Del Monte Grove Laguna Grande, Monterey, CA

Del Monte Grove Laguna Grande sits on the northern edge of Monterey, where the city runs into Seaside and the shoreline flattens out toward the dunes. The blocks are compact, and the lake and beach are close to most front doors. Housing here is a blend of modest houses and low-rise multifamily buildings on tight blocks, with the busier commercial streets at the edges. Del Monte Grove is a neighborhood of short distances, where the walk to the water is shorter than the drive to most other places. Water is the draw. Roberts Lake Park lies right beside the boundary in Seaside, and Laguna Grande Park, where Del Monte Avenue meets Canyon del Rey, has walking trails, restrooms and firepits, and it also is a gateway to the California Coastal Trail. A little farther on, Houghton M. Roberts Beach and Del Monte Beach give the neighborhood a shoreline to walk, and Monterey State Beach runs on from there with soft sand that slopes gently into the bay. Monterey Bay Waterfront Park lines the beach with volleyball courts and picnic areas, kayak and bike rentals are close by, and parking along Del Monte Avenue is free. On the food side, the most dependable local pick is Monterey's Fish House on Del Monte Avenue, run by a Peninsula fishing family that has won local readers' votes for seafood. An In-N-Out Burger over in Seaside covers a quick stop, and a Starbucks a short way down the road in Del Rey Oaks serves the coffee crowd. Safeway in Del Rey Oaks is close enough to reach on a bike, and the main streets through it are Canyon del Rey and Del Monte Avenue. Most outings involve a car, but the lake and beach can be done on foot. The busy streets that make errands easy also bring traffic past the lake, so quiet moments in Del Monte Grove Laguna Grande are mostly early or late in the day.