San Diego is one of the best beach destinations in the US, with stunning views of the Pacific Ocean, boardwalks with shops and restaurants, and water sports aplenty. Read on to discover the best beaches for playing, surfing, sunbathing, and swimming in sunny San Diego. Who knows, maybe it’ll even make you want to pack up and move there.
Coronado Municipal Beach
Take the ferry from downtown or drive over the San Diego-Coronado Bay Bridge to Coronado Island. The island’s iconic, 130-year-old Victorian Hotel Del Coronado is the perfect place to enjoy a beachfront cocktail at sunset. Coronado Municipal Beach begins at the hotel and continues north to Sunset Park, encompassing four different beach areas: Glorietta Bay Park, Coronado City Beach, Tidelands Park, and Centennial Park. The mile-and-a-half strand of pristine beach literally sparkles in the sun due to the mineral mica mixed into the golden, powdery sand. The wide and flat beach is conducive to family fun, from fishing and flying kites on the southern end to roasting marshmallows around fire pits. It can get crowded, but the beach is so big, you’re sure to find a spot. Speaking of spots: There is free public parking nearby, and dogs are allowed on the northern part of the beach.
Silver Strand State Beach
Silver Strand State Beach is four and a half miles south of Coronado on Highway 75 and is a great place for boating, water skiing, kayaking, swimming, surfing, and beach volleyball. Three pedestrian tunnels lead from the parking lots under the highway to the bay. There’s also a public camping area if you’re into that oceanfront RV life.
La Jolla
La Jolla, which means “the jewel,” is the ritzy, hilly seaside area of San Diego (read: a great place to meet a spouse). The area is known for its rugged coastline—with beaches tucked in between rocky points. Tourists and locals come to enjoy the gentle waves along the mile-long shore of La Jolla Shores Beach, where you can surf, paddle board, scuba dive, and boat. This is the only beach in the city limits with a boat launch, but there is no fishing allowed. The beach is right in front of Kellogg Park, which has two grassy areas for oceanview picnics.
Nestled between sandstone cliffs just south of La Jolla Shores Beach (at the northeast end of Ellen Browning Scripps Park) is the deep, gorgeous blue-green bay of La Jolla Cove. The calm, turquoise cove is flanked by two rocky points, which protect it from westward waves and provide tranquil waters for swimming. This is one of the most photographed beaches in Southern California due to its walkable bluffs and resident population of sunbathing seals and sea lions. The area is protected as part of the San Diego La Jolla Underwater Park Ecological Reserve, making it very rich in marine life and very popular with snorkelers and scuba divers. Sometimes the cove’s water visibility exceeds 30 feet! Get there early for a parking spot.
Black’s Beach
This clothing optional beach offers stunning scenery (of coastline cities) and a well-known surf break. The secluded spot is located beneath the bluffs of Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve. Park close to the Torrey Pines Gliderport and take the Ho Chi Minh Trail down to the sand before changing into your birthday suit.
Mission Beach and Mission Bay
Mission Bay Park is a 4,200-acre park surrounded by 27 miles of sandy shoreline—the largest waterpark of its kind in the world. Mission Beach’s lapping waves and Mission Bay’s calm waters are divided by Mission Boulevard, which runs along the sandbar and has access to both sides. Here, you can choose your own adventure. The vibe on the bayside is as calm as the water. People are sunbathing, paddleboarding, and kayaking through the interconnected network of waterways. This side has more gray hairs than the nearly two miles of oceanfront, which is action-packed with bikers, runners, boogie boarders, and more. Go sailing in the open water, join a game of beach volleyball, or take wakeboard lessons at the Mission Bay Aquatic Center. Mission Boulevard has restaurants, cafes, boutiques, and rentals, just steps away from the sand. There’s even a boardwalk and amusement park on the beach! Belmont Park has a rickety wooden roller coaster (the Giant Dipper, built in 1925), plus a carousel, arcade, carnival food, and miniature golf.
Ocean Beach
This beautiful, wide, sandy beach on the south side of the San Diego River mouth is a great spot for swimming, sunbathing, surfing, and fishing off Ocean Beach Pier (no license needed). You’ll want to stay close to the lifeguard stations while in the water because of the strong rip currents. Ocean Beach is Fido-friendly and even has a special off-leash area. The area itself is kind of hippie, with plenty of beachside bars and restaurants.
Pacific Beach
Known as “PB” by the locals, this laid back beach community between Pacific Beach Drive and the Crystal Pier is classic SoCal. The two-mile, sun-drenched stretch of sand, aka “The Strand” is popular with sunbathers and surfers alike. Crystal Pier offers public fishing and city views, while the 3.5-mile boardwalk on the city side is dotted with shops and restaurants. This is one of San Diego’s most famous beaches, attracting tons of tourists as well as young and beautiful bar-hoppers. Beach parties are pretty common here, as it is one of the few beaches that allows bonfires. Lifeguards are on duty daily, and there are rental shops on the beach for scuba equipment, etc. Surfers have to stick to designated areas, and should definitely check out Tourmaline Surfing Park in North PB.
Now you know which San Diego beaches are best for hanging ten or hanging loose. Find your next apartment on Zumper and you’ll be on the sand in no time.
Contenu associé
