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You might know California for its famed movie stars or major cities, but the real beauty lies along the seemingly endless coastline. Explore the breath-takin...
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- Travel Global
Aug 24, 2023 · Top 10 Best Beaches in California | California Beach Travel Guide When you think of California, what comes to mind is that iconic beach lifestyle – imagine golden sands, waves crashing...
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- AP Travel
Mar 4, 2022 · With warm sand between your toes, ocean waves, and golden sunsets over the ocean, who doesn’t love a good beach? In this video, you'll see the top 10 beaches...
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- Travel The Top
- Seacliff State Beach
- Pfeiffer Beach – Big Sur
- Huntington Beach
- El Matador State Beach – Malibu
- Sonoma Coast State Park
- Baker Beach – San Francisco
- The Lost Coast
- Tourmaline Beach – La Jolla
- Laguna Beach
- Lake Tahoe
California's Central Coast has more than 100 named beaches, varying from hidden coves perfect for quiet contemplation to long stretches of sunny sand backed by boisterous arcades and amusements, but some lure wildlife spotters as well as sun-seekers. The northern star of the incredible sweep of sand that curves around Monterey Bay is Seacliff State...
Cradled by mossy redwood forests, the rocky Big Sur coast is a mystical place. Search out hidden waterfalls and hot springs and watch for endangered California condors while wandering along sea cliffs. Pfeiffer Beach's phenomenal crescent-shaped slice of sand is one of the most beautiful beaches in California, known for its huge rock arch – Keyhole...
One of SoCal's best beaches, this sand-sprinkled surfing hot spot has a lively, walkable promenade near the pier. It gets packed on summer weekends with surfers, volleyball players, swimmers and families. Grab a taco and watch pro surfers show how it's done, or rent a board if you're feeling adventurous. It's a great place to learn how to surf. Loc...
Arguably Malibu's most stunning beach, El Matadoris famous for being the spot where swimsuit model photo shoots take place. Park on the bluffs above and stroll down a trail to reach sandstone rock towers rising from emerald coves. Sunbathers make the most of one of California's warm beaches by bodysurfing in the tides and watching for dolphins as t...
Stretching 19 miles, Sonoma Coast State Parkis a chain of wave-lashed sandy pockets separated by dramatic rocky headlands. Some beaches are tiny, hidden in little coves and stuffed with rock formations, while others stretch wide. Most of the beaches are connected by vista-studded coastal hiking trails that wind along the bluffs. Bring binoculars an...
Escape San Francisco's busy buzz at mile-long Baker Beach, fronting the Pacific with picture-perfect Golden Gate Bridge views. It's on the western shore of the Presidio, so you get an unparalleled perspective of the famous landmark and the Marinheadlands beyond from its caramel sands. It's perfect for picnicking, though it can crowd up on weekends,...
To visit the Lost Coastis to discover volcanic beaches of black sand and ethereal mist hovering above roaring surf as majestic Roosevelt elk graze the forests. The King Range boldly rises 4000ft within 3 miles of the coast, between where Hwy 1 cuts inland north of Westport to just south of Ferndale. The coast became "lost" when the state's highway ...
You can fight the crowds and learn to surf at San Diego's renowned Ocean Beach or Pacific Beach, but Tourmaline Beach in La Jolla has some of the best (slow!) waves for longboarders and beginners. Its long, sandy beach also has one of the chillest local vibes in San Diego. You'll be sure to catch a few rewarding waves here, even on a small day, and...
Welcome to Laguna, a grand array of quiet coves, blue waves and seaside parks, all with an artistic flair. With 30 public beaches sprawling along seven miles of coastline, Laguna Beach is perfect for do-it-yourself exploring – there's always another stunning view or hidden cove just around the bend. Although many of the coves are blocked from stree...
Lest you get complacent combing only the ocean shores, remember the inland marvel that is Lake Tahoe. In summer, it's California's favorite high-altitude escape: a sparkling diamond tucked in the craggy Sierra Nevada Mountains. In South Lake Tahoe, the nicest strands are Pope Beach, Kiva Beach and Baldwin Beach. Elsewhere, beaches dot the rim, like...
- Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park. Best for: beach and redwoods. Seven miles south of Crescent City, Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park is worth visiting less for its redwood forests than its fantastic beach area and hiking trails, most of which are an easy two miles or so along the coastal ridge where the redwoods meet the sea.
- Manchester Beach, Mendocino County. Best for: surfing. The coast of Mendocino County, 150 miles north of San Francisco, is a dramatic extension of the Sonoma coastline – the headlands a bit sharper, the surf a bit rougher.
- Mavericks Beach. Best beach of The Peninsula. San Francisco sits at the tip of a five-mile-wide neck of land commonly referred to as The Peninsula, home to old money, new technology, and some excellent beaches.
- Natural Bridges State Beach. Best beach of Santa Cruz. Seventy-five miles south of San Francisco, the edgy – and maddening – city of Santa Cruz is a difficult place to pin down.
May 13, 2023 · From iconic sandy spots to hidden gems, these are the best beaches in California. 17 coastal stretches you need to check out.
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In this post, we’ll share all the best California beaches, starting in Southern California and stretching up the coast to Northern California, so you can plan the perfect beach vacation to The Golden State!
