You cannot visit Southern California without stopping at one of its many wonderful beaches and dipping your toes in the Pacific Ocean. However, if you have a limited time on your visit and can only visit one beach, you may have a difficult time choosing. Which Southern California beach should top your list? Well, it depends on what you're looking for:
Surfing:
Huntington Beach: With over 50 surfing competitions held each year in Huntington Beach, plus a Surfing Walk of Fame, Surfers' Hall of Fame and International Surfing Museum, Huntington Beach, or "Surf City" as some call it, is the place you'll want to visit to surf and watch surfers in action. Forget your surfboard or boogie board? No problem, you can also rent one in Huntington Beach. You'll want to visit the pier at Huntington City Beach where you can watch the surfers as well as take in the views, which include Catalina Island, 22 miles away (check out the pay scopes for closer views).
Another reason to go to Huntington Beach is that all three of their beaches (Huntington City Beach, Huntington State Beach and Bolsa Chica State Beach) have concrete fire rings which allow you to have nightly bonfires and cookouts.
Swami's Beach: Located in Encinitas below Seacliff Roadside Park, Swami's Beach is also a great place to watch the surfers, as it is considered one of the best surfing spots along the San Diego County coastline.
Sunbathing and Relaxing:
Zuma/Point Dume: Of course, you can sit in the sand and relax at all the beaches in Southern California, but Point Dume and Zuma beaches, approximately 19 miles west of Malibu on Pacific Coast Highway, are the beaches to go to escape the crowded Los Angeles beaches. When driving west on PCH you'll come to Point Dume first, then Zuma. Point Dume is a little quieter than Zuma, so if you want to lie in the sand and sleep, or read a good book, Point Dume is it. Of course, just because Point Dume and Zuma beaches are great for relaxing, that's not all there is to do. Some consider Zuma beach one of the finest surfing beaches as well.
People Watching:
Venice City Beach: Want a quirky beach experience? Then you'll have to visit Venice Beach, at the end of Washington Street in Venice. There you'll find skaters, performers and those you're not quite sure if they're performing or not. On any given weekend you can be treated to musicians, acrobats, mimes, magicians and other assorted entertainers. You'll also find restaurants and all sorts of shops along Ocean Front Walk, as well as Muscle Beach, where you can find bodybuilders pumping iron. If you like crowds, you'll love Venice Beach on the weekend.
Fun Out of the Water:
Santa Monica State Beach: If you get tired of sunbathing or playing in the ocean, Santa Monica State Beach is great because you have Pacific Park at Santa Monica Pier with rides, games and restaurants. You have to really try hard to be bored at Santa Monica State Beach. Rides include a carousel, roller coaster, bumper cars, motion simulator and a nine-story Ferris wheel with spectacular views. You can also roller blade and ride bikes on the bike bath along the beach.
These are just a sampling of the great beach experiences you can have in Southern California. Just remember to bring and apply your sunscreen, drink plenty of water throughout the day, and enjoy your visit.
Mother's Beach
If you brought the family with you on vacation, nearby Mother's Beach is a must-see. It is known as one of the most family-friendly Southern California beaches because of it doesn't have any surf and lifeguards are located throughout the beach. It is a safe place for children and adults to play and swim.
Mother's Beach is popular with kids because of its large playground right on the beach, complete with a large swing set. There's also an interactive whale shaped slide that kids love because they can control the whale's spout with a nearby button. Nearby is a grassy, shaded spot that's perfect for picnic lunches with the entire family. The beach planners had families in mind and even placed the restrooms near the playground.
Mother's Beach may be within walking distance, depending on which of the LAX hotels you're staying in. If your trip has you hauling beach chairs, sand toys and sunscreen, there is a nearby parking lot with coin-operated parking meters.
Venice Beach
A day at Venice Beach can't be duplicated anywhere else. It's famous all over the world for its unique street performers, vendors and the body builders who lift weights right on the beach. You won't find anything like Venice Beach at any other of the Southern California beaches.
If you're an aspiring artist, Venice Beach is the best of the Southern California beaches to visit. Known as the Sandman of Venice Beach, Marc Goodrich creates sculptures like elephants and lions completely out of sand. The artwork only lasts for a day or two before it blows away and Goodrich starts over -- so catch it while you can. Venice Beach is also known for its large building murals designed by artist, R. Cronk. Some of Cronk's murals include a tribute to Venice Beach resident Jim Morrison and the murals played an important role in the area's revitalization.
The street performers of Venice Beach are legendary. Only the world's best and bravest performers are successful here, so it's not unusual to see someone juggling chainsaws or breathing fire.
Most of the LAX hotels are within walking distance to Venice Beach. If you need to drive, make sure to park in one of the special lots for visitors. Most of the lots charge a small fee, but offer a free shuttle to the beach. Street parking is hard to come by in the area and many locals depend on the street parking near their homes.
Malibu Beach
Malibu Beach is known as one of the best Southern California beaches for surfers. Malibu Beach became famous in the 1960s by the Beach Boys and again gained fame in the 1990s with the TV show Baywatch. Although most known for surfing, Malibu Beach is also an ideal destination for nature enthusiasts. You'll be able to fish off the Malibu Pier or explore 22 acres of wetlands, flower gardens and sandy beaches.
Because Malibu spans 21 miles of coastline, plan on driving from the LAX hotels. If you're an avid bicyclist load up your bike and ride the Pacific Coast Highway for the beautiful ocean, mountain and canyon views.
There are many other Southern California beaches - these are just three. Whether you are swimming, playing in the sand or just people-watching, the Southern California beaches are a fun place to spend a day.
Both Shari Hearn & Dakota Bressler are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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