Best Beaches in California: Six Sweet Shorelines for a Dream Vacation

When it comes to fun in the sun, southern California has it all. With its year round tropical climate, average water temperature of 78 degrees, perfect waves, excellent dining, and numerous oceanfront resorts, this earthly paradise also boasts picturesque harbors and a shimmering coastline filled with sand, surf and sun.

Not only is it home to millions of people, but it beckons millions more each year from all over the globe. Whether you are a California resident looking for the best beach to soak up the sun for a day or two, or you are planning a family vacation that your kids will remember for a long time to come, you will find some beaches to add to your itinerary here.

Here are six of the best beaches in California, including nice, quiet beaches as well as a few beaches that are particularly nice for visiting families.

1. Santa Monica Beach. The West Coast answer to Coney Island, this magnificent stretch of wide, sandy beach located in the seat of Los Angeles County features the famous Santa Monica Pier which houses its own amusement park atop one of the oldest wooden piers on the west coast. The site has also appeared in dozens of movies and television shows. Take a ride at sunset on the Ferris wheel for a spectacular ocean view. Enjoy lunch or dinner at the many different eateries in the area and be sure to check out the nearby attractions, which include Venice Beach and Palisades Park. This is one place that is sure to make a splash with the entire family.

2. Newport Beach. A fascinating and trendy bit of real estate located in Orange County, Newport Beach offers locals and tourists a variety of activities. Stroll on a scenic walkway, embark on a refreshing harbor cruise, or go boating, scuba diving, or bodysurfing Dining at most restaurants includes panoramic views of the harbors. Make sure to check out the Fun Zone and Balboa Pavilion.

3. Cardiff State Beach. Located in San Diego County, this recreational facility features lifeguards, restrooms and a smoothly sloping beach for sunbathing, fishing, swimming, surfing and kayaking. People love Cardiff State Beach for its quiet beach, casual atmosphere, fewer crowds and excellent restaurants. Nearby points of interest include Restaurant Row, which features savory seafood and Mexican fare; San Elijo Lagoon, which boasts great bird watching; and the Seaside Market where you can purchase a wide variety of healthy foods and snacks.

4. La Jolla. If your preference is sheltered coves and unique landscapes, then visiting these beaches in San Diego County should definitely be listed on your itinerary. The versatility of La Jolla beaches makes for intriguing and enchanting getaways or they can be loads of fun for the entire family. Investigate the underwater marine life while snorkeling or simply walk the shoreline barefoot. Nearby attractions include The Scripps Institute of Oceanography and The Stephen Birch Aquarium Museum.

5. Oceanside City Beach. Tropical palm trees stretch along the shores of this tranquil and eloquent beach located in northern San Diego County. Take a leisurely walk, ride your bicycle or rollerblade down what is called "The Strand" (the main street alongside the beach) or spend some time fishing off the pier at Oceanside. Nearby Cape Cod Village offers lots of great restaurants and the beach has lifeguards and restrooms.

6. Coronado Beach. If you are in San Diego, you will love the wide expanse of Coronado Beach with plenty of room for the family to spread out. While the kids are playing volleyball, soccer or tag, or tossing Frisbees, flying kites or building sand castles, you and your spouse can kick back and enjoy the surf, the sand and the seagulls.

This enchanting locale is home to the famous Hotel Del Coronado and is just a short ferry ride away from San Diego Bay. Or you can opt to pack everything you will need for a day at the beach and drive across the Bay Bridge. No food is sold at the beach so be sure to bring along sandwiches, soft drinks and other snacks. There is free parking on Ocean Avenue but it gets crowded quickly so try to get there early.

It is interesting to note that the entire California coastline is constantly changing due to tides, currents and weather conditions. Beaches erode and new ones form when sediment washes in from the Pacific Ocean.

With all its coves, cliffs and inlets, islands and harbors, jetties and piers, it would take eons to fully explore this magnificent geographical location. That is why many people return year after year to experience its magic and appreciate its treasures.

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Comments

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 at 7:54 PM, by timbotam
Comment by Timbotam to explain why I
rated this a zero because the comment was so completely wrong regarding the 78 degree average water temp. It never reaches even an average of 70 in the two warmest beaches in California, in the warmest beach water month,August. The warm beach water for swimming in California is a myth, even in the warmest summer months -- wear a wetsuit or partial wetsuit only if you want to swim in California beaches -- even down by the Mexican border south of San Diego. My source is the U. S. National Oceanographic Data Center's website on all California beach water temps at www.http://www.nodc.noaa.gov/dsdt/cwtg/spac.html which I copied over to this comment as follows:

Pacific Coast: South

Important Notice:
18 April 2008: Added additional stations that report the near real-time water temperatures to the NODC CWTG Web pages.

Note:
— Use the near real time water temperature data with discretion, because they have NOT been quality control processed and may contain errors.

— Please notify us if a temperature value seems out of range.

— Clicking on the hyperlinked "Recent Temperatures" in the table below will display station information for the location.

— Non-linked temperatures in the monthly columns are average water temperatures based on the historical data collected from given locations.

— Water Temperatures are in Degrees Fahrenheit (°F). To convert to Degrees Celsius (°C), see conversion box below the table.

Recent Temperatures Last Updated: Sun Apr 20, 18:07:33 UTC 2008 (Time Conversion Table) Location Recent
Temperatures JAN FEB MAR APR
1-15 APR
16-30 MAY
1-15 MAY
16-31 JUN
1-15 JUN
16-30 JUL
1-15 JUL
16-31 AUG
1-15 AUG
16-31 SEP
1-15 SEP
16-30 OCT
1-15 OCT
16-31 NOV DEC
Scripps Pier
CA 59.0 58 57 58 59 60 61 63 64 65 66 67 68 68 66 66 65 63 61 59
Oceanside
CA 57 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 65 66 67 69 69 67 66 65 63 61 59
San Clemente
CA 57 57 58 58 59 60 61 63 63 64 66 68 67 66 66 65 63 61 58
Avalon
CA 58 57 58 58 59 60 62 62 64 66 67 69 70 69 68 68 66 63 60
Dana Point
CA 57 57 59 60 62 62 63 65 67 67 68 68 68 67 66 65 64 61 58
Balboa
CA 57 57 58 59 59 60 62 63 64 65 66 67 67 65 65 65 63 61 59
Newport Beach
CA 58 60 60 60 61 63 64 66 66 69 69 70 69 69 68 68 65 64 61
Los Angeles
CA 56.1 58 58 60 60 60 61 61 62 64 65 67 68 68 67 66 66 66 64 60
Santa Monica
CA 55.6 57 57 58 58 59 60 61 63 65 66 67 68 68 67 66 65 63 61 59
Zuma Beach
CA 57 57 57 57 57 57 58 59 60 61 63 66 66 65 64 64 62 61 58
Point Mugu
CA 57 57 56 55 54 55 56 58 58 59 60 62 61 61 62 62 60 60 59
Anacapa Island
CA 56 56 56 56 57 58 59 60 61 63 64 65 65 65 64 64 63 61 59
Port Hueneme
CA 56 56 56 56 56 57 57 58 60 60 62 62 62 62 62 62 61 60 58
Ventura
CA 55 57 58 59 59 60 61 62 64 64 65 67 67 66 65 65 62 60 56
Santa Barbara
CA 56 57 57 58 58 59 60 61 62 63 63 64 65 64 64 64 62 60 57
Gaviota
CA 57 57 56 56 57 57 58 58 60 62 63 64 64 64 63 62 62 61 58
San Diego
Bay CA 63.0
To convert temperature units, enter a number in either box below, then click the other box.

Temperature Conversion: Degrees Fahrenheit (°F) = Degrees Celsius (°C)
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