Find the best surfing in Moss Landing. Moss Landing is not much more than a couple of blocks of cafés and restaurants, art galleries, and studios, plus a busy fishing port, but therein lies its charm. It’s a fine place to overnight or stop for a meal and get a dose of nature. Moss Landing State Beach, off Highway One, offers a range of activities, including surfing and windsurfing, hiking, horseback riding and surf fishing. Birdwatchers will have plenty to see at Moss Landing State Beach. For a list of all the great beaches in the central California area, << Click Here >>.
With consistent world-class waves, Moss Landing State Beach is a popular surfing spot. Beginning surfers are advised to surf down at the jetty, while advanced surfers sometimes head for the area by the dunes. It is also one of the most popular surf fishing destinations in Monterey County.
Browse the galleries and shops, spend the day whale watching or walking the beach. There are beautiful and historic accommodations and the variety of restaurants is wonderful. Surfing is popular and there are special events held annually that should not be missed.
Moss Landing Weather – When to Visit
The best time to visit Moss Landing CA is between April and May. Spring offers warmer temperatures, fewer crowds and food festivals dishing out delectable eats, including Pebble Beach Food & Wine and the Artichoke Festival in Castroville. Summer is the most popular time to visit the Monterey Peninsula, but it can still be chilly, so bring a sweater regardless of the season. Fall is another good time to visit, but the likelihood of rain increases starting in October. Moss Landing’s central California location subjects it to mild temperatures during the winter, with the average low reaching 48 degrees. Winter also brings lower hotel prices and the celebrity-heavy AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am event held in February, making Moss Landing an attractive destination year-round.
Best Moss Landing Area Beaches
Moss Landing State Beach
Offshore fishing, surfing, windsurfing and horseback riding are popular activities. The beach is a favorite place for picnics because the dunes protect it from afternoon winds. This area is an important stop along the Pacific Flyway so bird watching is popular.
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Salinas River State Beach
The beach and dunes at Salinas River State Beach are part of Monterey Bay’s unique coastal dune system and it is home to many species of birds, including the California brown pelican, red-tailed hawk, American kestrel, western snowy plover, western gull, black phoebe, western scrub-jay, California towhee, white-crowned sparrow, and more. The beach is a popular fishing site.
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Marina State Beach
The beach area winds through the Marina Dunes Natural Preserves. The beach is known for hang-gliding. Radio-controlled gliders and kites are also popular. The beach is a favorite site for picnics. Water recreation is extremely hazardous due to strong rip currents.
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Zmudowski State Beach
The beach is a popular fishing area, featuring perch, kingfish, sole, flounder, halibut, bocaccio (tomcod), jacksmelt, lingcod, cabezon, salmon, steelhead and occasional rockfish. The beach features the Pajaro River estuary, where a natural preserve has been set aside. The sandy beach is also popular with bird watchers and equestrians. Horses are only allowed near the waterline. Swimming and water sports are hazardous because of strong rip-currents.
Salinas River State Beach – Potrero Entrance
Salinas River State Beach – Potrero EntranceThe sandy beach here is long and wide and backed by dunes for most of its length. From the parking lot a trail meanders south in the dunes to the southern parking lot in Salinas River State Beach at Monterey Dunes Way. A wider path leads north from here all the way to the northern entrance near Moss Landing Harbor.
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Best Moss Landing Restaurants
Phil’s Fish Market $11 – 30
Located in the heart of Moss Landing, Phil’s Fish Market is a locally owned family business. They have been serving the finest local & sustainable seafood available for over 30 years. They were named #1 Best Beach Restaurant by BBC Travel, featured on Food Network and have been written up several times in Sunset magazine and many other magazines and newspapers. Telephone: 831-633-2152 Web: Phil’s Fish Market.
Whole Enchilada Restaurant $11 – 30
The Whole Enchilada is an upbeat restaurant with a harbor view specializing in fresh seafood from the Monterey Bay. Their relaxed harbor atmosphere with vibrant Mexican food will make you thirst for a cucumber margarita…or two. Telephone: 831-633-3038 Web: Whole Enchilada Restaurant.
Moss Landing Cafe $11 – 30
Located near the quaint little fishing harbor of Moss Landing, you cant help but notice the red and white restaurant with murals depicting the local areas beauty. The Moss Landing is credited with the best Fish Sandwiches in Monterey county. Fresh fish, fruit and vegetables are prepared daily and from local sources when possible. Enjoy their great Northern California Deep-Fried Artichokes, fresh Seafood and delicious Clam Chowder. Telephone: 831-633-3355 Web: Moss Landing Cafe.
The Haute Enchilada $11 – 30
The Haute Enchilada Cafe, Gallery & Social Club boasts an eclectic menu of sustainable seafood and local organic produce, wine and beer tasting, full bar plus an art gallery with local artists’ original work and live entertainment. From palate to palette the Haute Enchilada Cafe, Gallery & Social Club has something for everyone! Open daily from 11:00 a.m. for brunch, lunch and dinner. Telephone: 831-718-9122 Web: The Haute Enchilada.
Giorgio’s at 201 Main $11 – 30
Upscale, California fresh cuisine. Take a seat in their show kitchen or in fire-lit Tuscan Piazza. Featuring an award winning wine list and a highly renowned mixology menu, they offer 104 seats in the dining room, 38 bar seats, and 56 seats in the fire-lit piazza. Telephone: 831-800-7573 Web: Giorgio’s at 201 Main.
Best Moss Landing Bars
Moss Landing Inn
Eclectic. That best describes this nautical-themed Moss Landing bar that keeps loyal locals and curious travelers flowing in for hearty food, live music on the weekends, karaoke on Tuesdays, drought beers and the occasional amateur pole dance. Telephone: 831-633-9853 Web: Moss Landing Inn.
The Haute Enchilada
The Haute Enchilada Cafe, Gallery & Social Club boasts an eclectic menu of sustainable seafood and local organic produce, wine and beer tasting, full bar plus an art gallery with local artists’ original work and live entertainment. From palate to palette the Haute Enchilada Cafe, Gallery & Social Club has something for everyone! Open daily from 11:00 a.m. for brunch, lunch and dinner. Telephone: 831-718-9122 Web: The Haute Enchilada.
Whole Enchilada Restaurant
The Whole Enchilada is an upbeat restaurant with a harbor view specializing in fresh seafood from the Monterey Bay. Their relaxed harbor atmosphere with vibrant Mexican food will make you thirst for a cucumber margarita…or two. Telephone: 831-633-3038 Web: Whole Enchilada Restaurant.
Lemon Grass
Local seafood prepared Thai-style is on the long menu at an easygoing restaurant with a full bar. Telephone: 831-633-0700 Web: Lemon Grass.
Best Moss Landing Area Hotels
So many amazing beach spots in California, seems like they’ll never end. Definitely will look into Moss landing, never been but looks amazing. Thanks for sharing!
It is amazing William and thank you for visiting Moss Landing CA.
I am really glad you finally did a post on Moss Landing. It is right down the coast from Santa Cruz. I have been there and it is a blast. Monterrey Bay is very pretty. When you are out on the water and see the sunset, ah! That is the good life.
I did an Elkhorn Slough kayaking trip and it was awesome. When we were out on the water, a sea otter was following us. He was a bit naughty though. He jumped onto my kayak! I had to splash some water on him to get him off. They are endangered, so you cannot get too close. I definitely recommend it.
Thank you for sharing and I hope you make it a great day!
Wow, that is so cool Alex. To have a sea otter jump on your kayak! I agree, the sunset on the water…cannot be beat…not in my book. Thanks for visiting Moss Landing CA!
Wow, every time I read your articles I want to go visit California more and more. I’m always saying “wow”, “*gasp*I want to go there*. The images are so lovely. Great good as usual!
Thanks Miranda for reading about Moss Landing CA. Central California is beautiful. When you are ready to vacation here, please let me know and I can help you with your planning 🙂
I’ve never been whale watching but that is something that has always fascinated me. I think your first picture also sold me on this gorgeous stretch of land. I love the water and boating would be a hobby of mine if I could afford it. I’m sure there’s something out there that involves renting a boat or a tour. That would be ideal with such a beautiful area. Great review!
Thank you Dave and glad you enjoyed my review of Moss Landing CA. Whale watching is pretty awesome, and yeah if I had the money I would have a nice boat and I would be out on the water all the time! Thanks for stopping by.
Awesome post, as usual1 I am a consistent fan of your website:) One of my daughter bigger dreams is to watch big whales from close up. Soon she is going to turn out 16 years old, so I really need to make her dream come true for her birthday:)
We don’t have any experience in kayaking, so will take a cruise. Also, it is much safer that way:)
The whale season in Hawaii is the winter. Great to know that we can see them in the summer too:)
Thank you for this great post1
You are so welcome Daniella! I am glad you enjoyed. Your daughter will really enjoy the whale watching, shoot you will as well. It is pretty awesome. Thanks for visiting Moss Landing CA.
I wanna go whale watching and stay in the Seven Gables Inn. That inn looks like the inn that Jane Seymour, the actress, starred in. I would love to be there.
Thank you for posting this. I wondered what a travel blog would look like. This is wonderful ’cause you take the mystery out of planning and traveling.
Thank you Land and yes, Moss Landing is a great place to head and do some whale watching. You would enjoy the Seven Gables Inn. Thanks for visiting beach travel destinations.
Hello, Good place to go for vacation it looks like Capetown. I am kidding this place is very awesome I will definitely recommend some People I know to visit this place.
Great Frank! Moss Landing CA is a great coastal destination. Thanks for visiting!
Moss Landing is awesome!
I live also on the coast and in my country we have more than thousand islands with a very few sand beaches, mostly gravel.
Also, whales are very rare in Adriatic sea, the sea I grew up with.
never saw whales so close as the people on the video, and never saw them live. Just dolphins and sharks.
Didi you ever saw them so close?
Oh yes, I have been on whale watching cruises before and I toughed them. They really have horrible breath! It is amazing and something you should experience. I hope you can visit Moss Landing CA sometime soon. Thanks for stopping by.
Hi,
Thanks for the article I found it really useful. My family are going on holiday to California in summer and we are trying to work out where to stay. I am definitely going to suggest Moss Landing to them, there seems to be lots of amazing things to see and do.
You are right, this is a great area. Central California is beautiful and Monterey Bay has so much to offer. Thanks for stopping by!
I’ve never heard of Moss Landing prior to reading this article but it seems like a great place! It has been a few years since I’ve been to California but this article definitely makes me want to go back soon! This seems like it would be a great vacation spot.
Moss Landing Ca is definitely a great place to vacation too! So much to see and do. Thanks for stopping by Beach Travel Destinations.
After reading your article I feel I need to visit Moss Landing for sure. Thanks for sharing about this wonderful place.
You are very welcome Kavitha. Glad you enjoyed your digital visit to Moss Landing CA.
Enjoyed your article. So great to learn about Moss Landing, it looks like a good choice to escape the Western Canadian winter that gets harder to handle each year I get older:-) We are AirBNB fans, do you know of any in the area that have good reviews?
Yes, there are actually quite a few great choices thru AirBnb. I would go to their site and find one that suits your needs 🙂 as there are many with great reviews in the area. Thanks for stopping by Moss Landing CA.
Moss Landing looks awesome! It looks like I could spend two weeks here. There’s so much to see and do. I’ve never been whale watching before and can’t imagine what it’s like to experience this. I’ve only been to California once and when I do go back, this is one place that’s on my list! I’m hoping I go during the season when the weather is perfect!
Great Rob! You will enjoy, and whale watching up close is awesome! I’ve seen them in Alaska before they head out, California, and Mexico. Amazing animals. Thanks for stopping by Moss Landing CA.
All those beaches look beautiful! I recently visited Santa Cruz for my birthday. The weather on the beach is just incredible. I’ll have to keep Moss Landing in mind, your post definitely gives a lot of information about the place.
Great Nathan, glad you enjoyed reading about Moss Landing CA. Thanks for stopping by beach travel destinations!
Hi, thank you for this indebt review of Moss landing, it sounds heavenly. I have been searching for places to go on vacation with my family and I know my kids would simply love whale watching. Would you know whether the tour guides would allow for children from 7 years old.
Yes, Evelynn almost all ages are allowed on the whale watching tours and they would enjoy for sure! Please let me know if you need any additional information, and thank you for visiting Moss Landing CA.