We will be staying in the Carmel / Monterey area and would like to take our kids to the best beach for scenery and walking. Would that be the beach area in Montery or Carmel?

Carmel would be my choice--the beach is flat, the water relatively calm, and there are dunes to shelter behind. It's a dog-friendly beach, too, so it's fun to watch the pups romping about. Asilomar Beach in Pacific Grove would be my second choice, but the water is much, much rougher out there. However, there's great walking and tidepooling to be had, and the rocks there provide shelter from the wind. Lover's Point in Monterey is a popular spot for actual swimming, especially for little ones, because the water is calm and warmer than the open ocean--but not warm, mind you! There's also a snack bar there and parking nearby, which is handy for families. But it tends to be crowded and isn't the least bit scenic. Enjoy your trip!

Carmel is the better beach area. Monterey doesn't have a great beach per se...you have to go a little north of town to find a good one. Carmel's is one of the most famous in the world. Televised golf tourneys at Pebble Beach invariably show several shots of it.

My personal favorite is Carmel River Beach, followed by Asilomar. At Carmel River Beach, kids can play in the river which is a lot safer than the ocean.

Asilomar's beach is very family-friendy, and the parking is a lot easier than in Carmel.

I'd also choose Carmel beach for the same reasons E did. Btw, Lover's Point is in Pacific Grove, next to the Old Bath House restaurant.

The mouth of the river part of Carmel River State Beach is quiet and good for children, but Monastery Beach, which is a part of the CRSB on Highway 1 is extrememly dangerous. Same for the pretty beach on the other side of the river. There are signs posted to warn people, but some just don't realize how dangerous that particular area can be.

Just five minutes from Monterey is the Marina exit... there is a beautiful state beach... we stayed at the Marina Dunes hotel for a location reference...

The Carmel beach is gorgeous. White sand, beautiful blue water, my favorite beach in the area. (Not Carmel River, the one at the end of all the shops downtown is the one I'm referring to.) ***kim***