Summer = Sunset Beach Bonfires

When I think about summer in Monterey, I think of lingering fog with overcast skies, warmer weather (especially in the Valley and Big Sur), high tourist season (AKA long lines at my beloved bakeries like ALTA!), Asilomar Sunset Music Series... and one my all-time favorite things: SUNSET BEACH BONFIRES!

The sunsets here on the Monterey Peninsula are incredible - white powdery sand, rocky coast, surfers on the horizon, views from Santa Cruz to Point Lobos, all while the sun slowly dips into the ocean. Ah! When you can enjoy a sunset on the beach - with a bonfire - it just takes the cake. I especially love nights when a full moonrise rises from the mountains in the east while the sun sets to the west - pure magic!

Some things to bring:

• Firewood! We love the Almond wood that you can buy at Whole Foods.

• Long lighter.

• Kindling such as cardboard or newspaper.

• Fire starters for back-up (helpful in windy conditions or if your wood isn't super dry).

• Beach chairs.

• Blankets - it can get chilly.

• Speaking of chilly - gloves (especially if handling firewood) and hat.

• Clothing layers that you're okay if an ember lands and burns a hole in it! It's rare, but it happens.

• Cooler with drinks. If bringing wine, don't forget a bottle opener!

• Tumbler cups (We avoid single-use plastic.)

• Food! We get pizza delivered or bring burritos or sushi with us.

• Napkins! We bring cloth napkins to reduce waste.

• Trash bag.

• Flashlights/lanterns - if you stay late, exiting in the dark can be challenging without it. (The iPhone flashlight is never enough.)

Some things to know:

• You unfortunately can't plop down and start a fire at any ol' beach. There are strict rules, and they vary at every location. Most local beaches don't allow bonfires at all.

• A challenge of beach bonfires at the locations below is bathroom facilities - they don't exist. If you're at Asilomar, you can trek over to Asilomar Conference Grounds for indoor plumbing. Otherwise, most people hold it if they can (we spend about 3-4 hours there) or take a side journey into the dunes for relief. Just be sure to leave no trace and take all toilet paper waste to protect our natural dunes.

Here are my two favorite spots for beach bonfires:

North Moss Beach | Accessed via Pacific Grove/Sunset Dr (Map)

Most locals don't call it North Moss Beach - we still consider it Asilomar Beach. But we know that you can only have bonfires south of the seasonal creek. It's this fresh water creek that separates Asilomar State Beach property (where bonfires are strictly prohibited/monitored by State Rangers) and Spanish Bay/Pebble Beach property (where bonfires are okay). Park along Sunset Drive between Fishwife and Asilomar Conferences Grounds beach path.

Positives:

• It's free!

• You can get food (a la Door Dash, etc.) delivered right to the beach (i.e., drop the delivery pin to where your car is parked on Sunset Drive)!

• There's no restriction on number of bonfires. There will likely be multiple bonfires happening, and there's still space for more.

• On weekends, it can be lively with people, kids, and off-leashed pets. I've seen people juggle fire sticks and sometimes even musicians perform on the beach.

• No curfews enforced!

Downsides:

• You have to trek up a dune to get to the beach. It's not super accessible, which makes it challenging if you're hauling a lot of items.

• It's sometimes hard to find a good parking spot along Sunset Drive, especially if you're arriving within an hour of sunset.

South Moss Beach | Pebble Beach (Map)

Along the famous 17-Mile Drive, you'll come across Moss Beach. Just south of Sawmill Gulch, you'll find this excellent bonfire spot with picnic tables and a dedicated firepit. If you want space, serenity, and easy access to the beach, this is your ideal bonfire location. Parking is simple with dedicated spots just steps from the beach.

Positives:

• Easy, plentiful parking.

• The beach is flat and steps from your car, which makes this beach more accessible. If you have a lot of stuff (wood, food, etc.), it also makes transport super easy.

• There are picnic tables - great if not everyone has chairs to bring!

Downsides:

• You have to pay the Pebble Beach gate fee ($12.50).

• You can't so easily get food delivered (given the gate).

• There's only one dedicated fire pit area. You may be able to have fires alongside the beach, but we've only done them in this spot. Get there early, or be okay if you have to share the fire with another group.

• 9:30 PM curfew: Pebble Beach Security come through and make you put out your fire by then.

This summer, I encourage you to be the person who organizes the bonfire. Text your people, grab the firewood, pick your spot (I vote Asilomar for the energy, but you can't go wrong either way), and make the memory. There's something about a beach bonfire that stops time. Maybe it's the warmth of the fire, or the salt air, or the fact that your phone has no signal and nobody's checking email. Because in a few months when shorter days and 5:30 PM sunsets come back around, you'll be thinking about those long summer nights—the mesmerizing flames of the fire, the cotton candy hues in the sky, the sound of the waves and laughter, the salt on your skin, the way the fire crackled. That's the real summer on the Peninsula. When everything else is expensive, you'll remind yourself that summer beach bonfires are one of the many reasons why you say "This is why I live here."

Thanks for reading!

Warmly,

Ashley