Charlie Pokovich-Remembering Watsonville
"Discovered" in 1769 by Spanish military explorer Gaspar de Portola and named Pajaro (Bird) for the abundant bird life at the confluence of the small river and this long-flat beach on the Pacific a few miles from California Highway 1. Portola claimed this area and parts of San Francisco for Spain and this started the Mission Period of California. (Source pvarts.org)
Off the beaten path there are many homes and condos for rent on the beach in a development called Pajaro Dunes. You can walk for miles on the lightly used beaches.