Most people pass by Moss Landing on a Highway 1 drive from Santa Cruz down to Monterey and back. You know, the spot where all of a sudden there is a ton of traffic and tall smokestacks on your left? Yup – that’s Moss Landing!
The natural gas power plant is hard to miss, as is the traffic.
I’ve driven by Moss Landing many times, with my eyes set south for Monterey or my heart set north homeward bound for Alameda. On a recent stay at Pajaro Dunes we soon discovered that Moss Landing has a ton to offer for family travel. Make this a day trip from the Bay, visit while you’re staying somewhere close by, or stop along another drive along Highway 1. Whatever the case may be—here are the things you can’t miss:
We respectfully acknowledge that Moss Landing is located on the lands of the Amah Mutsun tribe.
Before you go
- Plan to leave the bay early and coordinate with naps if you can. Bring car snacks and Disney tunes. The trip takes about 1.5 hours from the East Bay Area.
- Book the Elkhorn Slough kayak rental or boat cruise trip before you go if interested. See activities below.
What we packed
- Standard diaper bag essentials
- Hiking clothes and sun protection (hats, sunscreen)
- Stroller and/or baby carrier
- Snacks for the trip up, down, and the hike
- Change of clothes (for muddy trails and/or kayaking)
- Beachwear and sand toys
Hiking, Kayaking or Boating in the Elkhorn Slough
Free of charge, the Reserve is full of natural sights for young and old. It is made up of 1700 acres and located just east of the town of Moss Landing up a windy road. Plan a short loop trail hike* to explore the wetlands, birds, trees, bridges, and bring food along! (We could have benefitted from packing an in-case-of-emergency picnic, both to avoid rushing and especially to appease hungry little bellies, but we opted to save our appetites for Phil’s Fish Market instead.)
Bring plenty of water, sunscreen (there is very little shade), a camera, and binoculars. Parking, picnic tables, and clean bathrooms (with changing tables!) are in abundance at the visitor center. The visitor center staff also gave us pencils and a little “nature notebook” for our little explorers to document their sightings. Our 4 year old enjoyed writing down when she saw something cool, walking along the bridges, and eating snacks along the way.
*We hiked the South Marsh loop trail, which is about 3 miles if you cut out the visit to the island. Beware – there is a side trail that says it will take you to the visitor center, but is not on this map…don’t take it…it was overgrown and full of poison oak!!!
Elkhorn Slough Kayak or Boat Cruise
*Note this activity is recommended for kids 5+ *
The Elkhorn Slough is a magical place full of wildlife and beauty. It is the second-largest estuary in California and is FULL of adorable and fuzzy sea otters. Monterey Bay Kayaks is located in a shipping container right off of the highway and at the mouth of the slough. We left the littles with the grandparents and rented a double sit-on-top kayak for an hour. They provided all of the gear except a jacket – I wish I had packed warmer clothes for our adventure because I was freezing! My cold body enjoyed seeing all of the wildlife as we kayaked our way up the Elkhorn Slough. Bring your phone in a waterproof bag to get some good shots! ($35/person/hour).
Another option is to do the Elkhorn Slough Safari cruise! The 1.5-hour cruise allows children and charges $33 for ages 3-12 and $43 for anyone older.
Moss Landing has quite a bit of coastline, which means beaches galore! While we didn’t get a chance to visit Moss Landing State Beach (on our wishlist for our next visit), Phil’s Fish Market offered beach access to Island Beach and we certainly took advantage of the proximity. After a full lunch, we walked to the water and sat in the sand for a good long while. We even caught sight of a couple of seals!
Park on the street near Phil’s Fish Market and walk on the Southside of the restaurant along the beach access path to reach the sandy shoreline. Bring your sand toys, dress in layers, and keep en eye out for sea life!
Where to Eat
If the lines are any indication, Phil’s Fish Market is the place to go in Moss Landing, even in spite of current pandemic restrictions. The tiny parking lot and the street get busy with cars, so be cautious and alert. Order your food at the counter and a staff member will deliver your food to your table (outdoors!) once it’s ready.
The clam chowder was creamy and cozy on a breezy spring day, and the muscles and fries and roasted artichoke were delicious too! I very much enjoyed dipping my garlic bread into the yummy wine sauce. If you can, send one person each to the drink line and one to the food line to move the process along, especially on weekends and meal times when the lines can get lengthy.
We opted for tables closest to the beach (look out for sand, though…) and removed from the activity by the kitchen and ordering counter. Most of the staff we saw were BIPOC, but Phil, in fact, is a white man! Next time we hope to try the world-famous cioppino! (~$10-20/person, the portions are huge!).
Order a big bottle of sparkling wine to celebrate a spectacular day in Moss Landing with your family. Ahh…
This was a super cute coffee shop right off of the main drag and near Phil’s Fish Market, too! They share space with a home goods shop that sells (you guessed it) plants, as well as beautiful housewares and decor that would make awesome gifts.
Be sure to grab a cardamom bun at the cafe to go along with your delicious cappuccino ($5+/person).
Looking for something sweet?
My sweet tooth has passed down to my daughters. We can't travel without a stop for a sweet treat.
Don’t forget to go inside and pick up some delicious toffee-covered almonds, gummies, and honey for the drive home.
Where to Stay
If you want to extend your trip for a night or two, check out the Pajaro Dunes Resort.
Check out our blog post about a weekend in Pajaro Dunes for more information!
Wishlist for next time:
- Visit Moss Landing State Beach
- Try the cioppino at Phil’s Fish Market
Take note – for a small section off of Highway 1, I have to say that Moss Landing was full of surprises. If you only have a few hours, stop for lunch and fresh farm produce on your way out of town. If you have a day, make sure to visit the reserve and enjoy the surroundings. Hiking opens up so many opportunities for connecting with our kids if we let it.
Have you ever driven by somewhere you wish you could have stopped? I can’t tell you the number of times I wanted to stop but the baby was asleep in the back so we had to keep driving. DON’T STOP YOU’LL WAKE THE BABY! Ha! Share in the comments below.
Puerto Rican & Indigenous mama of two. Bay Area native. Salsa dancer. Backpacker. Doula. Angel (she/her/hers) is a co-founding member of the Beautiful Brown Adventures team. She has traveled to over 30 countries and loves to explore the world with her two daughters & partner - one ice cream shop at a time.
Angelica (she/her) is of Cebuano(Pilipinx)-descent and was born and raised in Huchiun Ohlone territory (the East Bay Area--pay your Shuumi Land Tax!), where she also now resides with her partner and their toddler. She loves to spend her time sipping on boba and dirty chai lattes (sometimes together), and eating pescetarian goodies at BIPOC-owned cafes and restaurants.
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