll, check out the very interesting native plant dune restoration project currently underway. The beach is located at Highway 218 at Highway 1. Open to the public.
	Western Hang Gliders   Highway 1 & Reservation Road  Marina, CA 93933 831-384-2622