Seaside

The site of a former U.S. Army post was designated Fort Ord National Monument in 2012, protecting some of the last remaining undeveloped land on the Monterey Peninsula. More than 80 miles of paved roads and narrow dirt trails are used by hikers, mountain bikers and horseback riders. The scenic central California coast environment varies from open, grass-covered hills and oak forests to maritime chaparral, a coastal habitat unique to California. There are beautiful fields of wildflowers in the spring. Several signed exits off SR 1 provide access to this 14,000-acre refuge.