If you are yearning for a good dose of outdoor adventure along with your beach day, then Kathryn Abbey Hanna Park should be on the top of your to-do list. This oceanfront public park is jam-packed with hiking trails, 1.5 miles of soft golden sand, and plenty of local wildlife to catch a glimpse of. …
Shelokum
South Pointe Park Pier – Miami, Florida
At the very southernmost point of Miami, you’ll find South Pointe Park Pier. This magnificent fishing pier pulls the eye deep 450 feet into the surf of the Atlantic. It offers visitors a chance to discover the sprawling ocean vistas and some once in a lifetime views of the modern downtown Miami skyline. But this …
Mandalay State Beach, Oxnard
Mandalay State Beach may not have the modern amenities that you’re used to, but that’s kind of the point. The pristine sandy shores, along with the surrounding sand dunes and wetlands, are part of a protected area that spans 92 acres. The area is as wild and natural as it gets, making it one of …
The 10 Best Beaches in Central California
Cruise down the California coastline and you’ll find endless panoramic cliffside views, beautiful ocean outlooks, and some of the most incredible beaches the planet has to offer. 840 miles of coast running from just south of Oregon to just north of Mexico means a tremendous variety of shorelines to explore, all with their own unique …
Aquariums in Colorado
Colorado is most notably known for it’s world class skiing, but as you head down from the mountains you can experience a whole different set of activities to do. Denver is host to one of the best aquariums in the state and showcases tunnels for some of the most remarkable views of aquatic mammals. If …
Leadbetter Beach, Santa Barbara
One of the most popular spots in the city of Santa Barbara, Leadbetter Beach offers beautiful, broad, sandy shores where you can lay out and soak in the California sun. The favorable wind conditions make it a popular spot for kiteboarding, windsurfing, and sailing, and you’ll often see people surfing, kayaking, and stand up paddleboarding. …
Butterfly Beach, Montecito
Montecito is a chic, star-studded city in Santa Barbara County that offers upscale shopping and fancy restaurants of all kinds, but it’s the stunning natural beauty of its shoreline that make it one of the best vacation spots in all of Central California. Butterfly Beach is a local favorite in Montecito. Visitors come to paddle …
Avila Beach City Beach, Avila Beach
The tiny San Luis Obispo County community of Avila Beach had a rebirth of sorts in the late 1990s when the Unocal Corporation began cleaning up a tremendous oil spill beneath the town by removing contaminated sand by the truckload and replacing it with pristine sand from the Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes. After the cleanup was complete, …
Pismo State Beach, Pismo Beach
It’s easier to place it in the area of its namesake, but in reality, Pismo State Beach comprises three different beaches spanning across three neighboring towns: Pismo Beach, Grover Beach, and Oceano. The part of Pismo State Beach that is actually in Pismo Beach is more commonly known as North Beach. It’s a popular spot …
Morro Rock City Beach, Morro Bay
For one of the most dramatic backdrops you’ll find at any beach in the state of California, head to Morro Rock City Beach in Morro Bay. Morro Rock, the gigantic volcanic plug that looms over all of Morro Rock City Beach’s visitors is a 580-foot tall, absolutely awe-inspiring protected natural landmark. When you’re not gazing …
Natural Bridges State Beach, Santa Cruz
If Natural Bridges State Beach looks familiar, it’s probably because it’s one of the most photographed natural places in all of California. And once you’ve taken in the scenery, it’s not hard to understand why. The natural mudstone arches that earned the beach its name make an incredible backdrop for your day in the sand. …
Jalama Beach, Lompoc Florida
Jalama Beach is not necessarily a day trip sort of spot. You could hypothetically take the 14.5 mile drive off the Pacific Coast Highway out to Jalama Beach County Park, spend your day swimming, surfing, whale watching, and taking photographs, and then head home after the sun has set, but this sort of place is …
Rincon Point State Beach, Carpinteria
For surfers, Rincon Point State Beach is a mecca of sorts. It’s one of the most renowned surfing spots in the state of California and it receives wetsuit-wearing visitors from all over the globe every year, including some legends of the sport. Even if you’re a not surfer yourself, you will likely find the spectacle …
Surfer’s Point Beach, Ventura
Follow the Ventura River until it opens up into the Pacific and there you’ll find Surfer’s Point Beach. This rocky shoreline in the middle of the Ventura County Fairgrounds is a haven for surfers because of its point break that sends perfect waves rolling in with great consistency. Surfer’s Point Beach is not only great …
White Sulphur
Pfeiffer Beach – Big Sur, California
Getting to Pfeiffer Beach requires some commitment. It’s not a local hotspot in the middle of a busy city surrounded by shops and restaurants, it’s a secluded little beach in the middle of Los Padres National Forest that requires a two mile drive down a narrow, winding road that’s too thin for RVs or trailers. …
College Cove Beach – Trinidad, California
College Cove Beach is located in the seaside town of Trinidad in Humboldt County, about 300 miles north of San Francisco. The geographical features of the beaches in this part of Northern California are more akin to the beaches found on the Oregon coast than they are to those found in Los Angeles and San …
Drakes Beach – Inverness, California
Way out on the coast of Inverness in Marin County, you’ll find the stunning white cliffs of Drakes Beach. This remote shoreline is full of incredible views, and the trails at nearby Chimney Rock are full of plants and wildlife. If you want make the trip out to Drakes Beach, remember that it’s surrounded by …
Monterey State Beach – Monterey, California
The three separate beaches that comprise this popular coastal locale are shared by the neighboring cities of Monterey and Seaside. Each beach has something unique to offer its visitors: Houghton M. Roberts, Seaside, and Window on the Bay beaches. Seaside Beach in the north is a popular spot for paragliders to launch. It’s also a …