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California Beaches

Beach Towns and Resorts

Los Angeles County Department of Beaches and Harbors

Balboa Island - A tiny treasure and one of the loveliest places to visit in California. Those who live or vacation on Balboa know what a great place it truly is. BalboaIsland.com is the main hub for finding information on Balboa Island events, restaurants, activities, rentals, and more. We hope you enjoy exploring Balboa Island!

Cambria - At the foot of the scenic Highway One/Big Sur coast, halfway between Los Angeles and San Francisco, is the quaint seaside village of Cambria.  Cambria offers visitors sophisticated restaurants, art galleries, antique and specialty shops and scores of nearby wineries. 

Carlsbad - Carlsbad is located in the Southern part of California, just North of San Diego.  Carlsbad offers beautiful beaches, shopping, sunbathing, surfing and lots more.

Carmel - Nestled between the world famous Pebble Beach golf course to the north and the spectacular Big Sur coast to the South.  By carefully guarding the natural beauty of the area, Carmel has created a European style retreat away from all the headaches of everyday life.

Coronado - Coronado is an aquatic wonderland nestled between the sporting waters of San Diego Bay and the inviting waves of the Pacific Ocean.  On any given day the beach is host to swimmers, surfers, sunbathers, beachcombers and America's military elite.

Del Mar - Near perfect weather year-round,  miles of coastline, two beautiful beaches, the famous Torrey Pines State Reserve and outstanding dining and shopping in a quaint Tudoresque village.

Half Moon Bay - The San Mateo coast and Half Moon Bay is rich with activities and natural beauty: folksy annual events, tidepooling, surfing, hiking, fishing, boating, golfing, horseback riding, camping or visiting beaches & parks, farms & nurseries, pumpkin & Christmas tree farms, flower markets or meandering through the arts and crafts shops.

Huntington Beach - Enjoy the year round Mediterranean climate.  Explore eight and one-half miles of uninterrupted beachfront.  Stroll the magnificent pier and discover the largest wetlands preserve on the coast of California.

Imperial Beach - Visitors from all over flock to Imperial Beach to revel in their beautiful coastline. Imperial Beach is home to the renown U. S. Open Sandcastle Competition, and the immaculate beach is ideal for swimming, jogging, sunbathing and some world-class surfing.

La Jolla - La Jolla in Spanish means "The Jewel." It is the Jewel of America's finest city, San Diego. La Jolla is located 15 minutes from downtown San Diego. It has wonderful beaches, cultural activities and fine restaurants.

Long Beach - Settled along 5 1/2 miles of sandy beaches, water plays an important role in the city's lifestyle. Visitors can dive right into the beach scene's many area watersports. Sea kayaking, sailing, windsurfing and jet-skiing are popular year-round.

Encinitas - Encinitas' six miles of beautiful coastline offer beaches to suit everyone.


Mission Beach - Mission Beach is the center of a continuous stretch of beach known as The Strand, which extends over two miles, beginning at the Mission Bay channel entrance and ending at the north end of Pacific Beach. The Strand is the most popular beach area in the City of San Diego and draws large crowds in summer.

Morro Bay - Tourists and locals both enjoy a variety of activities in the area, including fishing, surfing, kayaking, golfing, birdwatching, beachcombing, or just relaxing and enjoying the sunset.

Newport Beach - Newport Beach, the "Colorful Coast", is one of the premier coastal destinations in Southern California.  Newport Beach features the world’s largest small yacht harbor. Activities range from boating and water sports to superb golfing, and world-class shopping. 

Oceanside - Oceanside features 3.5 miles of some of Southern California's widest and most beautiful beaches, a 900-slip small craft harbor, the longest over-water pier in Southern California (1,954 feet), and a wide variety of cultural and recreational facilities.

Pacific Beach - Located right on the Pacific Ocean is this beautiful beach community with endless entertainment options. You can experience the intoxicating smell of a salty breeze, taste a great fish taco, listen to live music in a hip nightclub, wiggle your toes in the sand, swim in the great Pacific Ocean, rollerskate on the Pacific Beach boardwalk and play a round of golf aside Mission Bay Park.

Pacifica - Located in the San Franciso Bay Area, Pacifica offers spectacular hikes, beautiful beaches, lodging, dining and the best views of the Pacific Ocean that anyone could possibly imagine.

Pismo Beach - Enjoy over 23 miles of wide, unspoiled beaches with activities such as surfing, fishing, clamming, jet skiing, horseback riding, boogie-boarding, swimming, volleyball  and sunbathing.  Pismo Beach is also famous for annual events such as the Clam Festival, Custom Car Show and Jazz Festivals.

Redondo Beach - Redondo Beach is a truly historic beach town that reflects the best of the Southern California lifestyle.  Once a commercial port, the City now has a pleasure pier with unique shops and restaurants, marinas, and a sport fishing fleet.

Santa Barbara - Whether you want to swim, surf, play volleyball, or just lie in the sun, there's a stretch of sand for everyone along Santa Barbara County's 100 miles of coastline. The temperate weather encourages beach-going almost every day of the year. 

Seal Beach - Seal Beach offers entertainment for the entire family including surfing, boogie boarding, swimming, kite flying, sailing, sand castle building, wind surfing, bicycle riding (30 miles of bike paths), fishing, truly unique shopping and of course sun bathing. 

Solana Beach - Located in Northern San Diego County approximately 22 miles from the City of San Diego, Solana Beach offers two miles of pristine coastline, wide variety of shops, golfing and lots more.