Plan your coastal adventure with a guide to the best beaches in California, where you'll find sun, surf, and stunning scenery
10 Best Beaches in California
Coronado Beach
Located in San Diego, Coronado Beach boasts a half-mile strip of silvery sand made famous in the 1959 romantic comedy "Some Like It Hot." This beach is known for its iconic Victorian landmark, the Hotel del Coronado. Besides its beauty, it's a prime spot for ocean activities, with watchful lifeguards, slightly warmer water, and gentle waves for swimming, boogie boarding, and learning to surf.
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Carmel Beach
Carmel's white sand beach, situated at the edge of the town, offers a scenic introduction to the natural beauty of the Monterey Peninsula. With sculpted cypress trees and a stunning seaside backdrop, this beach is perfect for a leisurely stroll or watching brave surfers. Fire pits along the shore offer a reason to linger after sunse, one of best beaches in california.
Crescent Bay Beach
Offering tropical vibes, Crescent Bay Beach in Laguna Beach is a hidden gem. With its turquoise waters and palm-tree-lined backdrop, it could easily be mistaken for a Caribbean paradise. During summer, the warm, calm waters attract swimmers and snorkelers. While parking can be a challenge due to its neighborhood setting off Pacific Coast Highway, it's well worth the visit.
Zuma Beach
This four-mile sandy expanse in Malibu is one of Los Angeles County's most popular beaches. Unlike other Malibu beaches, there are no private homes between the Pacific Coast Highway and the ocean, creating a more laid-back vibe. Warm-weather weekends here are bustling with sunbathers, body surfers, and volleyball players, but the ample parking makes it accessible.
The Wedge at Newport Beach
While Huntington Beach may be the most famous surf spot in California, it's often crowded with tourists. The Wedge, in Newport Beach, is where local surfers head for a premier experience. Situated at the tip of Balboa Peninsula, the powerful waves at The Wedge can reach up to 30 feet, making it a top spot for surfing and boogie boarding. types of insurance policies and coverage you need to usa
Shark Fin Cove
This hidden gem, located off Highway 1 in Davenport, Santa Cruz County, offers a snug, scenic cove with a shark-fin-shaped outcrop towering over the sandy beach is among top beaches in california. Limited crowds and natural wonders, including a tunnel-like sea cave, make this beach a unique spot for exploration. Please remember to pack your trash, as there are no facilities.
Santa Monica Beach
Santa Monica Beach is one of the most iconic shorelines on the West Coast. This three-mile stretch of powder-soft sand is a popular spot for locals and tourists alike. It's an ideal place for cycling, running, and playing volleyball. Additionally, Santa Monica Beach is home to a famous amusement park on the pier, making it a must-visit Finest beaches in california.
Limantour Beach
Located near Point Reyes Station in Point Reyes National Seashore, Limantour Beach offers a remote expanse of sand, just an hour's drive from San Francisco. It's a magnet for hikers, campers, and equestrians, with dog- and horse-friendly trails leading to this seemingly endless beaches in california.
East Beach
Santa Barbara's East Beach, separated from West Beach by Stearns Wharf, is the larger and more popular section. It's perfect for those seeking a sense of seclusion, with various events, such as swimming competitions and volleyball tournaments. Keep an eye out for vendors offering succulent mangoes on a stick, some of greatest beaches in California.
Oceano Dunes
Oceano Dunes is a unique California State Park where non-street-legal vehicles are allowed on the beach. Dune buggies and ATVs are common sights on this Central Coast coastline. Most evenings, you can find locals relaxing with a glass of wine and roasting marshmallows over a bonfire while watching the sunset behind the rolling hills, amid beaches in california.
Here More 5 Best Beaches in California
Natural Bridges State Beach
Natural Bridges State Beach in Santa Cruz earns its name from the striking natural bridge just offshore. This remarkable feature, often adorned with resting pelicans and cormorants, is particularly enchanting at sunset.
Visitors to this coastal haven frequently encounter seals, tide pool creatures, and migrating whales. However, the real showstoppers here are the Monarch butterflies. From October to February, over 100,000 Monarch butterflies gather in the fragrant eucalyptus grove, a short stroll from the sandy shores, it's among beaches in california.
Pfeiffer Beach
Pfeiffer Beach, renowned for its distinctive purple sands and a renowned 'keyhole' arch, is one of the few accessible beaches along Big Sur's awe-inspiring coastline. Despite California's abundant national parks, national seashores, and expansive national forests, Big Sur retains its reputation as the most exquisite place one of best beaches in California. After navigating the winding, rugged coastline adorned with coastal redwoods, dramatic bluffs, and vivid ocean vistas, you'll reach Pfeiffer Beach with its purple sands, a result of erosion from a garnet-rich hillside. Watch as the sun's rays beautifully illuminate the iconic offshore arch.
La Jolla Shores
La Jolla Shores, flanked by sandstone cliffs to the north and south, boasts a mile-long shoreline with quintessential one of top beaches in California ocean views and access to various maritime activities. It attracts surfers, scuba divers, and boaters, offering the city's sole beachfront boat launch. During the summer, La Jolla experiences its gentlest waves in San Diego, making it a prime destination for those seeking a soothing dip in the sea after soaking up the relentless Southern California sun.
Baker Beach
San Francisco may not be known for its warm beach days, but a visit to Baker Beach is a rewarding experience, even if you have to don fleece to combat the chill. Extending below the rugged cliffs of the Presidio, this mile-long stretch provides Instagram-worthy views of the Golden Gate Bridge and the craggy Marin Headlands across the bay. On those rare sunny days, you may even encounter a clothing-optional section on the northern part of the beaches in California.
Moonstone Beach
Slightly more rugged than many of the Central Coast's soft sandy stretches, Moonstone Beaches in California Cambria is a haven for beachcombers, wildlife enthusiasts, and admirers of scenic vistas. The striking brown shoreline, adorned with multicolored sea glass and moonstones, from which the beach derives its name, is embraced by a rocky bluff.
California's diverse coastline offers a beach experience for everyone, whether you're a surfer, a sunbather, or an explorer. Enjoy the beauty and variety of these exceptional beaches in California.
