Touring * Scene *

From U.S. 101 just north of Salinas, take the State Highway 156 exit, heading west. At Castroville, State Highway 1 takes over its rightful job as coast highway as you begin to approach the sea. In the small town of Seaside, exit at Canyon Del Rey Boulevard. Turn left to pass under the freeway, then make a right onto Roberts Avenue to park at Roberts Lake. Skate back out to Del Rey and down the sidewalk to where the trail starts, next to the Seaside sea horse sculpture.

Monterey's converted rail-trail runs the full length of its coastal city limits and beyond, from Seaside to Pacific Grove. Along the way, the trail spans a lively mix of urban, historic, industrial, marina, and beach scenes. The city is still improving this beloved avenue; as of this writing, for instance, lighting was being extended to the southern section so that the entire trail can be lit at night. The scenery is a bit industrial starting from the southern end, as you pass the Del Monte Gardens Skating Arena across the street. Soon you enter an imposing eucalyptus forest; watch out for acorns on the trail. Emerging from the trees, you skate next to some back fences for a short way and then, suddenly, you're right between a grassy lawn and the beach. You can see right over the dunes to the ocean; in fact, it's so close you may feel like taking off your skates for a quick run down to the water. Suddenly, the trail makes a hard turn away from the beach, and you must skate on a pathway that's unpleasantly close to busy Del Monte Road. This culture shock won't last long, because you soon cross the entrance to Fisherman's Wharf and the Monterey Harbor parking lots. You may think you've lost the trail at Washington Street, but just turn right to go around the boat on the corner (named Francesca) and you'll see the trail behind it. In the Embarcadero area, the trail is superbly smooth and wide as it enters Monterey State Historic Park. Here you'll find a wide red-brick area with a fountain; this is the Custom House Plaza, used by the city for events of all kinds. Some nights, residents sneak in a pick-up roller-hockey "event" at the plaza (the steps and walls make a natural enclosure for the puck). Skaters are welcome in this area "as long as they keep their wheels on the ground," the ranger says. That means no jumping stairs or grinding curbs and rails. But the sidewalks leading away from the trail and plaza are off-limits, and a 10-mile-per-hour speed limit is enforced to protect pedestrians from fast folks on wheels. After a relatively open section that really does tempt you to skate fast, the trail passes through the Cannery Row area, a block up from the street John Steinbeck made famous as well as the Monterey Aquarium, among other attractions. A short way after entering the Pacific Grove city limits at David Avenue, the trail returns to the shore, following the low seaside cliffs. This very pretty stretch follows the aptly named Ocean View Boulevard, past Andy Jacobsen Park and Berwick Park, and finally comes to an end just before Lovers Point.