Point Lobos State Natural Reserve
Three miles south of Carmel on Highway 1, Carmel (831) 624-4909, parks.ca.gov
It’s a very big deal that Point Lobos is referred to as the “crown jewel” of California’s Department of Parks and Recreation. There are over 280 units in the California state park system, from rich historic sites to wide-open spaces of stunning natural beauty to a monument to excess in Hearst Castle. But locals who are able to stare into the marine life-rich tide pools or look up into the carotene-encrusted branches of Monterey cypress trees or to dive into the swaying kelp strands in the offshore marine reserve know that Point Lobos’ crown jewel designation is justly deserved.