Coastal California
California Beaches
Page 3 of 4 — more shoreline guides with maps and National Weather Service conditions. Always check local advisories before you swim.
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Morro Bay Central Coast A fishing village wrapped around a volcanic plug—Morro Rock, estuary birdlife, and gateway drives to San Luis Obispo and Hearst Castle country. -
Moss Cove (Moss Point) Orange County A Laguna Beach pocket known as Moss Cove / Moss Point—stair access, limited parking, and classic cold Southern California cove conditions. -
Newport Beach Orange County An Orange County beach city of harbor islands, Balboa Peninsula energy, and easy access from John Wayne Airport—classic Southern California shoreline living. -
Oceanside San Diego County North County San Diego surf city—long pier views, harbor whale watches, craft breweries, and a revitalized waterfront between LA and downtown San Diego. -
Oil Piers Beach Central Coast A Ventura County open-coast beach near the historic Oil Piers site—windy, cold, and better for surf checks and walks than resort lounging. -
Pacific Grove Central Coast Victorian Monterey Peninsula tip—Lover’s Point coves, monarch groves, and walkable distance to Cannery Row. -
Pacifica San Francisco Bay Area Fog-belt San Mateo coast south of San Francisco—Mori Point bluffs, surf coves, and quick escapes from SFO. -
Padaro Beach Central Coast A Santa Barbara County coastal stretch near Padaro / Santa Claus Lane—scenic sand with access rules and parking constraints you must respect. -
Panther Beach Central Coast A dramatic Santa Cruz County north-coast beach with cliff access—beautiful, cold, and more hazardous than town strands. -
Pearl Street Beach Orange County A Laguna Beach pocket strand at Pearl Street—stair access, limited parking, and classic cold Southern California cove conditions. -
Pebble Beach Central Coast Monterey Peninsula resort forest—17-Mile Drive cypress views, Pebble Beach Golf Links fairways above the Pacific, and gated coastal elegance between Pacific Grove and Carmel. -
Pirate's Cove Beach Los Angeles County A Point Dume pocket beach in Malibu known as Pirate's Cove—trail access, limited parking, and cold cove conditions. -
Pismo Beach Central Coast Highway 101 beach town with a classic pier, clam-digging heritage, and dune country south toward Oceano—Central Coast motoring at its most nostalgic. -
Poche Beach Orange County A South Orange County shoreline pocket near Capistrano Beach / Dana Point—surf energy, limited parking, and classic cold Pacific conditions. -
Red White and Blue Beach Central Coast A Santa Cruz County coast beach long known as clothing-optional with private/paid access norms—confirm current entry rules and ocean safety before you go. -
Redondo Beach Los Angeles County A South Bay city with a horseshoe pier, King Harbor boating, and beach paths between Hermosa and Torrance. -
Roosevelt Beach San Francisco Bay Area A Half Moon Bay State Beach shoreline unit—broad Pacific sand, coastal trails, and classic San Mateo coast fog-and-wind weather. -
San Carlos Beach Central Coast A Monterey Bay park beach near downtown—sand, cold water, and an easy add-on to Cannery Row or recreation-trail walks. -
San Carpoforo Creek Beach Central Coast A remote Highway 1 coastal creek-mouth beach near the Big Sur / San Simeon transition—dramatic, cold, and logistics-heavy. -
San Clemente Orange County A laid-back Orange County surf town with a wooden pier, Spanish Colonial downtown, and Amtrak access between LA and San Diego. -
San Diego San Diego County A sun-and-sea California city—balmy beaches, a world-famous zoo, and neighborhoods that stretch from the bay to the Mexican border. -
Santa Ana River County Beach Orange County An Orange County river-mouth shoreline between Huntington and Newport—jetties, surfing energy, and a practical public beach day with local parking rules. -
Santa Catalina Island Los Angeles County A rocky island 22 miles off the coast—Victorian Avalon, glass-bottom boats, bison viewpoints, and car-light exploring a short ferry from Long Beach or San Pedro. -
Santa Cruz Central Coast South-facing Monterey Bay beaches with warmer water, a vintage boardwalk, redwood forests uphill, and a university-town blend of surf culture and progressive politics.