Carmel Magazine

Eclectic Fun By the Bay n topographical maps, the massive, 2-mile-deep Monterey Bay Submarine Canyon points a spindly finger directly at Moss Landing. It's as if some otherworldly entity is hinting that there's something special about the tiny community nestled in a little notch on the eastern edge of the Bay. And indeed there is. Situated off Highway 1, equidistant from the glitzy, glittery boardwalk attractions of Santa Cruz and the sedate sidewalks of Carmel-by-the-Sea, miniscule Moss Landing is frequently overlooked by travelers headed in both directions. "Every day, someone who has driven by us for 20 years stops in for the first time," says Ray Retez, local icon and owner of the Whole Enchilada restaurant. Those who make that stop are rewarded with an encounter with one of the most uncommon communities in California. Though it encompasses just over half a square mile and boasts a population of 204, it's difficult to think of another location that offers such a diverse palette of opportunity for adventure. "It's a very unique spot," says Mark Couts, who has owned the Moss Landing Café for nearly 30 years. Whether one is interested in kayaking, whale watching, fishing, sailing, biking, hiking, bird watching, surfing, horse- back riding, dining, dancing, spa treatments, shopping for art and antiques or just plain lazing in a warm bathtub with a glass of wine, Moss Landing can accommodate every taste. Eons ago, this area formed the delta of an ancient river that created that massive canyon under the bay. Since its inception, the settlement of Moss Landing has been a seafaring community, with a busy harbor as its hear t. In 1866, Captain Charles Moss (known locally as "Captain O Exploring Historic Moss Landing B Y M I C H A E L C H AT F I E L D • P H OT G R A P H Y B Y K E L L I U L D A L L The Moss Landing Harbor District touts itself as "the number one commercial fishing harbor in the Monterey Bay." There are more than 600 slips available for commercial and recreational vessels. There is also an RV Park and campground nearby. 134 C A R M E L M A G A Z I N E • W I N T E R 2 0 1 4 134-138 Moss Landing 2_152-161 Garcia story 1/26/14 2:53 PM Page 1

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