Ocean
Beach:
O.B.,
as the locals call it, is a popular beach on the
west coast of San Francisco, bordering the
Pacific Ocean. It is adjacent to Golden Gate
Park, the Richmond District, and the Sunset
District. The Great Highway runs alongside the
beach, and the Cliff House and the site of the
former Sutro Baths sit at the northern end. The
beach is a part of the Golden Gate National
Recreation Area, which is administered by the
National Park Service.
It
is popular with surfers, though the water is
frigid with rapid rip currents which make it
dangerous for casual swimmers.
Nevertheless,
the beach is one of the Bay Area's top beach
spots.
Malibu
Lagoon Beach:
Malibu
Lagoon State Beach, a beautiful spot with 22
acres of wetlands, gardens and sandy beach, is
located on the point formed where Malibu Creek
ends at the ocean. Here the creek pools up to
form Malibu Lagoon and in the winter the beach
berm breaches to allow tidal flows which
separate the lagoon beach from the rest of
Surfrider Beach. It's considered one of the
world's premiere surfing beaches.
Venice
Beach:
Venice
Beach has been labeled as a cultural hub known
for its eccentricities. Street performers,
artists and "the beautiful people" mingle and
stroll all the way to Santa Monica along the
famous boardwalk that runs through this famous
California beach town. It includes the promenade
that runs parallel to the beach, several
handball courts, paddle tennis courts, Skate
Dancing plaza, numerous beach volleyball courts,
the bike trail and the businesses on Ocean Front
Walk. No trip to Los Angeles would be complete
without a trip to this iconic beach.
El
Capitan Beach:
This
shady, sandy, Santa Barbara beach features rocky
tide pools and stands of sycamore and oaks along
El Capitan Creek. It's a perfect setting for
swimming, fishing, surfing, picnicking and
camping. A stairway provides access from the
bluffs to the beach area, and a bike trail
connects the park with Refugio State Beach.
Rio
Del Mar Beach:
This
long, sandy beach is located in the town of
Aptos, Santa Cruz County. It features fire
rings, a barbecue and picnic area, and is a
popular summer spot. Rio Del Mar Beach starts in
the waterfront area at the end of Rio Del Mar
Boulevard and continues south for almost a mile
on Beach Drive to the end. A sidewalk promenade
has stairs to the beach in various spots. This
beach is the southern part of Seacliff State
Beach. The rest of the state park is on the
other side of Aptos Creek. From the creek area
it is easy to see the pier and a sunken concrete
ship in the main part of Seacliff State
Beach.
Ten
Mile Beach:
This
quiet stretch of Northern California sand dunes
and sea bird sanctuaries is a must-see. Located
just north of Fort Bragg, Ten Mile Beach is the
long stretch of coastline at Inglenook Fen Ten
Mile Dunes Preserve in MacKerricher State Park.
Here walkers and hikers can see close-up views
of sea lions, snowy plovers, seasonal whales
frolicking in the surf, and more. The clean
beach stretches for about four miles and offers
visitors a chance to clear their thoughts with
the music of the pounding surf. The beach starts
at the north end of Main Beach and continues all
the way to Ten Mile Creek just south of Seaside
Beach.
Muir
Beach:
This
beach is less than a half hour drive from San
Francisco. Heading north on Highway 101, from
the Golden Gate Bridge, the small southern Marin
"town" of Muir Beach is just 6 miles from the
Highway 1 exit. It's one of the most glorious
regions of Northern California in the Golden
Gate National Recreation Area. Fishing, surfing
and campfires are allowed, and there are many
coastal trails above the beach for hikers to
explore. This beautiful area is full of
wildlife: Monarch butterflies in the pine trees,
salmon in Redwood Creek, frogs in the pasture,
fox, birds, deer, coyotes and more.
Drake's
Beach:
Drakes
Beach is a remote beach in Point Reyes National
Seashore that requires a long scenic drive to
reach. Starting at the parking lot is a path
that climbs up to the Peter Behr Overlook with
views down on Drakes Beach and the bay. Drakes
Beach is protected by the point at Chimney Rock,
so the surf is typically mellow enough for
stand-up paddleboarding and playing at the
water's edge. The beach is wide and sandy near
the parking lot and extends in both directions
for beach walking. Chimney Rock has trails and a
spectacular seal viewpoint just a short drive
away.