Top Beaches on the West Coast of the USA

• Mussel Shoals Beach // California

  

  Situated in the north of Ventura County, just off Highway 101 is Mussel Shoals Beach. A pleasant stretch of golden sand backed by a clutch of low rise beachfront properties, the beach here has a fairly laid back vibe.

  Probably the most recognizable feature of Mussel Shoals Beach is the long pier stretching out from mid beach. The pier leads out to a small island adorned with a number of palm trees. The island is in fact a man-made oil platform, but most casual visitors wouldn't notice.

  Mussel Shoals is fairly well known… read more »

• Torrance County Beach // California

  

  Nestled between Redondo Beach and Malaga Cove, you may hear the locals refer to this stretch as RAT Beach - as in, Right After Torrance or Redondo & Torrance. 

  The soft white sands here sit at the bottom of a picturesque cliff, so snapping some Insta-worthy photos is a breeze.

  When it comes to amenities, you'll find loads of parking spaces close by, lifeguards on daily duty, and restrooms and showers right by the beach too.

  Popular activities here include surfing, fishing and scuba diving, and there are volleyball nets too if you… read more »

• Zuma Beach // California

  

  One of largest and most popular beaches in Los Angeles County, Zuma Beach has clean waters and wide sands that extend for a total of around two miles. The location for the famous final scene in the original 1968 version of Planet of the Apes, it is now better known by the surfing community for its breaks, with Zuma Beach hosting several major competitions each year. Kite surfers tend to gather at the northern end of the beach in the late afternoons.

  Its Pacific waters can be quite cold, and the… read more »

• Baldwin Beach // California

  

  Baldwin Beach lies on the southern shores of Lake Tahoe amid one of the lake's most popular areas with visitors because of its range of attractions. Its broad golden sands stretch for around half a mile and offer up vistas of the Sierra Nevada mountains alongside the opportunity to hire kayaks to explore the region from the water.

  Located on national forest land, only gas grills are permitted for barbeques to reduce the chance of fires. Visitors should also look out for Tahoe yellow cress, an endangered plant whose native habitat… read more »

• Scripps Beach // California

  

  Scripps Beach takes its name from the adjoining UCSD Scripps Institute of Oceanography in La Jolla. Although the iconic long concrete pier is not open to the public, you can use the sandy beach on either side of it.

  This beach is much quieter than its better-known neighbour at La Jolla Shores as it is less accessible, but it is popular with locals. Surfers head for the designated area north of the pier while swimming and kayaking usually takes place towards the southern end.

  To the north… read more »

• Santa Cruz Main Beach // California

  

  Santa Cruz Main Beach is also known as Boardwalk Beach because it sits in front of the boardwalk amusement park. Dating from 1907, it contains the historic Big Dipper rollercoaster, a swimming pool, mini golf, and restaurants among its attractions.

  On the opposite side of the municipal wharf from Cowell Beach, Main Beach faces south and stretches on to the mouth of the San Lorenzo River. Despite its size, Main Beach can still get crowded on busy days, so when the sun is out its best to get their early.

  The beach's… read more »

• McWay Falls Cove // California

  

  Set in the Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park this beautiful little horseshoe shaped cove is surrounded by high, tree-lined cliffs. Perhaps the beach's most notable feature though is McWay Falls, a waterfall that vertically plunges 80 feet directly into the aqua-blue waters of the Pacific Ocean. The cove here is one of the undisputed highlights of Big Sur and only a short trip from California's legendary coastal highway, Route 1.
  There is one possible negative though; this stunning beach is a bit of a tease as it is pretty… read more »

• Huntington Beach // California

  

  Nicknamed "Surf City USA", Huntington Beach is a popular resort destination for locals and international tourists. This 121-acre state beach has a long pier and a beautiful sandy beach with dunes sheltering many bird species.

  Facilities include parking lots (open until 10pm), bathrooms, showers, lifeguard HQ and fire rings for bonfires. It is ideal for sunbathing, walking, fishing and watching pro surfers.

  There are sandbars at the south end of Huntington Beach which shift in storms and can create rip currents and dangerous conditions. This often makes the beach unsuitable for swimming… read more »

• Coronado Beach // California

  

  Consistently voted one of America's finest beaches, Coronado Beach is a long sandy stretch on the outskirts of San Diego. The main Central Beach runs along Ocean Boulevard from the Hotel del Coronado to Sunset Park. An area near Sunset Park is set aside for dog owners to bring their dogs to play on what is known locally as Dog Run Beach. There is parking near the Coronado Hotel.

  The beach is wide and long, and there is a lot of room to spread out and relax, build sandcastles, and go… read more »

• Kiva Beach // California

  

  Kiva Beach is a stone's throw from Tallac Historic Site on the southern shores of Lake Tahoe. Also known to some as Tallac Point, the beach comprises a flat extent of golden sand with a total length of around 200 metres. It then gives way to fragile marshland which visitors are asked to avoid trampling over.

  Almost entirely free of facilities, there is a car park with rubbish bins and portable toilets between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Swimming is possible from Kiva Beach during the summer months, although there are… read more »

• San Gregorio State Beach // California

  

  Close to Silicon Valley in the South Bay Area, San Gregorio State Beach is a popular beach with a large car park and good amenities. Located on a wild stretch of the California coast this is a great place for picnics, birdwatching, beach activities, walking, hunting for fossils and exploring the trails.

  Accessed from La Honda Road and Cabrillo Hwy, you will find restrooms, picnic tables and barbecues. There is a fee for parking and dogs are not permitted on the beach.

  The beach is divided by the San Gregorio Creek as… read more »

• Black's Beach // California

  

  Situated on the beautiful California coastline north of San Diego, Black's Beach is north of La Jolla at Torrey Pines, just below the famous golf course of the same name. The name Black's Beach comes from the horse farm in the area that was once owned by the Black family.

  A little off-the-beaten-track, the beach is accessed down a steep sandy trail from the Gliderport Parking Area. It can be tricky if you're carrying a lot of beach gear but there are very few facilities on the beach apart from restrooms… read more »

• Capitola Beach // California

  

  Often voted one of the top ten beaches on the US West Coast, this beach of fine sand lies at the northern end of Monterey Bay. It sits in front of the almost-neon homes of the village of Capitola, where you can also find a good choice of restaurants and shops. Very popular on sunny summer days when lifeguards are on duty, Capitola Beach is a south facing beach known for its pier or wharf.

  Popular with those who enjoy fishing, the east end of the beach is also the… read more »

• Fort Funston // California

  

  The southernmost Pacific facing beach in San Francisco, Fort Funston Beach is included as part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Rather windy, especially on the top of the sandy bluffs that surround it, Fort Funston Beach has become a haven for hang gliders. They launch from a special ramp most frequently between March and October.

  The main downside to Fort Funston Beach if you're not hang gliding is the steep walk down to the beach via one of two paths, both of which would be a struggle with… read more »

• Santa Barbara East Beach // California

  

  East Beach is the archetypal Californian beach; the Pacific Ocean, golden sand, tall palm trees line the boulevard behind the beach, beach volleyball courts, lifeguard towers and the backdrop of the Santa Ynez Mountains rising steeply behind the city. The beach here is home to many of Santa Barbara's most upmarket hotels, however, development has been sympathetic so you won't find any of the high-rise blocks that blot many of the finest beaches around the world.

  Dominating the beachfront is the historic Cabrillo Bathhouse and Gym with its latino styling.… read more »

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