Point Lobos State Natural Reserve must be one of the most beautiful parks in all of California. It is a sanctuary for all kinds of marine wildlife, and is home to a great number of protected old-growth trees as well, especially Monterey Cypress (Hesperocyparis macrocarpa). It is one of the few areas in all the world where Monterey Cypress is endemic/native.

Often during the year, the coastline near Monterey is covered by an ocean mist. We happened to visit on such a day where ocean fog/mist filled the air. In fact, the climate of the Monterey area is one of the region’s most unique qualities, in that the climate or weather in and around Monterey is often kept cool due to its proximity to the rising cool waters of the Pacific Ocean; there is little variation in temperature all throughout the year, with the average high temperature in the coldest month (December) being 58 degrees Fahrenheit, and the average high temperature in the warmest month (September) being 68 degrees. I’ve read that an underwater canyon off the coast has a role to play as well. We visited on a summer day, where the temperature hovered around 60 some degrees.

We were fortunate to come across what seemed to be hundreds or even thousands of Brown Pelicans. I’m not sure if this is a regular occurrence or not, but it sure was a sight to behold.

Photos taken August 2022