Top Beaches on the West Coast of the USA

• Half Moon Bay State Beach // California

  

  Half Moon Bay State Beach has a total length of around 4 miles, and is officially comprised of four separate broad sand beaches. They are named Francis (Kelly) Beach, Venice Beach, Dunes Beach, and Roosevelt (Naples) Beach.

  The Francis Beach section of Half Moon Bay State Beach lies at its southern end. A popular spot for picnics, it has public barbeque facilities. There is also a visitor centre that is open on weekends and will be of interest to anyone looking to learn a little more about this area of California's… read more »

• Will Rogers State Beach // California

  

  Will Rogers sits between two illustrious neighbours, Malibu and Santa Monica, just to the north of Los Angeles. Stretching for nearly 3 miles this is a great option when the city beaches become too busy.

  The long sandy beach here is everything you would imagine of a South Californian beach. Surf from the deep blue pacific, permanent sunshine and a host of volleyball courts.It should be little surprise that tBaywatch

  The beach gets its name from the actor Will Rogers. One of Hollywood's leading men in the… read more »

• Newport Beach // California

  

  Home of the biggest recreational harbor on the west coast, the classic California surf town of Newport Beach offers sandy beaches, water sports, and incredible views of the sunset. This is a place you will never run out of ways to fill your day, and you can experience a real slice of Southern California beach life.

  The sand stretches for 10 miles at Newport Beach with the central Municipal beach making up about half of this. With all this fine, soft sand beachgoers should have no problem finding somewhere to… read more »

• Seabright Beach // California

  

  Situated just along the coast from Main Beach and the boardwalk, Seabright Beach runs from the mouth of the San Lorenzo River to the entrance of Santa Cruz Harbour. The beach is accessed via the western end of East Cliff Drive, near the Museum of Natural History, and where there is free parking.

  Seabright Beach is a wide stretch of richly-coloured sands that continue on for around 800 metres, with views of the nearby lighthouse for almost its entire length. Technically part of Twin Lakes State Beach, Seabright Beach was… read more »

• Natural Bridges State Beach // California

  

  Located at the end of West Cliff Drive, this sand beach is protected by its status as a 26-hectare California state park and marine reserve. Relatively sheltered, it is named after the natural archways that have formed over time in the rocks, of which only one now remains.

  Its marine reserve status means there's a possibility of observing seals and California's famed sea otters, while tidal pools provide a way of glimpsing the world of starfish and crabs among many other creatures.

  Natural Bridges State Park is popular with all manner of… read more »

• Muir Beach // California

  

  Twenty-five kilometres from San Francisco, Muir Beach is the first beach you'll come across heading north into Marin County. One of the cleanest beaches in California according to official data, it is a part of Golden Gate National Recreation Area.

  While not the longest of beaches, at around 300 metres in length, it is wide, at 60 metres. The broad sweep of dark sand is surrounded by rocky cliffs studded with mature tree cover and expensive homes, and though it's mostly made use of by locals, it can get busy… read more »

• Pescadero State Beach // California

  

  A great all-round beach, Pescadero State Beach incorporates sands perfect for sunbathing with rocky cliffs, tidal pools, picnic facilities, and sites for shore fishing. The latter you might expect with a beach that takes its name from the Spanish for "the place to fish".

  The beach covers a length of around a mile in total, divided into two areas separated by the creek that drains the Pescadero Marsh Nature Reserve, a popular birding spot, on the opposite side of Highway 1.

  The southern area is composed of a series of small well-sheltered… read more »

• Tennessee Beach // California

  

  Tennessee Beach is located on the west side of the Marin Headlands in San Francisco's Marin County. It is named after the SS Tennessee, a ship which ran aground here in 1853 while trying to enter Golden Gate Bay. Though all 500 passengers on board escaped, its iron carcass can still be seen during the lowest tides of the month.

  Only twenty minutes by road from downtown San Francisco, the beach is surrounded by a U of high rocks and land that is lush with vegetation, particularly during the spring.… read more »

• Linda Mar Beach // California

  

  You know a beach is going to be worthwhile when it has not one but two names! Pacifica State Beach is situated on the outskirts of San Francisco in California's San Mateo County. One of the most popular beaches to learn how to surf in the Bay area, it is known to surfers as Linda Mar Beach.

  The largest, and also southernmost, beach in Pacifica, its reputation as a surfing hotspot ensures there are plenty of nearby stores where you can rent equipment, and also a good number of surf… read more »

• Harris Beach // Oregon

  

  Appropriately, Harris Beach is located within Harris Beach State Park, on Oregon's rugged southern coastline. It is just off the coastal Highway 101, north of the town of Brookings. Backed by verdant hills, this relatively quiet sand beach stretches for several hundred metres. Also relatively wide, a small gentle stream flows into the Pacific Ocean here, making it an attractive place for young children to play with a fishing net.

  However, there's no net big enough for the creatures that migrate along this area of coastline beyond the rocky sea stacks… read more »

• Zephyr Cove // Nevada

  

  Occupying an area of forested shoreline on the Nevada side of Lake Tahoe, Zephyr Cove has some of the best facilities of any of the beaches on the lake. Its marina provides spaces for boats to moor, while log cabins together with an RV park and campground make it extraordinarily easy to stay overnight and enjoy another day in this exquisite landscape.

  There's plenty of opportunity to sit beside the lake and soak up the surroundings from the half-mile curving sand beach, with sun lounger and umbrella rentals and a beach… read more »

• Morro Rock Beach // California

  

  Nestled in a secluded spot along California's northern coastline, Morro Rock is one of the state's most naturally beautiful beaches.

  The Morro Rock itself stands at around 576 feet tall and was formed millions of years ago from volcanic rock. Until the mid-sixties it was regularly mined, partly for breakwaters, but by the end of the decade it had been recognised as a California State Landmark and a California Registered Historical Landmark. Nowadays, the rock is a designated bird sanctuary for peregrine falcons and other bird species.

  As for the beach, unlike… read more »

• Palisades Beach // California

  

  This narrow strip of soft white sand is just along the coast from the ever-popular Santa Monica.

  Unlike its next-door neighbor, there aren't a whole host of beachfront bars and restaurants, which helps to keep the crowds away, and means there's plenty of wriggle room for a spot of sunbathing.

  Lifeguards are on duty every day and there are loads of places to park nearby if you're taking the car to the beach. You'll find public restrooms too, and the sprawling green spaces of Palisades Park are right behind the beach, but… read more »

• Avila Beach // California

  

  This secluded little spot sits on California's central coast, approximately halfway between San Francisco and Los Angeles.

  The beach itself is a stunning unspoilt stretch of white sand and crystal clear water that's around half a mile long, with a near 1700-feet pier at the heart of it that's been standing for more than a century.

  It's partially closed for restoration works so you won't be able to walk all the way to the end but you can still stroll a decent way along it and there are spots for… read more »

• Pfeiffer Beach // California

  

  Pfeiffer Beach is in the Big Sur area of California. Roughly a mile long, it is located down a twisting and unmarked two-mile paved road that is unsuitable for RVs and trailers as it has only five points at which vehicles are able to pass one another in opposite directions.

  However, this beach more than makes up for the slight difficulty in getting there in sheer beauty. Its main attraction is Keyhole Rock, a large mass of rock in the waves with a naturally-formed arch right at its centre.

  Its sands are… read more »

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