The small city of Marina can be found along the beautiful Monterey Bay, just north of more well-known central California cities like Monterey and Carmel-by-the-Sea. Unlike its more upscale neighbors to the south, Marina offers a more modest lifestyle, but with plenty of the same views as those communities further south. Marina State Beach is a large, sandy beach that has become a popular hot spot for kites, hang gliding and paragliding, the regular amounts of strong wind making it an ideal locale for these pursuits. Proximity to both the California State University campus and the Monterey College of Law have also made the city popular for students. Marina offers that sought after California lifestyle, without the hefty price tag.