These are among the best tourist beaches in the world.
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. …
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 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 …
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 …
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. …
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 …
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, …
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 …
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 …
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 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 …
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 …
