The best parks & outdoor spots in Salinas

M. activities, the Monterey Public Library Bookmobile, face painting, and the MyMuseum Wheelie Mobilee. Mark your calendar for September 12, 11am to 1pm, then let the kids run while you catch up with neighbors.

From the Monterey newsletter, October 7, 2026

Between errands or school pickups, Capra Park is that easy neighborhood escape with two playground areas (upper and lower), a picnic spot, and paved pathways for a slow loop. A Seaside staple since 1965, it’s perfect for quick kid energy dumps or low-key catch-ups.

From the Seaside newsletter, September 9, 2026

Laguna Grande Park, Seaside, CA gives you lake views, easy walking paths, picnic tables and barbecue spots, a solid playground for the kids, plus fields for pickup games and community concerts. When you just need fresh air and a familiar place to gather, this is it.

From the Monterey newsletter, August 31, 2026

Natividad Creek Park packs a legit skate park, disc golf, sport courts, an amphitheater for community vibes, plus playgrounds and picnic spots, all stitched along creekside paths. Bring your board and a few discs, then call it your midweek reset.

From the Salinas newsletter, October 9, 2026

Skip the crowds and slip into Laguna Grande Regional Park, Monterey Side for a low-key dose of greenery by the water. Perfect for a pre-work walk, a catch-up chat, or five quiet minutes that magically turn into thirty, it’s the kind of neighborhood calm you forget you needed.

From the Monterey newsletter, October 14, 2026

Whether you want a quick after-work reset or a longer weekend wander, Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail lets you step onto the 1775-76 route that connected Arizona to California. Local segments through our backyard keep it simple, with fresh air plus a side of real history.

From the Hollister newsletter, September 11, 2026

Hollister Hills State Vehicular Recreation Area is your backyard playground for dirt bikes, ATVs and 4x4s, with miles of trails weaving through the Gabilan Mountains. Prefer a chill day? Pack a picnic, wander Mudstone Ranch on foot or bike, and soak up those oak-studded views.

From the Hollister newsletter, October 13, 2026

When the kids need to climb, slide, and burn off wiggles, El Estero Park delivers with the iconic Dennis the Menace Playground and a breezy loop around the lake for duck and goose-spotting. Bonus points if you paddle a swan boat and call it cross-training.

From the Monterey newsletter, October 21, 2026

Del Monte Beach is that low-key stretch where you can wander boardwalk paths through the dunes, spot wildlife doing its thing, then post up at a picnic area and let the week exhale. Easy, local, and perfect when you need ocean air without the fuss.

From the Monterey newsletter, September 30, 2026